The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-28
/ THE DAILY
[sII0R,. STORY
Pothooks and Hangers
sY {. N. Marsh


ilAnh halt "a hour. Plenty of time
tot Jimmy In which 10 learn his fate
ana-well, he hadn't decided just
What he would do after that; thai
Is m case she wouldn't marry him
b he sat IN the little parlor Of
Lontse's home and waited. Presently
she would come in brlskly. her
brown eyes demure, her lips smil-
ing,
Around that library table in the
center Of the room he had sat three
nishts D week with Louise and-yes
Terry Gerard. the shark-who
was the particular fly In JlmmSs
ointment why did he need a COM
Inereiil education, anyway-hls bus.
4 inegs didn't require 1t. Jimmy did
Sat 1esst, 90 he had represented TO
Iouise when he had begged her TO
teach him the art OF shorthand.
So around this table the three had
sAt-L ouise and her two misnated
pnpils, for they hated each other.as
mitch as they loved their teacher.
RED headed shark, growled2 Jim
MY sfitting his teeth. He snioothed
hiBS6w dark glossy hair and scowl-
ed. That shark Was to be reckoned
with; he was blight and, yes, good
looking and louise seemed to liko
MIN. OF late he had imagined that
she preterted him. Only yesterday
he had come down upon them talk.
tns onfiaenlialiy ip low tones when
no one was rear. Well the suspense
would soon be over He heard her
cemtng down the stairs and his
skipped that beat according
Shecy as Louise entered in
/ah. atea fashion.
why, Jimmy said Louise look
Ing ~ him in surprise.
Jimmy gllped.
You promised to write my an.
swef. Today"
And so have"
Didn't get It," gaspsd Jimmy.
Mail service punk. Was 1t yes or
Hsilly she answered, diving into
her pocket, ~ didn't say I'd mall 1t
70 sou. Weren't you 10 come this
evening toitake your lessonH Well"
she handed him notebook open
pointing to a neat array OF pothooks
and hangers that adorned the page.
THAT is my aswer," she told him
sweetly.
He looked at 1t helplessly "Je.
hoshaphatp' he exclaimed. For the
first time he enyied that shark. He
eonld have read those marks. Poor
Jimmy couldn't and he didn't know
whether to sink In despair or take
bis teacher in his arms.
" was at recess" the night be.
lore that It happened. The shark
had left early, Louise hid told him
goodfnisht In what seemed 10 Jim.
my q most unnecessarily interested
fashion, and Jimmy had forthwith
lad his heart and fortune at his
teeeher's feet. In sweetly bust.
nesslike manner she had promised
to write him her answer.
And there 1t was in his hand and
he couldn't read 1t.
THAT Is your answer" repeated
Louise.
Yes" Jimmy floundered miser.
ably She was looking out Of the
window now. Jimmy set his teeth
and began to study those awful
marks with vengeance.
Agasp escaped him. There was
familiar chicken track in the first
line. 1t was the one phrase he had
learned very early in the course,
thinking some time to use 1t crafty
g love YOU" He recognized that
when he saw It. 1t was there! He
looked closer. Yes, It was there
but what was that silly little mark
preceding the word love? 1t didn't
'heiong. He tried with his finger to
remove tit might be an eyelash
fallen there. But It stayed and
Jmmy's brow grew moist with the
dawning Of an awful thought. Sup
pose that little fool curved line
should be the negative to that sweet
phrase. Did she or didn't she?
That was the question. 1t was time
TO use some Of that crattlness.
Pushing back his damp hair and
calling to his aid a sickly smile. he
pointed to the disturbing curlicue,
Teacher" he said in a wheeling
tone which he sometimes used teas.
insly, teacher, you made this char
iacter. a little lame. can't quite
make II out"
That answered Louise, turning
to him patiently and spelling the
word Theoretically "d-o-n.'t@half
length, you know, to add t
Jimmy stiffened and the notebook
fell to the floor. When Louise left
itsthere and turned away again he
exploded. Black despair relgned.
but rage gained mastery of his
tongue.
4 hope you're satisfied" he said
Sthickly. you've made all kinds OF
g fool OF me-deliberately, too"
Louise raised her finger warning
Nv and 1iafa0ad ear 4hIn1 -,