Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-12

II am not, thank you," came back
at him crisply. won't this wait until
morning? Ill be down at work them
"It will not wait" said Clauson,
lust as crisply. And then she saio
that the landlady sometimes let her
Use her own sitting room and she would
sec. Ten minutes and Clauson was In
the landlady's sitting. room and Ruth
Rickson sat before him. She was In
her Office dress and she waited primly
and as If she were about to take dicta-
ton; but with a faint, puzzled frown.
It was a terrible ROOM this in which
they were seated. The colors fairly
locked horns. Above Miss Rlckson's S
head depended a bright oil Of a dog
much too large for his kennel. The
light swooped down from the naked
gas Jets. There was an odor Of cold
storage.
IT can't get you out Of my mind"
Causon began abruptly. "Look here.
I want to help you."
"Help me?" She looked still more
puzzled. Her somewhat wary presence
was not as Causon had imaged It.
She made II a bit difficult for him to
60 on. He was not very sure what
he intended to say-anyhow-had not
been sure any Of the time. He had
depended on inspiration and her man =
ner was not inspiring him.
Eyes. Help-help you somehow to
get a better DEAL" he brought out.
'"Thank you. That's very nice Of
you. Howl" inquired Miss Ricksor
rapidly. 1t was the exact manner
in which she sometimes said, "Will you
spell that name for me. please7"
Clauson doundered. II don't know"
he said. "You tail me. What do you
what DO you want to do?"
Mis Ricksop was watching him. I,
came 10 Oauson that she was enor-
mously able to take care Of herself
to make her own deals. There in the
Office, taking his orders in silence, defer
ential. gentle, she had never seemed
anything like 30 self. suflcient as she
seemed now.
IT want to Be q stenographer, she
said. y That's fairly plain, isn't IT
by my taking the trouble to learn the
stuff"
eyes. Of course. But haven't yor
any other ambition? Haven't you evel
wanted" Clauson was feelin,
rather foolish, as II the only reason
which he could think Of offhand foI
coming to see her had failed.
"Why," said Miss Rlckson, II sup
pose I want to be married."
Clauson was startled. "You are 90.
ing to be married?" he inquired.
Nobody that I'd have has evel
asked me. But" said Miss Ricksol
gravely, ''hs may, he may" sh
smiled little then and dipped her head
It went through tho mind Of Clausol
that this bookkeeper. or whoever h
might prove, would be the one to hea
her agree, EXACTLY, dear" or woul,
she agree so very much? Really, sh
was very different from the Miss Rick
son in his Office. She sat there waiting
politely, to hear what he was goin
to say next. And what 'wcs he goin
to say next?
"You--you wouldn't want to 80 t
college," he asked her, looking NOR
foolish still.
"Nie? Not much. I'm no teache
born. Three and a bath-that's m
measure. And my mother will live wit
me-when I get it,
Clauson arose. He looked aroun
him little wildly. 'But couldn't 20
live somewhere now?" he wanted t
) know. "Where-where such a curse
dog wouldn't sit in front Of kennel h
doesn't ht?"
She looked quite blank. What's tn
, matter with the dog?" she inquired
and dipped her head. and turned he
? face a bit without turning her eye,
, and ran her hand UP over her bobbe
. hair at the back. She was 80 utterl
charming when she was silent-an