Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-06-28
! THE
EPREMEDITATED1
] LOCKOUT
't**********st&*
"a by d. J. walsh,)

Tas the last pink cloud Of
~ summer sunset. She had been
employed by the Acme COM
pany for number of years, earning
fairly good salary, and might have
afforded better things than made-over
hats and cheap gowns, but Grace was
not one to live each day for itself
alone.
She realized that some day, II she
did not marry, her earning power
might diminish instead of increase,
and she was sufficiently forehanded
to wish to fortlfy herself while she
was able against any such contingent
cy as that.
IF | do not marryl" she repeated
the words to herself as she worked,
recalling how Mollie Newcomb had
recently taken her to task for her
aloofness toward Ted Martin. Ted
was the son Of Acme's president,
wholesome young man of twenty-five,
college graduate and an all-around
athlete who appealed particularly to
the eternal feminine, but who treated
them all alike, that is, all except
Grace Denton.
Believe me-" MOllie had averred,
IF Ted Martin saw fit to smile on
me the way he does on you, I'd have
him hooked so fast he'd never know
what had happened until 1t was all
over but the honeymoon"
Grace did not view this situation
through MOllie's eager eyes. Ted Mar
tin had singled her out for special
attention since coming to act as his
fathers secretary in the Acme offices,
but Grace had her own idea of the
valuation men In Ted's class usually
place upon girls In hers and she had
no notion of subjecting herself to the
trying ordeal Of openly repulsing this
young scion Of the house of Martin,
while perchance she might lose a good
position thereby.
Only last night Ted had asked her
to go to the theater with him and
some place to dance afterward, but
how much did she know of the sin
certify Of his admiration for her? She
had no parents or brothers to fight
her battles for her, so she couldn't
be too careful, she decided, refusing
Herewith Ted's invitation, with a
very carefully thought-out, plausible
excuse.
The next day, at the lunch hour,
when Grace was adjusting a new vel
vet cloche over her lovely, curly
blonde bob, Ted Martin approached,
his admiration so openly evident that
she felt herself coloring like a full
blown peony.
"That bonnet's great on you,
Gracew Ted exclaimed. "Bet It cost
you plenty, too"
"Only the price of the material"
Grace returned soIemnly, resolved to
make her position clear to this young
man without further delay. 81 make
all my own hats and most Of my
dresses"
"SOme girl, I'll tell the world" the
young man enthused, falling into step
beside her as she was leaving the
building for lunch. "See here, Grace"
he went on, linking his arm through
hers to guide her over a treacherous
crossing, 81 might as well confess
here as any place, I want you for
Ted Martin. Any HOPPER"
"Are you by any chance proposing
to me, Mr.. Martini she asked, look
Ing up at him soberly.
Just that, young lady," he assured
her. my mother needs daughter,
her son needs n wife and every girl
needs husband. If eventually, why
not nOw?"
They reached a popular, high-class
dining palace as Ted finished speak
Ing. Still holding Graces arm, he pro.
PEELED her through the revolving door
to table in n secluded corner, ex
actly as he might have moved
checker to another square.
Grace was about to refuse Ted
without further reasoning, much as
she lOnged to say yes, but something
prompted her to ask him to wait for
his answer, and, during the weeks
that followed, she had all she could
do to ward Off the fatal day.
Finally, one day Ted announced
firmly that he was coming to her
roomlng-house that evening after din.
ner for his answer. She had put the
situation before him again and again
as she saw 1.-THE cultured son OF
rich parents and the poor girl so
unsuited, to walk beside him In the
luytrfnng he f.h
undoubtedly would lead him; the
arlstOcrntic mother who, without
question. would be ashamed to ac.
knowledge as daughter the lowly girl
her son had chosen, but to each and
every argument Ted furnished the
same answer.
~ love you and you've admitted
you love me. You're honest and up
right That's all my mother expects
TO ask Of my wife, Grace"
Grace remained adamant, thinking
she was acting for Ted's good. At
eight o'clock he was coming for his
answer and she would tell him they
must part. She would seek n new
position and they never must see
each other again.
Her heart was aching and her eyes
were filled with tears when the bell
rang Mrs. Pogue, the woman with
whom she roomed, was out, so She
went to the door herself. When she
opened II and saw Ted standing there
she stepped outside, feeling that she
did not dare subject her falling cour.
age to the intimacy Of Mrs. Pogue's
coy little parlor. Almost lmmedl.
ately the door blew shut and she was
locked out without coat or hat or a