Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-01-31
Horton, the
Matchmaker
By EDGAR T. MONFORT
(Copyright.l

Duiiuii5. LIZ ou" DduhS uOWil
at the girl as he took her arm and |
helped her across the street. At the
curb they stopped moment while I
Banks took two Or three puffs at his
cigarette, then tossed it away pre-
paratOry to entering the Horton build
ing where no smoking was allowed .
Then as they started on again Banks
said something to Lucy and she looked
up quickly and laughed, the merriest
little laugh.
$50 that's the way 1t goes" he
thought. Banks is daffy about her,
but he shan't have her. I've got first
rights. She's young and she's pretty
and she's sweet, and even if I'm not
so all fired young I've got the dough
and she's struggled to make a living
long enough to know how to appre-
ciate it. Banks won't have a chance
once l let her know my intentions.
Any stenographer would jump at the
chance Of being Mrs. James Horton"
He leaned back complacently and
eyed the young girl as she busted her.
self with her typewriter after she
came into his room.
But then she was young and Banks
was darned attractive, he reasoned
further Perhaps there was some dan
ger. Should he propose to Lucy right
away? No, he vetoed that idea imme
diately, for instinct told him that, as
he had not yet shown her any per-
sOnal attention, he would have to wait
and let things develop a bit further.
Should he dismiss her so as to get
her away from Banks? Propinquity
was dangerous thing. But in that
case he would be sending her away
from himself, too, and killing the OPP
pOrtunity of letting propinquity help
her in his own case. Should he dis
miss Banks? That would be difficult
because Horizons partner might kick
and ask for reason. Banks was a
very valuable man. If he could only
get rid of him without causing COM.
ment. But how?
After an hour of useless thinking
only one thing remained clear. in his
mind: the two had to be separated at
once. He wasn't going to have an I'M.
derling cutting him out; nobody had
ever beaten Horton yet and he didn't.
intend to be conquered this time. He
felt certain of one thing: even under
the circumstances there was very
little danger of Lucy's refusing the.
hand of James Horton, but there would
be absolutely none, provided there
were no one else in the field.
Then out of nowhere an idea came;
tumbling into Horizons mind that al
most made him jump up and down for
sheer relief and joy. And at the di-'
rectors' meeting that very afternoon
he laid his first plans.
Gentlemen" he said sententiously,
'I've been thinking a lot about young
Banks lately. He's darn capable,
fellow. Why not send him out to
South America to open our new
three years and knows the business
from A to z. We might send him
down right away to get the lay of the
land and rent site"
The idea was discussed and finally
adopted. The next morning Horton
called Banks into his inner Office and
made him the offer which included
raise almost beyond belief.
you'll have to give me your answer
tomorrow morning and be prepared to :
leave on the midnight train" Horton
answered, turning back to his desk.
"Think it over"
Il surely appreciate the opportun-
ity, Mr.. Horton" Banks said warmly,
gripping the older mans hand, "and
think it'll be all right, but of course
I'd like to speak to my mother about
it first"
Then as Banks walked back to his
desk it struck him like a blow that
it would mean leaving Lucy and that
he simply could not bear to do. Never
before had he associated himself with
her in that way. She was just always
there when he wanted to look at her.
She was always willing to let him
come over in the evening when he
wanted to talk and get some sympathy.
Always on tap-that's what she was
and until the prospect of leaving her
had cone to him, he had never fully
realized just how much she meant to
him.
No, he couldn't get along without
Lucy; then something dawned on him
with a suddenness that was like an
electric shock and sent little thrills
of excitement tingling through his
body. Why not marry her and take
her along? If only she were willing.
But he hadn't prepared the ground.
How could a man make love, propose
and get married all within twenty-fOur
hours? 1t simply wasn't done. But he
was so enthusiastic about the idea
that he made a date with Lucy for
that evening and put the whole situa-
ton before her.
"It's up to you, dear, I've got my
chance of promotion but I'm hanged
if I'll go without you. Now, you can
make me or break me-"
II believe Tll-make yOu," she
laughed happily as Harold caught her
in his arms and kissed her smiling