Arizona republican., 1922-03-05
THE PRETENDER
THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY STORY
A COMPLETE NOVELETTE,

and more delightful than ever Mai
zie. William found himself tongue
tied before the beauty of her. Occa-
sionally other evenings together fol-
lowed. but not so frequently as Will
liam desired, for she was evidently a
much occupied girl. Always, on one
pretext Of another, she arranged that
they meet downtown.
One noon he took an elevator fol-
lowing the one in which Maizie and
fellow worker had gone. His car
emptied Immediately after theirs and
he was almost on the heels OF the two
girls. Idly he followed in the direc-
ton they took. Then he stopped
short with a whistle of surprise, for
Maizie and her companion had turned
into the Elite. Villa m, knowing the
place and it's prices, wondered how
girls earning the small sums these
were could patronize it. He had
never felt that he could afford it. but
today he went in and took table
near the girls. In amazement he
heard them order chicken, salad. ices
and coffee, and was so depressed that
he scarcely touched his food. He did
not linger over his work that even
ing. Neither did Maizie. She and
her luncheon companion got Off the
car Just ahead of his and again he
was close behind them. Then he
heard Maizie's high. sweet voice say
ing, walk? Well take a taxi, OF
course!"
He passed the girls, coldly lifting
his hat He was in a maze. His girl
eating at the Elite when girls in far
better paid positions were bringing
sandwiches from home for their
lunchl And to mention a taxi as
though it were her usual method OF
conveyancei For hours William
thought-terrible thoughts. Then he
shook himself free from them. Maizie
was not that kind of a girl! At last
he felt sure that Maizie came from a
wealthy home and was working
merely from a whim. That account
ed for her daintiness and explained
why she had not wished him to come
to the house. She was ashamed to
have her people meet a poor clerk as
a friend Of hers.
William was proud to fault. He
resolved that no longer should she
be pestered with his Intentions.
What could he on his $25 a week
mean to her?
For weeks he so maneuvred that
he saw her only at distance. lie
would not let himself think OF how
he was suffering from the longing
for her. Determined TO fight down
this thing that had struck him all IN
a moment that day he repaired her
machine. he asked for his vacation
early and got 1t. But being far away
from Maizie did not cure his desire
for her. He hurried back and went
to work two days before his vaca-.
ton was up on a pretense OF being
busy But he knew that he did It SO
that he could once more breathe the
same air with Maizie. though. stub
bornly. he would not admit it even
to himself
Then came the elevator accident.
For the first time in weeks he and
Maizie rode down In the same car.
Maizie was the last one to enter II.
Somehow she was caught. The boys
presence of mind saved fatality
and Maizie tainted in Williams arms
with merely a badly wrenched arm,
William took charge. She must be
taken home at once. He called
taxi. put her in and got in beside
her.
You're not taking me homer she
cried in dismay.
'Of course. That's the only place
for YOU" he replied. Don't worry;
I shant force myself upon you or
your people"
you force yourself upon me and
nv people!" Maizie sat upright,
then sank back with a moan of pain.