Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-12-07
According to
Pittman
BY JAMES PAGAN


Business college was fifty. and. as he
had always been bachelor, the PROD
abilities were that he always would
be one. He was tall, lean, earnest,
and "A crackerjack oil bookkeeping.
HowevN. he was also strong on
shorthand. for which reason Miss Cum
mings had asked him 10 take Howells'
place while that professor was on his
vacation. Howells was forty-five, dark.
energetic, and reported 10 be engaged
10 Miss Cummings.
Elizabeth Cummings was forty. Why
she had never married was "A constant
theme Of speculation among her pupils
the feminine section; for Miss Cum
mings was decidedly peachlsh. Ii was
generally agreed, however, that she
had met her fate In Howells, whom
they all detested.
Professor Atkinson was called ian
old dear" which summed him up very
nicely. No one knew how romantic
heart beat under his old-fashioned
waistcOat.
The professor had been six months
AT the college, and he was dreadfuliy
afraid of Miss Cummings.
The Avenue school was only one Of
three which Miss Cummings supern-
tended i'm the town. Every Monday
and every Thursday morning she APP
peared and went through the building.
inspecting the bookkeeping. the French.
Spanish and German departments, and
the shorthand and typewritlng section.
from which so many roses biossomed
periodically into the stern, nipping air
Of business life.
1t was on the second Thursday morn
ing after Professor Atkinson had taken
over Howells job that Miss Cummings
appeared. She stood for five full min
utes listening 60 the professors expo
stion. while Professor Atkinson grew
redder and redder, and stammered
more and more.
That won't do, Professor.' Miss
Cummings spoke with her usual sharp
ness. This pupil made wrong gram
analogue on the blackboard, and you
allowed it 10 pass"
IL >--il Dt-dll the plolt>SoI.
Its not according to Pitman," re.
turned Miss Cummings sharply.
ITS my way to allow the pupils TO
make their grammalogues, Miss Cum
mings,' said Professor Atkinson.
an future, professor, you will kindly
follow Mr. pitman," retorted Miss
Cummings.
The test is whether they can read
them" said the professor
Miss Cummings, whose locks were
auburn. was little hasty.
81 have given you my Instructions"
she said finally. IF you are not salts
fed. Professor Atkinson, nobody Is de-
tanning you against your WILL"
The class Uttered as Miss Cummings
went out, but the professor sat like a
broken man until the recess. Then he
paced the class room in desperation.
He reviewed his position. He was
ffty, he would have difficulty In Sc
curing another position, and he had no
capital with which TO open a school
OF his own.
On the other hand, his authority over
his pupils WAS gone. 1t was impossible
to retain both his self-respect and his
position.
Worst of all, he knew now that he
had always cherished very warm
I feeling for Miss Cummings. That was
I the GROWING blow-the way she had
turned against him. He sat down and
inditpL her q note:
"Dcar Miss Cummings:
This letter is to say goodbye" he
wrote. II cannot help but leave you,
and I'd leave tomorrow, but Howells
can take my place on Saturday"
Then dlabolcal idea occurred TO
him. He would write ii in shorthand.
Miss Cummings would understand the
hint. And the professor was only human
lie did so and had posted tile letter
/ before his heart began 10 beat rapidly
at tie thought of what he had done.
SUPPOSE Miss Cummings came round
in one of her flaming RACES?
However. il was done. and that after
noon he gaced his tittering pupils like
Il mana broken man, but still man.
That evening he remained long at his
desk. porting over the accumulated OK
crcises. The professor was conscien-
tious; he could not leave this mass
of work to Howels.
lie was about to depart ut last when
Il soft tap came at the door.
Come in" called the professor
And it was Miss Cummings who
entered. But there was no fire in Miss
Cummings eye. She looked at him rs
II possessed approached and suddenly
flung her arms about his neck
Darling" she whispered, lit was
only because | loved you and you
seemed so cold that was horrid to you
this morning. Was my sweet boy jeal-
Gus OF silly Mr.. Howells, thenW
Professor Atkinson, lost in amaze
ment. felt Miss Cummings kisses on
his cheek.
at was so brave of you to write
me that darling letter" Miss Cum
mings continued. 1T burned itself in
10 my brain, and then l knew that
had found my real affinity. And SO
short and plain and simple, like all
things that are real.