Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-04-07

Jane Spaulding was tre milling in
her boots-brand-new boots. they
were too, Of very late and expensive
cut. Her very fetching hat, new, also,
and her hitherto unworn 50 gloves
did not sti1en her backbone appre-
ciably. Yet to purchase them in honor
Of the occasion hadnwell-nigh emptied
her pocketbook.
For this interview was tremen-
d0usly important to Jane. On it de-
pended her success as a newspaper
woman. The very instant she had
been given the assignment to inter-
view Morrison Phillips, lately re-
turned from frozen seas, she knew
tllat her opportunity had come. And
rumor had it that Phillips, possessed
of a shyness as colossal as HIS achieve
ments. was refusing to be interviewed.
Three reporters on the Telegram,
to which Jane had been for some
time ably contributing nuptial and
obituary write-ups, had tried to see
Phillips and failed. 1t would be a
scoop for Jane as we'll us the Tele-
gram to accomplish the impossible.
Consequently Jane was trembling as
she felt her slim hand engulfed in mas
terful fingers and looked up into deep
set eyes placed far apart in q wealth
cred face. Still, he was surprisingly
young and his youth gave her conf
dence.
Miss Spaulding of the Telegram,
believe. Sit down." His voice,
firm. strong, matched his face
thought Jane as she sank into the
chair he drew out for her opposite
to his own, from which he had risen
at her entrance. And shall l be-
gin how l was born in a little shanty
on the Missouri and pored over books
on arctic travel by the light of pine
knotsT His voice held smile and
Jane dimpled in response. He was
not in the least formidable.
mot yet" she answered. Then !:
What struck you most forcibly on
your return to civilization" she asked
impulsively. after eight years away
from it all, something undoubtedly
impressed you particularly.
Phillips ruminated. Then he spoke
with decision. 1.-The racket; yes, the
internal noise and turmoil"
Suddenly Phillips brought his gaze
back to the girl before him and a
sudden inspiration seized him. He
had forgotten during his years of ex-
lie how lovely a woman could be I'M
til this slip of a girl had come to ques-
ton him.
Promise me-" and there was boy
ish impulsiveness in his tone, that
you will not publish a word until |
give you permission. will agree
meanwhile TO refuse all interviews.
| Lunch with me tomorrow, and ! will
answer any question you may ask y
Jane left him dazed. 1t was so much
less than she had hoped for-and 50
much more To become the recipi-
ent of marketable information and
bound to withhold it Indefinitely Then
a little flush Of happiness qu'cEened
her heart. She was going to lunch with
hint
Over the dinner table, between acts
at the opera during long drives about
the city, Phillips talked unrestrainedly
of his adventures, telling to one small
absorbed person all the little details
and big deeds that a gaping public was
on tiptoe to hear-yet at the same
time Withholding just enough to whet
her curiosity and gain the promise Of
one more little expedition.
Where was it good to end? Jane
! had placated the editor with promises
of ultimate success, but she knew that
the time to strike was while the iron
was hot ana that news deferred is
stale
At last she decided she could wait
no longer. She had promised Phillips
to dine with him. And over the small
coffee cup, which somehow looked abb
solutely tiny in his powerful hands,
she explained the situation.
1--WE got to be let off from my prom
ise," she concluded. IF l fail in my
first big assignment my doom is sure.
Let me give you write-up for the
morning editionW
Phillips slowly tapped the ash from
his cigar regarding her thouehtfully.
Then he folded his strong bro hands
and bent towards her. mis- spauld-
ing" he began, there is one ding 1
hate-and that is publicity
after my solitary years of exile
you came into my life, and could
not give you up. am ASH I'd to
confess that l put you off day
to day out of sheer desire TAI your
companionship-an now my Gay Of
reckoning Is at hand. Write ue up
as you wish, or else-marry me and
learn it all at first hand. | sail on
my second expedition a month from
today"
For a nomenclature sat as one
stunned Marry this man whose
very name made men speak with en-
thusiasm of his exploits Become the
oop,ro6a Of bic iotIrnavc into ctronpo