The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-31
UPON THE
HIGHWAYS
AND BYWAYS
OF THE LAND
&c by d. j. Walsh. ,

A FTER graduating from college
II at the impressionable age of
twenty-three Lee Barton threw
off the restraining garments of
convention with grand flourish, and
with serene confidence set out up
on the highways and byways of the
land, ever cherishing a sublime faith
in a romance that lurked just around
the next corner. A merry vagabond
was Lee, ready to embrace golden
feeces, lady loves, troven treasure,
holy grails, or whatever delectable
gifts the gods of chance deigned to
bestow upon him.
Needless Of his fathers desire that
he enter the commercial lists and eS-
tabish a branch Office of the Barton
Plate Glass company in distant city.
Lee took the road. And now, after
four months, he found himself on a
park bench in a hustling midwestern
city, penniless and rather seedy in ap-
pearance. 1t was the same city, he
VI,
him to open branch Office.
On a nearby bench an attractive
girl of about twenty sat reading a
newspaper. After a while she dropped
the paper, and as IT fluttered to the
ground Lee saw her daub furtively at
her eyes with a small handkerchief.
"Why, the girls crying" he NUT
tered to himself. "a fair damsel in
distress. To the rescue, Sir Galahad."
He strobe across the walk and seat
ed himself on the bench beside the
girl. Pardon this unseemly liberty"
he said, ''but something in the paper
has apparently distressed you. Tell
me what it is and I'll go over and
challenge the editor to a couple of
duels."
81 was reading the want ads" an
swered the girl. Looking for job"
"A job?" repeated Lee. "You mean
a job-of work."
"Of course" replied the girl. "Work."
"Work-what a vulgar word,' pro-
claimed Lee. "What an uncouth word.
Work? Why, the idea is"
"If you just came over to make fun
of me-" sobbed the girl, please go
away. Perhaps, If you were hungry
and tired-as / am-yOu'd-"
Now, Lee had an honest face, backed
by personality plus. He set himself
diligently to the pleasing task Of win
ming the girls confidence, and in a
short time they were chatting amiably.
Across the park was a small restaur-
ant, and, with charming politeness.
Lee invited the girl to dinner.
"rll go on one condition." answered
the girl. Providing that as soon as
we've finished dinner you'll let me go
my way unmolested. Your only re-
ward will be the happy thought that
you've done kind deed"
Lee consented, smilingly. to these
terms. They entered the restaurant
and were soon enjoying tasty and
ample meal. The girl proved most
agreeable dinner companion, and Lee
skillfully drew out her pathetic story.
1t was the old tale of working
girl with an invalid widowed mother
to support. Her name was Rose Fra
ser and she was an expert stenog-
rapher. Although her story moved
him deeply, Lee took huge delight
in studying her face and found a vast
pleasure in her company. The meal
came to an end all too soon for Lee.
snow we'll stick to our little agree
ment," he announced, $50 you just run
along. But here's my last request. In
a few days you will see want ad in
the local papers, in which the Barton
Plate Glass company advertises for a
stenographer. If you're still afflicted
with the vulgar impulse to work please
answer that ad in person. Remember
the Barton Plate Glass company"
AS soon as the door closed behind
the trim figure of the girl Lee rose
and sauntered back into the kitchen.
Here he calmly removed his coat,
rolled up his sleeves and needless of
the astonished stares of the cook
reached nonchaIantly for a white
apron that he spied hanging on peg.
The proprietor of the restaurant, a
rather cOrpulent Greek gentleman, had
deserted his post at the cash register
and came bustling back into the kitch-
en-.
"Here, what's this?" he clustered.
whats going on? What"
"Please calm yourself, my dear sir,
l beg Of you. Be careful of your blood
ressure," admonished Lee. ''That
poor girl was hungry, perhaps starv-
ing. hadn't eaten for ages. So
brought her in here to eat, perhaps
saving her sweet young life. Very
noble of me, I'm sure. / congratulate
myself. Now to business, for i per-
ceive you are a business man. How
many hours must ] work in order to
pay for those two excellent meals and