The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-15
Spoiled Her Good
Time
By JOHN PALMER

BY JOHN PALMER
Miss Krantz had been Is years
in Widdimer's department store,
and knew the running Of things
from A to q. The moment she set
eyes on Miss O'Dell she resolved to
\prOtect her.
The girl was pretty as q pic
ture, and her SIP q week seemed
q fortune to her. It was the first
money she had earned, and 1t was
her first month alone In the city.
Now, Widdimer's was "a high
class store, but the girls we're badly
underpaid. Nobody understood the
reason better than Miss Krantz.
There were plenty of employees who
had branched out of Widdimer's,
under Widdimer's protection, to
take the primrose path that leads
where does 1t lead to? Are the
moral maxims true as well as
right? At least 1t led out Of slavery
IN the store. And old Widdimer
was generous while the mood last
ed. And Mary O'Dell was pretty
sure to attract Widdimer's eye when
he came In.
Miss Krantz tried to warn her.
but Miss O'Dell seemed incapable
of understanding. She was so
childlike and innocent. Then and
there Miss Krantz swore that Miss
O'Dell should never come to any
harm so long as she could save
her.
And Widdimer was a coward, too.
It would be easy enough. II she
couldn't make Mary understand,
she could make Widdimer under
Standard meant to. But the best
of plans 60 astray. The morning
that Widdimer came in Miss Krantz
had been sent to another part Of
the building. -p3
Widdimer came in, a stout, pom
pous, timid old man, and went
straight to Mary O'Dell as II to a
magnet. There was a whispering
and furtive giggling among the rest
as they saw Widdimer interrogatlng
Mary. They tried to listen; little
snatches of the conversation were
heard.
"And how long have you been
with US, Miss O'Dell?" asked Wild
diner. 70
"Only three weeks, sir" !
do you live with your peopleY'i
"No. sir; my people live up
state. I have hall bedroom in a
rooming house."
you haven't brother, even?"
Old Widdimer was afraid of broth
ers. !
Mary was smiling up at him in
nocently. mo, sir. Iehaven't
relative except an old mother"
IF she wasn't so innocent, I'd
say the little cat was stringing
him." whispered homely Mary Mul.
ligan to her friend.
But you're too young and pretty
for that dull sort of q life," said
Widdimer very low, but not SO low
that It failed to reach Miss Alul.
llgan's sharp ears. Don't you like
amusement2"
'Oh, yes, sir; but you see I
haven't any one to give me any at
present." answered Mary, coloring
In the divinest manner.
'sHow would you like to have a
little supper with me some night
| next week" asked Widdimer, 30
low that the others only knew what
he was saying because they could
see how far he had got in his set
formula.
"would. it be the right thing to
do2" asked Mary. So
"My dear, I'm an old man. and
a lonely one, and I would feel SO
frightened up by"
s--Widdimer had got Just as far as
that when sharp-featured Miss
Krantz returned from the other
part of the building. Like a fury
she sailed into the scene,
"Mr. Widdimer," she painted.
"A1iss O'DelPs me friend, and
and under my care. and-and she
isn't to 60 out to dinner without a
chaperon. Meaning me !" said Miss
Krantz, thrusting her sour visage
/ forward. aflame with honest indig-
nation.
Old widdimef turned a slckly
green. "Oh, II that Is the case.'
he suffered. I'll guess made a
mistake" @
"well. / guess 80. too- said Miss
Krantz, and watched his retreatinp
form. It might or might not cost
her her Job. but she had protected
Mary.
| ooh, my dear" she said, '.yon are
so innocent. You didn't under.
stand. That man--oh,.that wicked,
awful mani am 60 hapkful thai
came up in time Why. what's the
it,AtterTsT (. 80 F,ssA I. .;s.s,i &
.Matter. you great clumsy snoop
ing butter-in. WHATEVER tnean by
interfering when I'd sot the old
guy clinched fora good timer de
manded Miss. O,Dell, half sDbbin9
.Oh, you're the limit. you ~. q
guess TIL have to write him d inasi
1 note now to bring him back q
\ lean"
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