The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-06-19
'Twixt Hawk and
Handsaw
By BARBARA KERR
--is.it-ss:.-;:..ss..ss..s..ss...
(Copyright.)

ears and was saving away in most
workmanlike manner, taking a frac-
ton of an inch off Mrs. Marvin's bath
room door, which had always refused
to shut properly. And she was whfs-
thing.
The Marvins, mother and daughter
Caroline, lived at the edge of town
land as they took care of their car re-
sorted to unionalls frequently, but, as
Lawrence Sinclair made mental note,
they did not whistle. He knew it was
mot Caroline; moreover, he knew ex-
iactly that it was Jane Bancroft. She
had taken manual training at school
and could handle tools. Knowing this,
MRS. Marvin asked Her to fix the door
when she had run in for visit to
caroline.
She was working on 1t when the
;Sinclair lumber truck drove up and
Lawrence alighted. Pretending not to
notice who it was, he said:,
''Please ask your mother where I
shall put the lumber"
"My mother doesn't care, Mr.. Sim
clair, so perhaps you better ask Mrs.
Marvin"
Lawrence in passing struck his foot
against one of her tools. "Beg par
don! What was that?"
ooh, that's jack plane. When you
sgrow up to be a big man you may
Learn the difference, perhaps, 'twixt
hawk and a handsaw."
Further amenities were saved by
MRS. Marvin's appearance. She walked
down the yard, showed him where to
put the lumber, lingering moment to
observe: "Queer what tomboyish
tastes that girl has! Now, my Car
oline is so different, so refined"
Lawrence Sinclair was the greatest
catch in the set in which Caroline and
Jane moved. Jane thought he knew
this too well. Lawrence, surprised at
Mrs. Marvin's remark, knew what to
attribute it to and answered: Seems
ito know how to fix your door, though,
Mrs. Marvin"
Lawrence felt that Jane was hear
ing the rude conversation and he was
ashamed. He would have halted a
moment as he passed her, but Jane
:whistled a bit louder and squinted
lalong the edge of the door to see If
lit were true, but would not look his
way.
Angrily he climbed into his seat and
drove off.
Jane finished her job and said crisp
lily to Caroline: "Your mother doesn't
think much of my talents, but the door
shuts"
Caroline had some inkling Of what
had transpired. She had seen the two
tplaying at cross-purposes before. I'm
not such a fool as mother might make
me out, Jane" she said, as she slipped
an arm through her friends to walk
with her short distance. Besides,
that secret l wanted to tell you, is:
I'm engaged to Harry Belknap, so she
need not bother in the least about
Lawrence"
James good humor restored, she
went her way.
The next day she read that Sinclair
Lumber company wanted book
keeper.
She went direct to Mr.. Sinclair, ST.,
who, though surprised, noted with ad-
;miration her business-like manner.
|"But isn't a lumber yard rather
queer place for young lady who
doesn't know the difference"
"Oh, but l do. know what you
were going to say, and 1 do know the
difference 'twixt hawk and a hand
saw, and l know lot about woods
land your business"
GAIL right; go in there and bring
me some oak, pine and walnut"
'Needn't leave the room to show
you" And Jane took small knife
from her pocket and scratched a bit
Eof paint from a file Of pigeOnholes.
ls'This desk has a thin veneer of wal
nut, a soft pine lining, and that chair
bottom is oak which is sawed the
wrong way"
"You win!" smiled Mr.. Sinclair.
"But why this sort of work?"
She explained that it was her am
bition some day to own and operate
a shop for repairing, reffnishing and
duplicating antique pieces. She was
$50 enthusiastic that Mr.. Sinclair was
moved to ask:
ado you suppose such a shop could
be run in conjunction with lumber
iyardY" Jane beamed. "Oh, Mr.. Sim
clair, Pm sure it could, and I've lot
of other ideas, too"
. "Save 'em and report to me in a
month" he urged.
So James dream became reality,
and she was happy, till one day her
Iemployer said that his son, Lawrence,
wanted to go into the antique depart
iment.
"Then you'll not need me-" her white
lips commented.
couldn't run without your ex-
claimed Mr.. Sinclair. But Jane was
not convinced until two days after
she had a caller-Lawrence Sinclair.
"Father sent me to see how you
were and to ask if you'd take me In
your department. If not, I'm out of
a Job" he pleaded. "He says you're
the only girl he ever knew who always
knows the difference 'twixt hawk and
handsaw."
CAT, :. th;c n hucinacc nrnnosition 80