Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-09-27
by special srrangemens With Tn
Chicago Tribune 6yndicaH)
IN TWO PARTS-PART rive
The Story So Far

duced him to the crowd" Eliot admits
that he has no friends, He explains that
it is not because he is not liked, but some
way he is unable to mix. Tommy always
was a great ''fixer." so he Immediately sets
about to find friends for Eliot.
And now the story
Within the next fortnight Eliot madI
the amusing discovery that his pal wa.
trying to widen his, E1iot's, circle. H,
presented to him, with a taken 'em o.
leave iem air. several OF his own new
acquaintance, including Rodney Burns
the man Tommy had already privately
decided was his own probable successor
as manager of the new branch.
He doesn't know it," Tommy conided
in Eliot. land he won't for a year. I've
got to try him out in a lot of ways. But
he's a mighty good egg. and you and he
ought to get together, since he'll be here
after I'm gone
He added a final tribute in the tone OF
respect with which he always spoke OF
what he called 'highbrow stuff"
HE reads books he testified. You
two will have a lot in common" Tommy's
veneration for ~"highbrow stuff" was
equaled only by his conviction that Bill
was a wonder at it-a conviction Bill,
whose attachments were modest, en-
deavored in vain to shake. Tommy ever
admitted in a moment of unusual ex-
afraid to look up his pal when he read
in the postmaster's letter that old Bill
had gone through college.
Eliot found Burns a nice chap, and
cheerfully accepted him as an occasional
third in the evenings with Tommy. Also,
when young Phelps stopped at his desk
one day he extracted a somewhat reluc-
tant promise from that gentleman to
dine at the club with himself and two
friends and go to a play afterwards.
Phelps kept the engagement and, to his
own surprise, enjoyed the evening. He
liked Davis and was impressed by his
business record. Also. it developed that
he and Rodney Burns had met once or
twice and that both were disposed TO
develop their acquaintance.
Eliot found himself swung into several
night rides n amusing little parties;
but he was still no mixer. and under his
quiet pleasure in the companionship of
his new associates lurked the constant
suspicion that they'd ave had a better
time without him.
His meeting with Ruth Hunt was q
matter of chance. He knew from Tommy's
talk that Davis had found it hard to get
a girl secretary to meet his somewhat
exacting requirements.
II don't want any idiots or any baby
dolls I don't want any office philan-
dering." Tommy had resentfully testi-
fed after he had dispensed with the
services of the third highly recommend
ed applicant he had taken on trial. "I
do my philandering outside of my office.
| want a nice, sensible, level headed girl
about twenty-four, who's capable of run
ming the office details and leaving the
men free to give their attention to sales
manship."
In another month he casually men
toned, I've got a crackerjack Of a Sec
rotary at last" SO Eliot knew the mice,
sensible. level headed girl had material
lied. Then a week later. when he
dropped in at Tommy's office, HI met
her. Tommy was out at the time, but
was due at the office almost any minute,
so Miss Hunt, the new secretary, who
evidently knew all about his pal, gave
Eliot a seat in the private office and a
copy OF an evening newspaper to improve
his mind.
Eliot ignored the newspaper and unos-
tentatiously watched the girl. From the
first she appealed to him. She was very
quiet, very composed, very businesslike
and very pretty. Her office manner when
she spoke to several associates who came
hll WSllL Was LOTQldl,
but direct and businesslike. 1t was half
past fve-he had come to go out to din
ner with Tommy-and she was making
quiet but deft preparations to leave. 1t
was clear that she did not work at night,
and equally clear that she left accessible
any n all information Tommy might
need In her absence.
Eliot asked her a few questions. They
talked; n when Tommy came and
buoyantly introduced him Eliot felt that
he had already known the girl a thousand
years and would always know her. Abys-
mally, though he did not Immediately
admit it to himself, he knew something
more. She was the girl he had subcon-
sciously been waiting for n had always
known would come. The little office in
which she sat, that Office of new ma
hogany and fresh varnish, seemed filed
with the sweep of wings.
Eliot ate his dinner in a dream that
night, q dream shot through with
Tommy's chatter about Miss Hunt. She
was, it appeared, just the girl Tommy
had been looking fora college graduate
They're often the best after some Of
the conceit has been knocked out Of EN-
Tommy testihed-alone in the world, and
so far as Tommy knew, with no engage
ments. Il had to ask a few leading
questions" Tommy admitted. II didn't
want an engaged girl. My plan is for
her to stay and grow up with the bust
ness, after l have hustled on to the next
branch. But now l don't know"
Tommy's wide grin grew and his fresh
face flushed self consciously. Say, Bill,
what did you really think of her-as a
girl, / mean, q human being"
What Eliot thought OF Miss Hunt as a
girl and a human being appeared to sur
prise Tommy From surprise he passed
to ~incredulity n then to deep thought.
Eliot observed none Of these changes. Ee
was obsessed by the charm of his topic
and by the novelty OF discussing the per-
sonality and analyzing the character Of
a girl he had met only once, but whom
he SO perfectly understood. He thought,
when he consciously thought at all, that
he was being very abstract and imper-
sonal. He was sure that he was talking
unusually well, however, for he had rare
ly felt SO thrillingly alive, SO mentally
alert. Besides, 1t was clear that he was
holding Tommy's attention. Tommy lis
tened closely but said very little.
Eliot did not sleep that night. When a
man reaches thirty without having been
in love with or even interested in any
girl, and when he suddenly discovers that
he is not only capable Of love but has in
him the romantic possibilities Of all the
great lovers OF history rolled into one, 1t
is a thrilling but upsetting experience.
Eliot didn't mind the wakeful hours. 1t
was enough to be thinking of her.
In his cold bath the next morning he
solemnly assured himself that he had
never before realized the possibilities Of
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