The Republican journal., 1922-05-04
The Noon Hour
Notes
Nv FRANK II. WILLIAMS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:


the big general offices of the Acme
Manufacturing company, Don stole
clances at her as she bent demurely
aver her typewriter, turning out work
,ust about twice as fast as any other
Girl In the office and work that was
inst about three times as neat as
theirs. And every time that Don
Glanced at her brown hair and big
h,pe ewes and rosy cheeks, his heart
aid quick step and he felt like rush
ing right up to her and carrying her
of with him to the marrying parson"
,hree blocks down on the street on
which the Acme company was located.
Then as Don would turn reluctantly
hack TO his work, his heart would
sink.
What chance had he anyhow? Not
,he least little chance in the world
sqainst Charles Gilliom, the sales
manager. who, though there was gray
IN his hair and lines at the corners
of his eyes, courted Dolly with all the
srdor Of a college youth.
of course, Don and Dolly were good
friends But always when Don was
on the verge of leaning close to Dolly
and whispering in her pretty ear that
II would be good stunt for them to
hook up and go through life together,
the thought of his meager salary rose
Nh and chilled him. And there was
GiUiom looming In the distance with
his fat salary and big. powerfuI auto
mobile. Surely 1t wouldn't be right to
deprive Dolly of the life of ease that
Gilllom could give her.
For some weeks things dragged on
this way-Don becoming more pessi-
mistic and less ardent from day to
day. and Gilliom becoming ardent and
more confident as time went on.
Then there came day on which
Dolly hesitated when Don asked her
10 go to the movies that night.
Il hardly know what TO say
said Dolly. 81 was out late last night
and I'm going to be out late tomorrow
night. | really ought to stay home
tonight and get some sleep. 1t always
makes me sleepy to ride in an auto
mobile and didn't get enough sleep
last night
Don shivered a bit as Dolly said
this. He felt as If some one had
thrown cold water over him. He knew,
Of course, who Dolly had been with
the night before and who she was to
be with the following night. OF
course. II would be Gilliom. He was
the only one Of Dolly's friends who
owned an automobile.
ooh. well. Wen call 1t off them" ex-
claimed Don, and turned hurriedly
away without looking up at Dolly.
As he strobe down the street he
thought he heard Dolly calling after
him. But he didn't stop. Probably
she merely wanted to tell him how
sorry she felt for him. He couldn't
stand that. so he kept right on walk
ing away hurriedly.
The next day at the Office Don
resolutely kept his eyes away from
Dolly. SO successful was he in doing
this that Sammy, the office boy, took
notice Of It, Having noticed the situa-
ton Sammy approached Don cautious
ly.
whats the matter?" queried Sam
my. Did she give you the frozen
mitt?"
As he spoke Sammy indicated Dolly
with a nod of his head.
For a moment Don felt like throt-
Ting Sammy Then he thought bet
ter of the idea and decided not to
throttle him.
NO" said Don. "she didn't give
me the icy mitt I've simply quit.
What chance" he added bitterly,
"has a guy got these days against
bird with lot of coin?" Then with
out waiting for an answer from Sam
my, Don mournfully answered him
self. mot a chance-not chance In
the world!"
"Well. cheer upl" admonished Sam
my. There are plenty of fish still left
in the sea-"
Huh" retorted Don, ~ don't want
to marry a fish,"
1t was on the following day that
Don, upon returning to his desk from
lunch, found the first of a series Of
notes which surprised him and made
him again feel like committing mur-
der upon Sammy.
The first note Don found read like
this:
Faint heart never won fair lady"
Of scrap paper in boyish hand. Right
away Don felt that a trick was being
played upon him by the fun-loving
Sammy. But. in order to be sure
about the matter Don secured some
specimens of Sammy's handwriting
and compared these specimens with
the note. The writing certainly looked
alike. There could therefore. be no
doubt that Sammy was responsible.
But Don decided to catch Sammy in
the act before saying anything to him.
For the purpose of catching Sammy
right at 1t Don returned to the office
earlier than usua! the following day.
But Sammy was not about However,
there was a note on the desk. just the
same, This second note read like this:
"Aw 60 ahead and try! Mebbe you
got chance after all"
The handwriting was the same as
that of the first note.
On the third day Don exercised
care i'm his effort to appre-
hend Sammy, but again he failed.