The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-30
Chapter 81.
GREAT PLANS,

The change ir position had hap
pened quite suddenly. Ruth found
herself literally left in charge of a
tiny Office, with little work and most
of the day to herself. Mr.. Vance, the
real estate man, spent nearly all his
time away, sometimes in pursuit of his
work, more often at nearby pool
room.
Langley Williams had been in Mar
ketown two weeks. The day after
he arrived Ruth had seen him, and
decided to change her position. as she
did not want to meet him In the fac
tory She hated the work. too, and
when. two days later. she heard that
Mr.. Vance needed someone in the Of
fee, she went down promptly for the
place. She wore the simple little
serge suit that her aunt had bought
her that spring, and the plain little
waist that went with it, and felt her
self to be quite smart and business like
in appearance.
Her leisure she employed in prac-
ticing on the typewriter and making
speed in shorthand. She was reading
up all articles on business efficiency
that she could find
And perhaps when get experience
here I can go to the city and apply
for place." she said. $40 week
Is very high for Marketown. I could
double that if I could be private sec
rotary to man in a big city firm. "
Her mother said nothing to this. The
big house was we'll run. Trust Mrs.
O'Niel for efficiency there! But the
more people it held. the greater were
its expenses. Ruth was ready to
swear that the furnace gorged coal
in an uncanny manner, the bins need
ed contant re-flling. And bed linen
would wear out towels developed
strange rents, table cloths had to be
purchased. As Mrs. ONiel said, they
got along" and that was about all.
All except that there was always 4
good table at home now, plenty of
heat, plenty of hot water
But Mr.. O'Niel growing daily more
helpless, as his troubles ran it's natural
course, became a greater and greater
expense. Medicines and doctors
should be classed as Injuries, Ruth
decided. So, with taxes and repairs
end the thousand and one things that
came up, the bank account kept even
and that was all.
Langley Williams called on the eve
took an instant fancy to Duncan O'Niel.
and the two men spent most of the
evening together talking books and
travel.
you've been everywhere" Duncan
said
But you've read all about it, and
know more concerning the places I've
seen than I do" Williams answered.
And Ruth felt, somehow, that she
was nothing more than a small child
permitted to sit and listen to the
srown-up's conversation. Langley
Williams paid only polite attention to
her
He came in again, one evening when
she had gone to Mrs. Weed's-an in
termitten friendship existed there.
He came again, when she was taking
her shorthand lesson-she still kept
these up. He knew the evenings when
she was not at home, and he always
seemed to call then.
Ruth decided Langley Williams did
not like her.
But it did not worry her.
I've no time for men, for firta-
tons, or marriage, or anything like
that" she told her mother. I've a
career to make, and every possible
handicap to overcome But I'll be a
successful business woman yet Only
it leaves me no time 10 think of ro-
nance"
You just wait. dearie," little Mrs
Bedding put in, from her place by the
kitchen table
So Ruth, as Mrs. Bedding said.