New Britain herald., 1929-07-09
THIS HAS HAPPENED

suspect that Nan Carroll, his private secretary, has fallen in love with him. Nan. having high sense of honor, decides to resign, but post pones her resignation because she feels Morgan will have particular need of her in his defense of a sup posed friend, Bert Crawford, indict- ed for embezzlement. On the last day of the trial, little Curtis Morgan, six-year- old son of Iris and Morgan. innocently places in Mans hands a note apparently taken from his mothers handbag. It is from Craw ford and reveals his guilt and his and Iris intention to elope after the trial. Crawford leaves town and Iris departs for a pleasure trip a few days later.
 Iris announces her desertion in letter which cleverly omits mention of Crawford and pleads with Morgan not to try to find her. Morgan is heartbroken. Nan convinces Morgan he should not place little Curtis in a boarding school and that he should keep his home intact. While Morgan is at the capital on business. Nan stays at the Morgan house with lit tie Curtis and organizes the house. keeping so father and son may car " on. She places little Curtis in public school.
 Nan wins the love and confidence of Curtis and is herself happy serv- in gthe man she loves, but who ironically loves another woman. Morgan returns unexpectedly from the capital to report a communication from death to life imprisonment for a client. Nan is radiant as she, Nor gan and Curtis go in to the dinner that Nan has planned.
 (NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY)
 Well, Nan," John Curtis Morgan driped to the couch beside the girl and stretched his long legs to the warmth of the fire in the grate. "Now that between us we've man. aged to get that young hellion of mine to bed, I'd like to have a frst-hand account of how certain miracles have been wrought
 'I go away and 2S hours later l return to find my son not only en- tered in public school but crazy about it. and provided not only with a boy playmate but with a whole delightful family to look after him. The O'Briens were a stroke of genius on your part, Nan. Suppose you take the stand and tell the whole story in your own words" he added. burlesquing his own manner in the courtroom.
 Nan obeyed, giving her employer a vivid account of her activities in his home, as we'll as the reasoning which had motivated her. Morgan listened attentively, but his eyes were fixed, throughout her recital, upon the startling life-like portrait of his wife that hung above the mantel.
 T think you've been inspired in your handling fthe boy" Morgan said, when Nan had finished her "defense.'
 Inspired by my love for you, "lllCH you uOl | even suspect, tuduh God" Nan agreed in her heart.
 T suppose you haven't yet had time to hire a housekeeper. Lord. but I dread having one of those middle-aged, genteel women in re- duced circumstances pervading the house." Morgan sighed. She will in- evitably be stout, afflicted with vari- cose veins, hay fever and a wart on the side of her nose. And she'll have dozen pesky little legal troubles that she'll want to consult me on every night at home"
 Nan giggled, thrust out both legs and regarded them with rueful hu- nor. And I was just flattering my self tonight that they're quite nice legs. And at six o'clock this evening, the last time I consulted a mirror, there was absolutely no hint of a wart on this insignificant but satis- factory nose of mine.'
 Morgan stared at the girl for a moment as if he thought she was crazy, then she saw dismay and en- barrassment leap into his black eyes. She hastened to reassure him. indi- rectly: "Yes, I've hired myself as your housekeeper, if you please, sir, but a new sort-a long distance housekeeper. l can furnish the best of references and I promise to be- come neither stout nor genteel, and not to pervade the house. In fact. your housekeeper's desk has strange resemblance to your pri- vate secretary's.'
 "But-Nan! My dear girl" Nor gan demonstrated. Then he did something that completely unnerved the girl who was already trembling at her own audacity. He reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips She closed her eyes so that he could not possibly see in them that which he must not guess
 You should have been named Martha" he said gently, when he had released her hand, "because your joy is in service. 7. ." She saw his eyes sweep upward to Iris pictured beauty, and she wondered if John Curtis Morgan was, for the first time, comparing or contrasting these two women who had been closest to him. He sighed, then said almost abruptly: But of course l can't let you take on the burden of my house as we'll as of my office, Nan. Not even your splendid health and your enormous capacity for work could stand up under the strain"
 Bunk" Nan retorted inelegant- ly. T intend to. be home efficiency expert, and whoever heard of an efficiency expert working? There isn't a great deal more to be done