Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-01-23
The Higher,
Mathematics
BY H. IRVING KING
lCopyright.)

ematlcian, wore glasses and was
rather lean and lanky. Mathema-
ticians are apt to get that way, some
how. He was young, tOo-only twen-
ty-eight-sO there was time for Inn
provement. Mabel Streeter was
younger yea-just twenty-and you
couldn't have improved ON her If you
had tried. She was about perfect,
Just as she was-Only she was no
mathematician. She took the multi
plication table on faith; though that
faith was sorely tried when she at
tempted to put the said table into prac-
teal use.
But then there was no especial rea-
son why Mabel should toy with the
multiplication table any more than
with the fourth dimension, OF the doc
trine of least squares. By concen-
trating her mind upon 1t she could
keep a fairly accurate count at bridge
and that was sufficient. Until she
met Horace: then she keenly felt her
deficiencies and longed for logarithms.
Horace was instructor In the academy
on the hill and Mabel was the belle
Of the town. It was strange how
these two so opposite people inclined
to each other. Mabel, Of course. was
active In all the "uplift'' work of the
community and was made treasurer
Of all the societies she jOined-her ac-
counts were so accurately kept!
The fact was that If left to her own
devices the various societies OF wnicn
Mabel was treasurer would never
have been able to find out whether
they were In a plutocratic or
busted condition. But Horace cast
his astigmatic gaze over the accounts,
made q few mental lightning calcula-
tions, and had them all "ship shape
and Bristol fashion" In something
rather less than three shakes Of q
lambs tail.
Now Mabell's father, Sam Streeter,
was q man of wealth and varied fnan-
cial interests; and looked frowningiy
upon the intimacy between his daugh-
ter and the poorly paid teacher from
the academy. you'll have to cut out
that four-eyed calculating machine"
said the fond parent to his daughter.
IT hear he only gets twelve hundred
dollars a year and Is never likely to
get q raise"
"Oh pa. how cruel you are" re-
piled Mabel. Horace is In his pro
fession because he loves It."
Don't let me see him hanging
about here any more" snapped Mr.
Streeter.
But Horace hung around as usual.
Mabel was good girl. but obstinate.
Old Streeter giared at the mathe-
matician whenever they met and treat
ed him very rudely indeed-the more
80 that the rich man was just now
in q highly irritable state consequent
upon his attempt to make out his in
come-tax returns himself instead Of
hiring a lawyer to do it-for Streeter
was tight-fisted and lost NO chance
to save money.
"Oh father" cried Mabel when, IN
a moment Of weakness, her father had
eonfided to her the cause Of his IT.
ritability, "why don't you get Horace
to help you? He is simply wonderful.
Why, he even understands the Gold
stein theory"
''Boshl" remarked Streetef, and
flung out Of the house.
When he came home that evening
there was Horace. as usual. beaming
benignly through his glasses at
Mabel. "I'll settle that young mans
hash here and now" thought Streeter
and said: "Mr. KNton. please step
into the library. No, Mabell-yOu
stay right where you are" When the
two men were alone together Streeter
glared ut the mathematician and said
pOmpously: II wish to speak plainly
10 you concerning your attentions to
my daughter My conduct toward you
has been such that one wn;Ild have
supposed"
"Oh. that's all right" broke In
V"rarr rheerfully: "Mabell told INT
what was the matter. You are wOr
ru o.e! our incOme-taX returns
Perfectly simple. | assure you. sir.
All that is required. even in the mos
complicated cases. is the application
Of the mere rudiments OF niathema.i.
/ have Just made out my own return
and happen 10 have them with ~
I was intending to mail them un !"