The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-01-25


himself for more than two minutes at
time. II 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 Il the almost In
separable companion Of young men In
his position.
So engrossed was he In his medita-
tion that he did not hear the light foot
step In the outer Office, and 1t was only
when It was followed by 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 escapef Perhaps
II he did not answer the knock. the
blighter might think there was nobody
at home. But suppose he opened the
door and peeped inf A spasm Of Ma
poleonic strategy seized Sam. He
dropped silently to the floor and con-
ceaIed 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. crouchsd like hare In its form.
held his breath. 1t seemed to him that
he was going to bring this delicate
operation of with success. He felt he
had acted just as Napoleon would have
done In a similar crisis. And so. no
doubt, he had to 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 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 disconnected tortoise.
Dropped my pen." he mumbled. a
he rose to the surface.
! He pulled himself with an effort that
was like a physical exercise. He stared
at Billie dumbly. Then, recovering
speech, he Invited her to sit down, and
seated himself ut the desk.
"Drspped my peni" he gurgled
again.
'sYesY' said Billie.
fountain pen" babbled Sam, with
Q broad nib"
"Yes."
"A broad gold nib" went on Sam,
with the painful exactitude which
comes only from embarrassment or the
early stages Of intoxication.
"Reallyr said Billie, and Sam
blinked and told himself resolutely that
this would not do. He was not appear
ing to advantage. II suddenly occurred
to him that his hair was standing on
end as the result of his struggle with
Widgery. He smoothed 1t down hast
| lily, and felt trifie more composed.
The old fighting spirit Of the Marlowes
now began to assert itself to some ex-
tent. He must make An effort to ap-
pear as little Of fool as possible In
this girls eyes. And what eyes they
werei Gollyl Like starsl Like two
bright planets In -.
However. that was neither here nor
There. He pulled down his vest and
became cold and businesslike--the dry
young lawyer.
"Er-how do you do. Miss Bennettf'
he said with a question In his voice.
raising his eyebrows In a professional
way. He modelled this performance on
that Of lawyers he had seen on the
stage, and wished he had some snuff
to take or something to tap against his
front teeth. "Miss Bennett, believer
Billie drew herself up stiffly.
eyes,. she replied. "How clever Of
you to remember me-
II have a good memory
"How nicel So have r
There was a pause. dusjng which BIZ
lie allowed her gaze to travel casually
about the room. Sam occupied the In
ftermission by staring furtively at her
profile. He was By now In a thorough
Fly overwrought condition, and the
humping Of his heart sounded to him
as II workmen were mending the street
outside. How beautiful she looked,
with that red hair peeping out beneath
her hat and Howeveri
sIs there anything can do for your
he asked In the sort Of voice Widgery
might have used. Sam always pictured
wIdgery as q small man with bushy
eyebrows, thin face and a voice like
q rusty flle. 80
-well. really wanted 70 see Sir
IMallaby."
my father has been called away on
limportanf business 70 Walton heath,
Cannot ! sct a. kis substitutef
do you know anything shout the
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