The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-11-03
In the Romance
Drug Store
By FRANK II. WILLIAMS.


q, 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
lmogene was twenty-five, the pref
tiest girl In the block and the eldest
child in family Of eight
She had a beau, Of course-no girl
so pretty and piquant and altogether
desirable could miss having some
young fellow crazy about her" in
spite Of the fact that he nearly had
to fight his way through sprawling
children and curious neighb0rs to
reach her side.
lmogcne's beau was young Bill Jen-
nings, a likeable fellow several years
Imogenc's senior, and holding a good
position in a downtown bank.
All during the hot summer Bill had
been calling regularly on mogene,
plotting his wheeling fliyver through
the hot streets to her home, and being
the life Of the party at more than one
family gathering, where the younger
children fought all over the place, or
played cracked pieces on the family
photograph, or made sly remarks
about big sister and her "feller." And
when the nights had grown cooler and
the hint Of autumn was in the air,
Imogene had come TO feel that Bill
was the one man in the world for
her.
But what chance was there for Bill
TO propose? Time and again as limo
gene pictdred TO herself the joys of a
little home Of her own, where she
could make the coffee, which Bill so
liked for Bill alone, instead Of for a
great profuson Of brothers and sisters,
and where the dusk of evening would
bring Bill home from work and hap
pncss Of heart, she sighed mOurnfully
and felt that ii was no use. Not only
did there appear to be no chance for
BIZ to pop the question, but also Imo-
gene feared that her tumultuous fam
fly might eventually drive Bill from
her to some quicter home.
And then came the evening when
love cnvrloped Imogene in pink
cloud OF pure joy.
And how unpropitious the evening
started Almost the minute after BIZ
had parked his car at the curbing in
front Of the EIctrick home young jim
tIclrick, aged seventeen, bounced into
the drivers seat and announced that
he was going to borrow the car for
Il while. lmogcne's heart sank as she
saw Jim tearing down the street.
Lately lmogene's mother had been
allowing her to take short rides With
Bill i'm the ancient nvver, and ImO-
gene had been rather counting on a
ride this evening. Tonight she had
felt was to be the night Of nights,
and yet here was the one best chance
for giving Bill an opportunity to speak
gone TO smash.
"Fm awfully sorry" said Imogene
to Bin. 81 Just wish father was here
he'd not let jim do thing like
thatw
"Oh, never mind said Bill, a trine
rucrully. Let's GO In the house and
play the photograph. I've brought a
new record"
lmogenc led the way into the par
Tor. Much to her surprise the parlor
was empty. What luckl Perhaps,
how
BIZ placed the record on the ma
rhine ana started IT, The piece was
u fox trot. He held out his arms to
Imogene and she foated into them.
They were good dancers ana liked
to dance together And now, thought
Imogcne, now would be the time. She
felt Bill hold her more tightly.
Dear" whispered BIZ, softly,
'1ets-"
But Bin got no farther than that,
For into the room dashed tcmpestuOus
Nellie, one Of mogene's younger
sisters.
Gee, It's new record amt it?"
cried Nellie cNcitedly. Did you bring
II. BnI?"
yes" said bin shortly, I'm a voice
that was plainly irrtated.
lmogenc's heart sank If Bill was
to be always interrupted perhaps he'd
become tired ana quit entirely. And
Hfe without Bill would be very bleak
indeed A trcmOr Of fear possessed
her She must do something quickly.
She simply couldn't let Bill get away.
Gently Imogene disengagcd herself.
"Oh Bin" she exclaimed, as happy
Idea came to her, lets 70 TO the
Family thcatcr tonight. There's
good film there"
ITS pretty hot" demuued Bill,
rather uugraciously.
please" whispered Imogone. clutch.
Ing Bills arm ana gazing at him with
eyes filed with alteration.
"All right" said BIN.
Imogcne had figured that with the
weather So hot there would be but
few people IN the Family thcater And
Ii the darkness Of the theurer there
would surely be- chance for Blll
lmogeuc WIS right about the scarcity
Of the people in the theater. But no
sooner had she and Bil seated them.
selves la dark spot well nj the rear
than ill fortune once more came her