Shoshone journal., 1923-12-28

a time. Il was usless to pretend that
he did not still love Billie more than
ever, because he knew he did; and
now, as the truth swept over him for
the hundred and first time he groaned
hollowly and gave himself up to the
gray despair which Is the almost In
separable companion Of young men In
his position.
SO engrossed was he In his medita-
ton that he did not hear the light foot
step in the outer Office, and it was only
when 1t was followed by a tap on the
door Of the inner Office that he awoke
with start to the fact that clients
were in his midst He wished that he
had taken his fathers advice and
locked up the Office Probably this was
some frightful bore who wanted to
make his Internal will or something,
and Sam had neither the ability nor
the inclination to assist him.
Was 1t too late to escape? Perhaps
If he did not answer the knock, the
blighter might think there was nobody
at home. But suppose he opened the
door and peeped in? A spasm of Ma
poleonic strategy seized Sam. He
dropped silently to the floor and con-
cealed himself under the desk. Ma
poleon was always doing that sort of
thing.
There was another tap. Then, as
he had anticipated, the door opened.
Sam, crouchad like hare in its form,
held his breath. 1t seemed to him that
he was going to bring this delicate
operation off with success. He felt he
had acted just as Napoleon would have
done In a similar crisis. And so, no
doubt, he had to q certain extent; only
Napoleon would have seen to 1t that his
boots and about eighteen inches of
trousered legs were not sticking out
plainly visible to all who entered.
"Good morning." said a voice.
Sam thrilled from the top Of his head
to the soles of his feet. 1t was the
voice which had been ringing in his
ears through all his waking hours.
"Are you busy, Mr.. Narrower" asked
Billie addressing the boots.
Sam wriggled out from under the
desk like a disconnected tortoise.
dropped my pen," he mumbled, as
he rose to the surface.
He pulled himself with an effort that
was like physical exercise. He stared
at Billie dumbly. Then, recovering
speech, he invited her to sit down, and
seated himself at the desk.
Dropped my pen| he gurgled
again.
"Yes?" said Billie.
"Fountain pen" babbled Sam, with
broad nib"
"Yes."
"a broad gold nib" went on SAM
with the painful exactitude whlch
comes only from embarrassment or the
early stages of intoxication.
"Really?" said Billie, and Sam
blinked and told himself resolutely that
this would not do. He was not appear
ing to advantage. 1t suddenly occurred
TO him that his hair was standlng on
end as the result of his struggle with
Widgery. He smoOthed 1t down mast
ilv. and felt a tri1e more composed
The old fighting spirit of the Mariowes
now began to assert itself to some ex-
font He must make an effort TO ap-
near as little of a fool as possloie III
this girls eyes. And what eyes they
were! Gollyl Like stars! Like t"o
bright planets in -.
However. that was neither here nor
there. He pulled down his vest ana
became cold and businesslike-the dry
young lawyer.
..Er-how do you do, Miss Bennett!
he said with a question in his voice,
raising his eyebrows in professional
wav He modelled this performance on
that of lawyers he had seen on the
stage and wished he had some snufr
20 take or something to tap against his
front teeth. Miss Bennett, oeiie'ef
Rillie drew herself up stiffly.
"yes." she replied. How clever OF
Won TO remember me-
"I have a good memory.
"How nicel So have | "
There was a pause. during which BIZ
lie allowed her gaze TO travel casually
ahont the room. Sam occupied the IN
termlssion by staring furtively at her
nro,ile. he was by now In thoroueh'
~ overweight condition. ana 'ne
,bumnlng OF his heart sounded 10 MN
~ n workmen were mending the streel
outside How beautiful she looked
u,itb that red hair peeping out pensa'N
her ma, and o.. However
sIs there anything can 90 for your
no asked IN che sort Of voice Widsfry
might have used. Sam always pleluf'p
wIdgery as 9 small man Win pusns
eyebrows, a thin face ana q voice ''N'
rusty hie. al,
,Wel. J really wanted 10 sec ~
Mallaby' ...., oo
pMy faiher has been called RNNy '' ~,
imnortant business to Nnlion N'f'"
CANNOT aoi as Ms sobsiuplff
'1Do you Rnoe Anything np'" ''
laNT ..., ,,,. is. i,