The Indianapolis times., 1929-01-30

the distinctive, angular handwriting
in violet ink.
The handwriting Of a woman OF
culture and strong character, Ruth
had decided long since. The pencil
sharpener had been grinding furi-
ously, but now the sound dragged,
stopped altogether.
"Say, Ruth! I guess I amt Sc
dumb! I know why you made up to
look like a Slcvey in specs and long
dresses"
"Clever boy!" Ruth laughed,
"You done it SOS you could keep
your job!" Benny deduced trium-
phantly. ''You knew that the minute
Handsome Harry lamped you he'd
fall for you like a ton Of bricks. Bet
that's the reason, too, that you've
worked SO many places since you
got out of business college-ain
it?"
DENNY, you've been meddling
- in my desk again!"
saw, I amt either! I just hap
pened to see a bunch of letters of
recommendation clipped together
and glanced over EN-" Benny pro-
tested. "Say, they had me goin'
sure! I couldn't f1gger out why a
whizz of a steno like you should
work two or three weeks in a job
and then blow, and why the guys
you worked for give you such swell
recommendations if they didn't
want to keep you"
"Shut up, Benny, and get to
workl' Ruth scolded.
Eyes, sir, ats the ticket, Sure'S
you're born!" Benny applauded .his
own powers of deduction. Gosh!
can just imagine! Married man hires
you-and who wouldn't? I'm ask
ing you! Wifey blows in, lamps new
secretary. WhamI Either she goes
Or I go! wiley lays the law down
Now-I'm awful sorry, Miss Lester
out--er-necesSary to retrench, dc
without secretary for a. while. OF
course, best of recommendation
All 'at stuff Am right, fair frail?'
Benny concluded, with an impu-
dence he had never been interested
enough to show her before.
Ruth's golden head nodded slowly
Yes, Benny was right. No boy of IL
could know how terribly accurate
his Slangy version of her past as a
business girl was.
'.Do shut up, Benny! If you don't
let me do my work I'll spank you"
"Huh!" Benny snorted. "I'c make
two of you. Bet you don't weigh
more'n ninety pounds. Gosh! You
even look litt1er in that cute little
short skirt. Them sac rags you
wore made you look two inches
taller, and just plain skinny. And
you sin't skinny at all, you're just
just rightl But / amt surprised
that you've held this job for four
months. Men don't go around fall
ing in love with girls that look like
washouts in spectacles."
'sOne man oid, Benny!"
The pencil sharpener, which had
begun to grind again, stopped with a
jerk. "Heyl Spell that out, will
you? You amt gone and got en-
gagged, have you? Or-or is it
Handsome Harry Borden?"
And the boys freckled face turned
a sudden dull crimson. Guess
mighta knowed that Handsome
Harry wasn't missing nothin'-
GoSh!" The last word was a wall
Of adoleScent misery.
Don't be absurd, Bennyl" Ruth
cried, in what she thought was a
sharp voice. Then she rose, drawn
to her feet by the boyish agony in
Benny's face, and went to him. She
tilted his quivering chin with q
forefnger and smiled sfyly into his
eyes.
1T isn't Mr.. Borden, Benny. It's
can you keep a secret, Benny? I'm
engaged to Mr.. Hayward. It Just
happened last night and oh, Benny,
I'm SO happy I don't think en-
hear it,
The boy did surprising thing
thera He seized the finger which
had tilted up his chin and pressed
1t hard against his lips. while a
blush ran IN crimson waves from
his throat % his brow.