The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-07-08
The POthOoks and
Hangers
By HAROLD SINcLAIRE

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wouldn't appear for perhaps half an
hour. Plenty Of time for Jimmy in
which TO learn his fate and-welI, he
hadn't decided just what he would do
after that that is, in case she wouldn't
marry MIN.
SO he sat IN the little parlor Of
Louise's home aud waited. Presently
she would come in briskly, her brown
eyes demure, her lips smiling. She
always made you think Of a sturdy
little wildilower in the woods in spring
time. And Jimmy, young lawyer
though he was, knew that his heart
would skip Il beat and his ruddy face
take on a still deeper hue as he faced
her. lie tried to be patient. and az
the Minutes passed memories came
sweet and bitter-in their turn.
Around that library table in the
center Of The room he had sat three
nights 4 week with Louise and-yes-
Terry Gerard, the Shark-Nho was
the particular ay in Jimmy's ONT
ment. Why did he need q comner-
clal educaiion, anyway-his business
didn't require it. Jimmy's did; at
least. so I've had represented to Louise
when he had begged her TO teach him
the arr Of shorthand.
SO around this table the three had
sat-LouiSe and her two mismated pu-
pills. for ti.ey hated each other as
much as they loved their teacher. Both
had invented their need Of a knowl-
edge Of Shorthand in order 70 be near
the oblect OF their affections The
only difference in their methods vas
that while Jimmy didn't try 10 learn,
~conceaHng his Indifference to the best
of his ability. Terry made the most
OF his lessons and consequently was
able To re;'d hole pages Of curllcues
without u break.
"Red headed shark" growIed jim
my, gritiing his teeth He smoothed
his " glossy dark hair and scowled.
That shark was to be reckoned with,
he was bright and. yes, good looking.
and Louise seemed to like him. OF
late he had imagined that she pre-
ferred him. Only yesterday he had
come upon them talking confidential
ly IN low tones when no one was
near. Wen. The suspense would soon
be over. He heard her coming down
the STARS and his heart skipped that
beat according to prophecy. as Louise
entered in anticipated fashion.
While he was holding her hand.
which had heen extended in welcome,
he looked at It idioticaIly, as II he
had never seen 1t before.
"why. Jimmy said Louise, looking
at him IN surprise:
Jimmy gulprd.
"Yau promised to write my answer
today"
"And 50 I hive"
"Dldn't ger it, gasped Jimmy.
Mail service punk. Was It yes or
nor"
"Snly." she answered. diving into
her pocket. u didn't say I'd mail It
to you. Weren't you to come this
evening to take your lesson? Weir
She handed him a notebook. open,
pointing to a neat array Of pothoOks
and hangers that adorned the page.
'"That is my answer" she told him
sweetly.
He looked at It h~elplessly. "Je-
hOshaphat 2" he exclaimed. For the
irst time he envied that shark. He
could have read those marks POor
Jimmy couldn't. and he didn't know
whether to sink with despair or take
his teacher in his arms!
4 II was ut "recess" the night befor,
that It happened. The Shark had LEFT
early, Louise had told him goodnight
! In what seemed to Jimmy a most un
necessarily Interested fashion, anC
Jimmy had forthwith laid his hear
and fortune at his teachers feet. II
a sweetly busInesslike manner sh,
had promised to write him her answer
And there It was in his hand an,
he couldn't read III
That is your answer" repeate'
Louise.
yes" Jimmy ioundered mlserably
She was looking out Of the wlndoV
now. Jimmy set his teeth and begaI
TO study those awful marks with
vengeance.
A gasp escaped him. There was
familiar chicken track In that ars
line, Il was the one phrase he ha
learned very early In the course, thinI
ing some time to use II craftily. =
love you !" He recognized that whe
he saw It. II was there He locke
closer. Yes. Il was there, bat WIS
was that silly little mark precedln
the word love7 II didn't belongl II
tried with his finger to remove IT.
might be an eyelash fallen there. BJ
II stayed. and Ilmmy's brow gre.
moist with the dawnlng Of an awfl
thought. Suppose that little 70,
curved line should be the negative
that sweet phrase Did she or didn
shet That was the question. II vi
time to use some Of that cfaftiness
Pushing back his damp hair ar
calling 70 his aid a sickiy smile.
pointed to the disturbing curltcue.
Teacher" he said in 4 wheedlir
tone which he sometimes used tea