The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-06-14
Ann Adams
Conquest
By HARRIET BRUNKHURsT

ing SELF as she sat at her desk beside
the window. Her fluffy light hair was
dressed as prettlly as ever, her blue
serge frock was faultlessly pressed
and brushed, her white collar and cuffs
immaculate. Nor did AIMS fingers
lag as she Transcribed her notes. Yet
Ann was detected, confused, uncertain
as never before In all her short, CHEEKY
life.
Ann did not look at the man at the
,, big desk in the center of the room.
She did not need to- for she sensed the
moody. brooding aspect of him. He had
worn 1t for three days now. ever since
he had abruptly checked himself in
the middle Of what appeared to be
proposal on Monday. This was
Wednesday.
An extraordinarily good new posi-
ton was offered to Ann, and while
she regretted leaving Lester Sawyer,
to refuse the opening would be folly.
Ann told Mr.. Sawyer on Monday.
Lester Sawyer had hesitated, said
that he must not stand in her way,
then, lighting into most appealing ten
derness. he had asked her to marry
him. but before he finished his SEN
tence he drew himself up shortly and
reverted to his usual office manner.
well, think the matter over" he
said; "Tll meet their offer If possible.
We can't spare you here"
Ann was puzzled. She was not deep
ly In love with Lester, but she knew
that she could be. However, the pres
ent situation was impossible.
"Mr. Sawyer" Ann suddenly whirled
In her chair and faced him, "I think
1t best to accept the Hudson peoples
Offer"
Sawyer looked up, surprised, but,
had he known 1t, scarcely more sur
prfsed than Ann herself, who had
spoken without any clear intention Of
doing so. She found herself immeas-
urably relieved once she had spoken,
smiled naturally and turned back to
her desk without awaiting an answer.
Lester left his desk and went over to
AIMS side.
Come out for luncheon with me-
he pleaded. "There Is something I
must say"
"Al right" said Ann, cheerily, al
though she ordinarily found 1t best to
refuse all invitations in business
hours "Only 1 have quite decided
that 1t would not be fair to ask the
arm to meet the. Hudson's OFFER. I'm
not worth that salary here"
well Sawyer's tone was doubt
fui. Il don't know about that. But
there's something else"
All Of AIMS briefly baniahed con-
fusion and indecision returned, but
she concealed 1t under q smiling nod,
and dismissed Sawyer by letting her
hands fall upon her typewriter keys
At the coy little table In a far
corner Of the restaurant Sawyer was
Delightfully."- self-possessed as he per-
formed his duties Of cavalier and host.
But when he approached the matter to
be discussed all his ease of manner
disappeared.
II must have seemed cad the
other day." he began without pre-
amhae. II started to ask you to
marry me. and I didn't give you a
chance to reject me. But I acted a.
II thought you were going to accept
mel had absolutely no reason for
thinking you would-and withdrew the
offer as impulsively as I made 1t. I'd
like to make 1t clear that 1 was think
ing only of you."
Ann smiled into his troubled eyes.
ut is all very well put" she said
"but 1t really doesn't make sense"
II suppose not" said Sawyer. "Did
you ever notice that I'm grouchT
"Never to me-" said Ann, gently.
"That's just it," the man answered
bitterly. Never to you. because I'm
not married to you. That Is what has
fooled every last man In my family and
equally deluded the girls that have
married into the family. You can
smooth me over in any business crisis
you can take care of that imp of an
dculties, avert the annoyances Of the
days routine. That Is why you are
worth an Increase in salary to the
firm, because Pm no good without
you"
you were a valuable man when
came to the firm," reminded Ann,
oddly moved nevertheless.
But you have no idea how much
you have Increased my value" he
said with tight-lipped smile. swell
that is the firms side of 1t. My
own side takes only an explanation.
The men of my family are beasts in
their homes. my father. my uncles, my
grandfather. There's only one thing
to be said for any of them-they don't
display their dispositions In public.
But / don't intend to bring to any
woman.s face. least of all yours, the
hunted, beaten. fretted look the wom-
en- who have married into our family
wear"
'Tm not afraid of you," said Ann.
sweetly, suddenly leaving the safe
ground whence she could retreat or
advance at will. you have always
shown your real self with me-you
always would"