The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-09-09

| luncheon. so he sought TO make the
| acquaintance of those who knew Az:Es
Drew socially.
| He would meet her after working
hours and thus show his finesse.
Meantime Mr.. Stewart had sailed and
Mr. Stone had come TO take his place
Mr.. Stone, who proved to be blond
! young giant who accomplished twice
as much as Mr.. Stewart. albeit he sat
1 in a rocking chair and INDUCED in
/ three electric fans at once. He had
an endless capacity for work, and
often when Rodney Blaine left at half
past five he still heard the heavy
voice of Mr.. Stone debating to his
| stenOgrapher behind the closed doors
| OF the executive office. Something.
possibly the long hours and the siren
uous business methods of Mr.. Stone,
/ very decidedly softened the edge OF
Miss Drew's sharp temper. Her dark
! eyes snapped less fire now and the
J wavy black hair that seemed TO typify
| her high-spirited nature seemed to
| wave more softly to her face. 1t had
almost been forgotten In the office that
/ she had ever had a temper TO be
/ dreaded.
/ Three months had passed and IL
/ was the eve of Mr.. Stewards return.
| Rodney Blaine had done his best. He
had never fallen down on an assign
ment before. and he had not had his
| little talk with Miss Drew simply be-
| cause she had never given him an OPP
same country club, studying Spanish
/ in the same class, even going TO, the
same church-all with the hopes Of
/ sometime having the opportunity he
had been urged to find.
| Rodney Blaine was the first of the
/ firm to see Mr.. Stewart after his re-
/ turn home, and after a very brief dis
cussion of business interests, Mr..
| Stewart brought up the subject that
| was apparently uppermost in his
mind. "Vere you successful in Civ
! ing Miss Drew her little tip OFF,"
: "Not exactly" began Rodney.
I Heavens, man." interrupted Mr..
/ Stewart, "you don't mean you let her
| boss Stone around the way she has
been bossing me. Don't explain.
| was afraid you wouldn't tell her. OF
| course. Stone wouldn't stand for her
| tongue He is not patient as l am.
l have felt it all along. No one has
mentioned her in my letters. 1t hap
/ pened just as l feared. Stone
wouldn't stand for her bossiness-and
now she's left. Rodney, I'm sorry you
| let this happen. Miss Drew was one
of my greatest business assets"
! but she hasn't left" Blaine ex-
| planned as soon as he had an OppOr-
| tunity. Then they were interrupted
by the overtowering Mr.. Stone, and
Rodney Blaine was glad of an excuse
| to withdraw.
! Mr. Stone, after hearty greetings
had been exchanged, waived all dis
| cusSion of business. He closed Mr..
| Stewards office door and talked In
subdued voice.
There Is something / want to ask
you," he said. II didn't want to write
It. But a good share of my happiness
depends on the answer you give. Is
! Rodney Blaine serious In his regards
| for Miss Drew He seems to follow
her about, always seems to be trying
to tell her something. / am more than
interested in the girl myself. Frank
! ly, I'd ask her to marry me"
Marry you?" gasped Stewart sink
| ing back in his chair. Marry girl
with temper like that?"
| 1.-The best tempered girl In the
world" interpOsed Mr.. Stone. 1.-The
point is this: l am a newcomer, L
have no right cutting Blaine out if
! he really loves the girl. If he doesn't.
1 have hopes of persuading her to be-
! come my wife"
''Then she didn't leave2' Mr.. Stew
art seemed momentarily relieved.
! But what I'm asking you is wheth-
er Blaine is in love with her. Why
does he dog her around SOP
Il guess L told him to-" said Stew
art weakly. but it's all right. He
| doesn't love her. You needn't worry
about that. I'm sorry to have you
! take her away, but"
Mr.. Stewart never finished the SEN
/ tence. for Mr.. Stone had hurried into
! Miss Drew's office to deliver the words
/ of long-postpOned proposal, which
did not come as a surprise and that
did not wait long for an answer.