The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-20

Southern railway officials and the sheriff of Rowan county, the situation brought about by the attempt of the railroad to man it's big shops with non union workers Is n1enaeing. many times. But at such moments. Bob treated her only with, graver ten derness; gave her deepest sympathy, even though he could not personally understand. s5
 How startled would he have been again and again to see her fairly wringing her hands after he had left the house, muttering wildly:
 T cannot go on like this ] must find a way and don't know how. But I must before it is too late."
 A Good Catch"
 Bob made one day ss00,ooo on one deal--a piece of property sold to some northern spectators, and that eve ming, in a fashionable restaurant, found himself disgusted and over whelmingly embarrassed at being pointed out and whispered over by several persons as "a veritable wizard of finance. and the city's best matri- monial catch"
 He was so close to the party he could not have helped overhearing.
 They even went so far as to urge upon one of the young girls of their crowd that he was R golden oppor- tunfty.
 There was something about the word "good catch" which had always filled Bob with loathing. It repre- sented that love and matrimony no longer were based on honesty of heart and spirit. A manor woman-was thing to be angled for not an in- dividual chosen through magnificent plessness-claimed by spontaneity and perforce; chosen by a mutual need and trust of two persons. too great to be gainsaid or denied; chosen be- cause lips smiled together; hearts were gladly mad together; hands met Tn comforting and close sweet ex- changes of expressions; minds were sweetly grave, or recklessly gay as one; purposes were high.
 Such Individuals would be capable of rearing souls with love of life and the ability to attain in it great mental and spiritual growth. But good catch8--a good catch.' So that was his piegon 7hole. Hnsty Departure s From the corner of his eye Bob caught the surety that one of the men of the party was being dispatched to invite him over. So without finish ing his meal. Bob hastily sumoned the waiter, paid his bill and vanished toward the entrance.
 He was relieved to have escaped the ordeal he could picture-women leaning, obsequiously flattering and over-sweet, in his direction-women whose expressions lied. There would have followed an agonizing, sugar coated feminine prying into his af- fairs. his answer he knew to be re- peated out of his sight and discussed; ; affected gayety; stifffing perfumes; smiles passionately directed in his eyes; urgent invitations.
 The mans soul felt tiBed--as if ii had been through long, pressing ill., ness.
 His hat having been handed him from the check room. he had Just started to descend the stairs when he laughter It was so sweet in It's frank sincerity. he turned involun- tarily.
 The red-haired girl. looking tiny in gown of sheerest black, was l coming up the steps with a man. Just behind her and with the party was Annette Kingston and youth of Lan- don's acquaintance.
 Bob averted his gaze quickly so that he might not be forced to encounter them, nor Mary Trevor--but Annette
 was not that sort. There was never any such getting away from her. (TO he cOntfnuedl