The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-08-07
prudence"
BY FLORENCE mELL,sH


thing on the Eagle, Oscar did not have
the vanity to think 1t was wholly on
account Of his own journalistic ability.
Oscars father had been Amos Whit
ing's closest chum. But Oscar had a
knack for writing, and he meant to
make good. .-.--.ss--.---=..
You'll have to take whatever. Haw-
kins gives you. even II It doesn't hap
pen to suit your taste; then, by and
by, you may get something different"
"We're swamped with sub reporters
already. But II Whitfng-see here.
you may have The Twilight Hour
Mrs. Starkweather is laid up; indeh-
nitely. You give advice to girls dis
Greet and sensible but sympathetic.
See? Your desk Is over there by the
window. I'll send you some OF Mrs.
Starkweather's files so that you can
get her drift. Your signature will be
Prudence Kenworthy.'" -
"But-isn't that a lady's nameT
Oscar gasped
"Of course, and you want to be lady
like and refined, you know. No rough
stuff and no slang. You'll soon get
the feminine touch" AAf
"Great Caesarr' groaned Oscar
French. 81 don't want to get femi-
nine touch. ! want a mans job"
Hawkins turned curt shoulder.
That's all ! have for you now. You
can take it or leave it,"
Young French set his teeth. "I'll
take it."
"Oh. you'll like it when you get start
ed, especially when the personal letters
come in. But don't try to answer many
of them. It's waste of time
Young French strode over to the
desk by the window and buried him
self in Mrs. Starkweather's files He
began his uncongenial task with grim
determination, and soon had the salts
faction of feeling that at least he was
| equal to 1t. When some waggish re
pOrters left an Offering of camellias
and maidenhair ferns with box of
chocolates on his desk he placidly
dumped the flowers into the waste
basket and ate the candy with ostenta-
tious relish.
Oscars manly determination to get
the feminine touch was success. He
soon out-Prudenced Prudence herself,
and the personal letters poured in as
suring Miss Kenworthy that she was
better and better every day."
The personal lettersl He did enjoy
them, though he followed Hawkins ad-
vice and answered few of them. But
he did write personally to Georgie
Goodale. George wasn't sentimental
or whiny, and she had some pep"
She lived In Martinville with her aunt
Rachael. Aunt Rachael was dear,
but she wouldn't let George, do, any
thing that the other young people did,
and she was opposed to Georges
! studying law.
"Dear Miss Kenworthy," George
wrote, your letters are comfort and
an inspiration, too. The twilight hour
Is the best in my day. But I'd give
my new camera for talk with. you
face to face. Now you like fishing;
you said you did. Back of our cottage
is wonderful trout brook, and Aunt
| Rachels luncheons are gorgeous. Can't
we make a dateW
Oscar French caught al the Idea. He
did make a date with George. He
laughed at the mirrored image of his
fisherman's costume in anticipation Of
her surprise. He looked forward like
schoolboy to the tete-a-tete and the
good fishing and Aunt Raehel's "gor-
geous luncheon" But when he actu-
ally stood on the platform Of Marsh
Vile station he scanned the faces Of
the women waiting there. half dread
ing to meet Georgie. 81
IT have lots Of freckles and look
like boy" she had written. He failed
to Identify the buoyant and vivacious
George in the middle-aged and jaded-
looking group. A lanky. freckled youth
encountered with fishing tackle. was
watching the women who aliglted from
the train.
"Pm looking for Prudence Ken
worthy" he announced impersonally.
Hello, Georgie," called a genial en-
ployee. who was carrying leather mail
bags.
Oscar faced the freckled youth.
That's one Of my names.'
The freckled youth grinned. I'm
George. The jokes on me-" he added
magnanimously. ~
"No, it's on me-" French insisted,
not to be outdone. you have the
freckles, at any rate. Is there real
trout brookT'
"You bet your life there isl and a
cloudy day like this-oh, boy Come
on, partner. and we'll show EN-"
I'm glad you aren't lady" Georgie
confded to his companion when the
wicker baskets were nearly full. II
was beginning to have cold feet"
$50 was l." French acknowledged.
'Well. it's time for luncheon. and
Aunt Rachel promised to make peach
short-cake. l guess she'll have chicken
salad. too"
They tramped across the fields and
approached the cottage from the back.
2 There's Aunt Rachel In the door
vny." cried Ge,agie. who was striding