The Holt County sentinel., 1921-05-13
Marcia's Opinion
By n. LOUIS RAYBoLD

"a NtvFNt Nhhss
story room, Bill Evans sat, shirt
sleeved, pounding his typewriter. The
machine was disgraefully dusty, and
had two caps missing from the let
ter board, but for all that II gave forth
a steady click-clack which competed
successfully with a couple OF buzEing
mosquitoes.
Suddenly Bill paused. ran his fingers
wildly through his mop OF hair and
gazed dejectedly out into the velyety
darkness. "Confound III" he groaned
audlbly. "How can write this drivell
Here's n play think perfectly rotten,
played by cheap bunch Of actors,
and I'm pattlng Il Oh the back and
giving Il good scndofr. Yet what
else can I do, after cusslng out every
play In the house for month"; II /
gave my honest opinion again, the old
man would think me n confirmed pes
simlst aud get somebody else To hold
down ~. picayunc Job, which, heaven
knows. | can't AFFORD to lose, punk us
Il Isl" Once more he bent TO his work
resignedly aud pounded on.
You see, II was Bus seventh Job
In as many months. And Blll was
engaged 10 Marcia Stebblngs--en.
gagged. that II, on the condition iin-
posed by her cautious father, that
he make good enough ut something
10 Stow what was In him. Bill knew
what was In him. Marcia said she
did. But ,Inrcia's father was coldly
skeptlcal.
For the moment Bin was drn.
mntic critic Of the Snundcrvlllc
Evening Telegram. n position more
munifcent In title than In prmuncru.
lion. Hut II provided him with SUN.
Client cash for board aud lodging aud
allowed him enough spare time for
odd bits Of free lunclng, the returns
from which purchased cigars for him
self and flowers for Marcia. Also, THE
job meant a pass to the theatcr, good
for twol
ON that pass, this very evening.
he had taken her 10 see "Ncyer Mind,
Janew lie had gone Ia the thcntcr de-
tcrmlned 10 comment fnyorably. but
had. Ia spite of himself. been bored
W NNI NNN It
pleased that March, enjoyed the plny
Immensely.
Il always enjoy plays In which the
women wear evening clothes" she had
told him complnccntly, "and thought
the leading woman's hair was done
just wonderfully
But, good heavens, Marcia" he had
lttIfulIxf has
OF the theatcr after the finnl curtain.
the plot Is poorly constructed. the third
net drngs, the denoucnient Lint log,
icnl. the Villains long. .windetl. und the
hero's lunatlci"
Yet now. three hours later, he
moppcd his perspIrIng brow and Viewed
what he had writtcn-"a little rugged.
but shows promise--clever plot--excel.
lent support by entire cast-Aiaicolm
Blaine In his usual good form"
II suppose that would satisfy even
Marcia" he told himself GROSSLY. MAR.
cia's the best girl there Is In the world.
but what she doesn't know about criti.
clsm Of the drama would run CORE.
spondence school,"
Next morning. feeling like u man
who has perJured his soul 10 save
his skin. Bill turned In his column
on "Neyer Mind. Janet" Further.
more. he was resolved thereafter to
write nothing but the truth. Job or no
Job. Marcia or no March,. Thank for.
tune he'd had the sense 20 hold prl.
vately to his own Views. by the way,
and not be Influenced by her Views
ON the subject. That noon. In u white
tiled lunch room. he ran into Simmons,
his boss. editor Of the Telegram.
II see." said that gentleman. with
glance that Bin took TO be rather
superior, that you aud don't agree
about Never Mind, Jnner took my
wife 10 II last evening. aud OF all the
poor shOws." lie continued einbo-
rntely 10 express his opinion, while
Bill groaned inwardly, yearning TO
say: "1hem's my sentiments. too 7"
Unfortunately, simmons held proof tn
the contrary, lcgibly type @bitten.
Il was some months later, after
Bin had investigated In vain one open.
ing after another, ranging from Jobs
as shoe clerk and apprentice cigar
maker to positions as factory Inspector
and post Office employee, hoping to
discover something promising future
on which he could marry the daugh.
Ter of u cautious father. that the blow
fell.
''The old man wants TO see you r.
Sam. the Office boy. advised the fact
loudly to Blll who was getting out
copy at desk In the corner. Bin rose,
and with an abnormally cheerful ex.
preston assumed for the benefit OF
two girl reporters, strolled to the ed.
itOrlal room. .et
'Sit down, Evans" Simmons, with.
In, invited him cordially. And ,Blll
sat. But he sat gingerly. on the thin
edge Of the chair. Personally. he
would have Ireterred 20 take standing
what was coming so N5 n