Evening star., 1925-08-16
He Had Always Poor Men

because that was the limit of his
purse.
"Oh. but you shouldn't do it!'' she
said, burying her face in the dewy
fragrance. You're a perfect goat!'
oh. no, I'm not" said Anderton.
IF | were, I'd have eaten them my
self"
You're an extravagant dumbbell.
she persisted severely. And and
rather sweet. In fact. ! almost like
you. But you mustn't
She never knew how she CALLED
him. For he was we'll aware that
Blanchard. who could afford to praise
him to her. could also afford to send
her long gstemmed roses by the armful
and orchids by the basket. Was the
situation equivocal?
And then, in March, he was sum-
moned by the chief Of personnel.
Hello. Mr.. Second Assistant Man
ager," said the chief. joviauy. How
along with your new job and your
new salary?"
WHAT" said Anderton, bewildered.
How come? Second assistant man
ager of what"
Credit department" said the chief
of personnel. And at the miserable
pittance of hundred a week You've
jumped over Just about thirty heads,
Bruce. And they insisted on having
YOU, and the salary goes with the
title. so that's that"
RG coincidence he was dining that
night at the Paines, and although
Ell route he endeavored to strangle his
eXultation-for, of course. even his
augmented income wouldn't sound to
Elsa anything but pocket money-he
botched it completely. She had no
sooner entered the drawing room than
she exclaimed:
why, Bruce. What's happened"
He blurted out. and she became al
most as excited as himself Forget
ting everything except her presence
wholly unpremeditated and impulsive
but it was also fatal. for she didn't re-
Sist him.
Album" said Col Paine from the
doorway.
Anderton braced himself for the ex.
plosion. But, oddly enough, the colo
nel's voice had never been so gentle
Bruce" he said, I'm not blaming
you; not particle. I'm blaming my.
self. I'd imagined that for once Elsa
had a friend who was going to stay
Ii L u lIldl you ana i
understood each other. But let that
pass. Only you know. don't you, that
this sort of proceeding is absolutely
impossible"
Anderton cleared his throat.
But, colonel" he said, audaciously,
'is that really for either one of us to
say? l mean. isn't Elsa in it. too?
You see, 1--we just been raised to
five thousand a year Maybe that
doesn't seem to you like such a lot, but
down at the bank it's broken a record.
It's taken me out of the rut. And
and if she'd waltz"
The colonel turned to his daughter.
We'll, dear? Don't you think we'd
better have this out?"
Elsa went TO him, but her eyes were
for Anderton.
Yes. daddy" she said. subdued
Its either Bruce or-or somebody
else. l don't know just don't
know"
Anderton cleared his throat repeat.
edly.
Colonel. I've been fighting this for
six solid months. But it's bigger than
I am. And down at the bank I've hit
my stride. ! know it, And with that
and a little luck"
Luck" said the colonel, impatiently.
You count on luck He threw back
his head boy, you disgust me-
I'm sorry" said Anderton, and
there was a prolonged silence.
The colonel broke it.
Bruce, l suppose you're counting
on luck because you've never had any.
But l never had any, either, and that s
why | don't believe in it. | earned my
place in the world. boy, Earn yours,
the same way I did. or show me a lot
stronger evidence than this that you re
going to, and I'll have nothing to say.
Otherwise you'll have TO elope." He
touched his daughters hair. Are you
capable of it. DEAR"
You know I'm not" she said just
audibly.
That makes two of US, then" said
Anderton. 80 maybe we do under
stand each other. after all. colonel -
He squared his shoulders. And I'll
collect that evidence just as fast as l
possibly can
There was another silence.
In the. meantime" said Col. Paine
gravely, you're welcome here, just as
you've always beeni that is, as a