The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-30
The DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Red Star Special
ey MARY MORRISON.

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Ry MARY MORRISON.
sopyrisht, 1891, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndlcate.)
n F1rFuL breeze caught the
AZ gnyly painted sign that hung
cover the door and set 1t swing.
gently to and fro above John
kenry's head. It told an indiffer.
world that John Henry OF STA
leecker street sold lawn mowers
Q superior and eternal excellence,
nd, as 1t swayed back and forth It
seined to be the only thing with
|itality enough to move In the
hole city.
Up and down the sun.baked
rect torpid in the August heat,
acre was not a sign OF life; It
kight have been a deserted village.
Not a creature was stirring,
lot even a mouse" murmured John
tenry TO himself. He stepped back
ito the welcome shadow OF the
conway and surveyed the shining
ows Of grade A lawn mowers that
med the side Of the wall.
Somehow II all reminded John
ienry OF the summer two years
30 when he had been salesman
pr the Red Star Special Lawn.
nower company and had tried to
ell q machine 10 a pretty girl in a
mall town up In Connecticut.
#heneYer John Henry thought Of
er standing there in tho doorway
~ tho little old farmhouse, with
he sun in her hair and the blue
In her eyes, he was conscious
4 little jump In his heart beats.
Hesclosed his eyes and the whole
Gene came back to him., He had
epokens eloquently OF the way a
Red Star Special worked; he had
EhoWn her how beautifully easy ii
|pasEto take care OF. She had liz.
Eened attentivoly and he thought
be had made a sale. Book in hand,
be stood ready to write down the
Prder when the girl suddenly burst
"Aslawn mower! I wouldn't buy
i lawn mower, II had so much
money that I had to hire a bank 10
take care OF it, Look al that one
the tree there-works a few
minutes a day and sleeps all the
rest OF the time. Does nothing but
cut grass from one years end to
another. hate grass and trees
pdA@sohs very much .and-lawn.
SIers. II you were selling city
pavements and crowded street
cars or something that really lived,
Mn Agent, I'd buy. But as It Is,
Ill save my money for carfare to
q place where there is no grass
that needs to be cut
She had turned on her heel and
Slammed the door in John Henry's
Ne gave a sigh as he remember.
cd the picture she had made in her
pink bingham dress. her sun.
ned cheeks flushed with anger
az lawn mowers and life In general.
He was wondering where she was
now and II she had ever saved up
enough money for Carfare. when
a. soft exclamation from the door.
way made him turn quickly around.
ss0hi what beauties! What per,
Eeet beauties!" came in tones Of
hushed feryor.
There, but for the glngnam dress
and the angry discomfort, stood the
gtrl from Connecticut! Her French
ieeled slippers and blue georgette
rock proclaimed her very much OF
he city, citified-hut John Henry
Knew her In an instant.
How much are they?" she went
~. while he continued inadequate.
to mop his brow. II do not know
loSF / can use one exactly in an
apartment-but somehow | think
Id Just love to have one aNQund.
[ suppose l could use 1t as n sort
Il hatrack effect. Painted black.
with d rosebud pattern on the
handle, 1t might be quite effective"
She Ssaused a moment in deep
Ehonght, and then suddenly in.
lutred:
% don't suppose by any chance
Red Star Specialist"
Then for tile first time she
straight at John Henry.
5Iaecker street outside was begin.
mig TO wake up, for from a block
Or 50 off came the softened tangle
,f Z hurdygurdy and a boys voice
singing so that they could hear the
cords quite plainly:
Ayeranda with some sort OF cling.
ing vine,
And q kitchen where the rambler
roses climb"
OH" said the girl. cts you.
Mr. Agent, isn't it,"
Yes,.' answered John Henry,
breathlessly. ~ had just
been Wondering whether you ever
sayod up enough - carfare, and
Ihen ] looked up and here you
Better than a palace with a gilded
dome
i aIoye-nest we can call home
ae the boys voice outside,
learer this time.
when you saw me that day i
sopidn't even talk civilly to You
about lawn mowers-though we
Raily did media new one-justb be.
sauae they stood for the grass and
Erees and country. l thought |
MAS fed up" She spoke in such
|, low tone that John Henry had
10 step quite close to catch what
she was saying.
aaToday," she continued, when l
saw your green sign, ! would give
lnything / possess to be running
up and down, up and down
We're" said John Henry, thrust.
M the handle Of hIS choicest
Sfade "A into her hand. TRY It,
often do. And It almost seems