, 1921-04-07

GEN,N'f Wv ih0 plltI alld tnOIt
Important one was that he was GO
ing to marry Esther Granger. They
intended to be married just SO soon
as he should have another raise In
salary. He had been most successful
in his work lately and had reason to
hope.
OF course. sticking as closely AS he
did to business curtailed his pleasure,
for he had had to refuse invitations
tina came from his loved one. But
he was working for her.
Esther had been so sweet about 1t.
II understand, dear" she had said
more than once.
This very morning the president of
the firm had slapped him on the Shout
der and said:
James, my boy. l want you to go
to court this morning and take charge
Of our suit. Miss Boatwright will go
with you as she made out the con-
tract for the defendant and is a pref
ty ~level-headed girl. Phone me as
soon as it Is over Go ahead and
win y
The president sent Miss Boatwright,
his private secretary, to accompany
James, and the two set off for court.
James had the faculty of concentrat
ing on his work of the immediate
present and he hardly noticed his COM
panion. She vas simply something
belonging to the work in hand like
the books under his arm.
He never lost sight of an advantage
for his case. and Miss Boatwright
proved to be Il clever witness. In fact,
they won the case on her testimony
as much as on any other one thing.
When James, about twelve o'clock.
phoned the president triumphantly the
big man was elated.
Take Miss BOatwright t. luncheon.
Give her the best the Blackmar has
to offer. I'm grateful to her, and 1
know it'll be a treat. because she has
to support her mother IN her salary
n her fiance is In South America.
So go as far as you like, and it's On
the firm"
James by this time was pretty hun
CRY himself, so he didn't mind doing
as the boss" ordered. He called a
taxi and they were driven to the hotel,
where the waiter escorted them to a
little rose-shaded table for two. He
never sighted n work that was
given. him to do. Therefore he was
most solicitous that his companion
should have a luncheon that was
worthy of the name. Miss Boatwright
appreciated his thoughtfulness.
After he had given his order and
the beaming waiter had gon to fill 1t,
James let his eyes wander about the
large n beautiful room. They did
not wander far. for a short distance
away sat Esther with two other girls.
Her glance was turned away from him
and he could not catch her eye. Then
1t dawned on Iii hat she was pur.
posely looking away. His heart sank
when he realized the situation. He
recalled the many times lately that
he had been unable to join her-plead-
Ing business.
His companion spoke to him and for
the first time he discovered that she
was pretty-an extremely pretty girl,
daintily dressed.
What a situation Here he was do
ing the work the firm demanded /; hav-
Ing luncheon with a girl he barely
knew he wasn't even treating her to
the meal. Business pure and simple
and Esther, with averted head, hadn't
understood. Why couldn't Miss Boat
wright have been old and ugly? There
were plenty Of ugly women connected
with the business. He couldn't leave
his guest and go over to explain to
Esther before her friends, friends of
hers he had never seen before. He
felt like a trapped animal.
Miss Boatwright sensing his alb
straction thought that she herself must
be dull and so tried to be pleasant
and entertaining. James replied to
her efforts with disconnected words.
Esther and her friends soon left,
without a glance at James table.
When he got back to the Office he
was closeted with the president and
other members of the firm for several
hours and did not get n chance to
telephone.
He had received the raise in salary.
He could explain to Esther about the
luncheon and they could be married
at once. Esther was not at home, the
maid informed him. She was to be
out for dinner and go to the theater
later. He left n note asking her to
call him up at his rooms as soon as
she should get home. no matter how
late It was.
Esther did not call. He telephoned
In the morning as early as he dared.
She had gone out of town TO be gone
indefinitely.
mo, there was no message and no
letter"
Repeated calls over the telephone
brought only the same answer. From
bewilderment and grief James turned
to anger for consolation. To be so