The Holbrook news., 1922-07-14

After the breakfast things were cleared away Johnnie fared forth to a certain house adjoining Riverside drive, where he earned ten dollars a week as outdoors man. His business was to do odd jobs about the place. He cut and watered the lawn. He made small repairs. Beatrice had a rose garden, and under her direction he dug. watered and fertilized.
 Incidentally, the snub-nosed little puncher with the unfinished features adored his young mistress in the dumb, uncritical fashion a schoolboy does a Ty Cobb or an Eddie Collins. In his heart he had hopes that Clay would fall in love with and marry her. But her actions worried him. Some times he wondered if she really under stood what a catch Clay was.
 He tried to tell her his notions on the subject the morning Clay praised his flapjacks.
 She was among the rose-bushes, gloved and halted, clipping American Beauties for the dining room, a dainty but very self-reliant little personality.
 Miss Beatrice, I been thinkin' about you and Clay," he told her, leaning on his spade.
 What have you been thinking about us?" the girl asked, shipping off big rose.
 How you're the best-lookin' couple that man would see anywheres."
 Into her clear cheeks the color flowed. If I thought nonsense like that wouldn't say it," she said quiet ly. Were not couple. He's man. I'm woman. I like him and want to stay friends with him if you'll let me-"
 Sure. I know that, but" Johnnie groped helplessly to try to explain what he had meant. Clay he likes you a heap" he finished inadequately.
 The eyes of the girl began to dance. There was no use taking offense at this simple soul. Does he? I'm sure Pm gratified," she murmured, busy with her scissors among the roses.
 Yep. I never knowed Clay to look at a girl before. He sure thinks heap of you."
 She gave a queer little bubbling laugh. You're flattering me-"
 Honest, I aint." Johnnie whispered a secret across the rose bushes. "Say, if you work 1t right I believe you can get him."
 The girl sparkled. Here was a new slant on matrimonial desirability. Clearly the view of the little cow puncher was that Clay had only to crook his fingers to summon any girl in the world that he desired.
 "What would you advise me to do?" she dimpled.
 "Shol I dunno" He shyly un- burdened himself of the warning he had been leading up to. "But I'd tie can to that dude fellow that hangs around-the BrOmfeld guy. O. course I know he ain't one, two, three with you while Clay's on earth, but don't reckon I'd take any chances, as the old sayin' is. Better get shet of the dude."
 Miss Whitford bit her lip to keep from exploding in a sudden gale of mirth. But the sight of her self-ap- pointed chaperon set her off into peals of laughter in spite of herself. Ev- cry time she looked at Johnnie she went off into renewed chirrups. He was so homely and so deadly earnest. The little waif was staring at her in perplexed surprise, mouth open and chin fallen. He could see no occasion for gayety at his suggestion. There was nothing subtle about the Runt. In his social code wealth did not fig ure. A y-dollar-a-mOnth bronco buster was free to offer advice to the daughter of a millionaire about her matrimonial prospects if it seemed best.
 Clay ain't ole O the common run of by jollies. he ain't. Clay he owns half-interest in the B-in-a-Box. O course it ain't what he's got, but what he is that counts. He's the best alarmed pilgrim ever did sec"
 Hes all right, Johnnie," the girl admitted with an odd smile. Do you want me to tell him that I'll be glad to drop our family friends to meet his I don't suppose he asked you to speak to me about it. did he?"
 The little range-rider missed the irony of this. 'No. ma'am I jest but ted in. Mebbe I hadn ought to of spoke
 "You needn't feel bad, Johnnie. There's no harm done-if you don't say anything about it to Mr. Lindsay But I don't think you were intended for a matchmaker That takes quite a little finesse doesn't it?'
 The word ''finesSe' wAs not in John nie's dictionary. but he acquiesced in her verdict.
 "I reckon, maam. you're right" '
 Clay was waiting for lunch at a rot isserie on Sixth avenue. and in order just now than he knew what to do meanwhile reading news paper propped against waterbOitle. From the personal column there popped out at him three lines that caught his attention
 If this meets the eye of C. L. of
 Arizona please write me. Box M-2l.
 The Herald Am in trouble
 Eittu AIu