Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-09-06
YOURS TRULY
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN
Uss
Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union.

Big Jim Darrow leaned back in his
chair and looked diffidently toward
his pretty stenographer. He could
never get over certain shyness in is
suing his orders. To ask this COM
petent young person to follow his
dictatiOn seemed a preSuGptuouS
thing. Yet Jim, fresh from the West,
was power in his own world. That
his early education had been necessar-
lily neglected was no handicap in his
rugged determination for success. But
realizing his deficiencies he engaged
stenographer who might not only
take rough dictation but put 1t in best
possible form.
Margaret Wainwright came to him
in response to an advertisement; this
was her first position in the business
world.
Jim gathered from her few conf
dences that her fathers sudden death
and the following shock Of his bad in
vestments were responsible for his
own good fortune. For Margaret soon
became invaluable to him.
SO Jim gave his business orders
humbly, and rejoiced in the daily
sight of his adored. And he was hap
py, too in measure, until that con
founded BaiSly came upon the scene.
In his remuneration, jim had not
counted on rival-and that Baisly,
the aggressively conceited, should be
that rival was insufferable.
Jim was whistling in the soft way
he had when things were we'll with
him, when Baisly dropped into the Of
flee on business errand, and amaz-
edly encountered Margaret Vain
wright there.
"Peggie Wainwright as l live!" he
cried, and extended an eager hand.
Jim flushed angrily at the "Peggie"
but the girl herself turned in evident
pleasure to accept the greeting
"NIr. Baisly and l were neighbors ut
home" she explained.
More than neighbors," Baisly add
ed. "Why, carried Peggie's books to
school in the old-fashioned way
schoolmates, school days, all that sort
Of thing. Now, to find you here, my
dear, is one big streak of luck. Not
the lonely evening tonight | antici-
pated, for you will go to the theater
with me, peg O. My Hearth
And Margaret agreed to go. Jim,
with sinking heart, heard her smil-
i.,- reply. After that Baisly haunted
the office.
The Westerner, comparing that
modishly immaculate figure with ms
.own sturdy presence could not dispute
Margaret's preference he only hoped
anxiously that Baisly was serious
this time. and would not bring to those,
soft unclouded eyes the shadow he
had brought to others.
Jim was very gentle, to the girl,
very grateful for her interested assist
ance 1t was like her unseltish
sweetness to sacrifice now and then
an evening of pleasure, to be helpful
ly at her employers side. Margaret
must be happy-this lovely and be-
loved GIRL even if Baisly, the irrespon-
sible, We're the one to make her so.
The mans Snug assurance neverthe
less continued to jar upon him and 1t
was with dread that Jim awaited the
announcement he felt sure must come.
They were seated before the Western
er's desk when Baisly preached the
dreaded subject, Margaret's dusky
head just in view beyond it.
81 guess it's plain TO you where my
fancy lies" Baisly said, smiling salts
faction.
Jim nodded. THE question which
most concerns me-" he replied, lis
where does Margaret's fancy lie?"
Baisly, leaning back, lightly touched
his own breast. Here of course" he
triumphed.
"And you are to be married?" 1t
was the hardest sentence big Jim had
ever managed.
"As soon as Peg says the word"
Baisly calmly lit his cigar. Smoker"
he held second cigar toward the
Westerner
were trembling. you make her hap
py--" he began The words had the
sound of threat.
Baisly's smile was hooking MAY
be, you had designs there yourself"
he retorted.
Gravely Jim replied: Margaret
Wainwright is the one woman I would
marry
Baisly started. "And she has re-
fused your"
Jim whirled around. you think I
would dare to offer myself, in the
rough, and she--all fineness?'
The girl at the desk arose, and came
with her typed pages to her employer.
Confusedly Jim gazed down upon her
works 1t was a response to an order
With her eyes compellingly upon his
Margaret bent over his typewriter, to
add the signature. Following that
compelling gaze, Jim's eyes, too. were
| on the paper.