The Coolidge examiner., 1931-09-04
Tommy Preston
Takes an Interest
By JOHN FRANCIS

/ II ~
l. on the shady side of the porch
at the Kingsboro Country club wher
Nancy Phelps ambled up the steps
said, "Hi, Tommy" and Topped into
a chair beside him.
"What's the matter, NancyY
asked Tommy, You look tired out
Il am" said Nancy. "Tve been
following Ted Pearson and Sam
Shane around the links. What 8
game! Nearly everyone expected
Ted to win easily, but Sam fooled
us. He was three down at the
turn, but on the last nine holes he
came back beautifully and won at
the eighteenth. But, boy! it was
hot walking out there"
"You didn't have to be there,
Tommy drawled. You didn't see
me out under the sun watching two
saps chase a golf ball, did you? You
Just bet you didn't. l sat here in
the shade, enjoying nice, cool
drink"
Il thought you were going TO en-
ter the tournament" Nancy said.
Il was,' replied Tommy, but
then | decided it involved too much
work"
Nancy's face flushed. She was ter
ribly in love with Tommy, but she
could not stand his Incidence.
Tommy" she said, half plead
ingly and half angrily, aren't you
interested in anything?"
"You know I'm interested In
something, Nancy" he said. 81 love
you and you love me, too. l know
that
Nancy glanced up slowly. You're
right, Tommy" she said. Il do love
you. But | won't marry you. Dc
you really want to know why?"
rs it something I've done?"
ITS partly that" said Nancy
land it is partly something that you
don't do. Shall l continue?"
please do"
First of ALL" Nancy went on
you have been going around town
wearing an expression of superiori'
ty when you've done nothing tC
prove that you are a superior per
son. You've just lived on the money
you inherited"
well" Tommy interrupted, sit is
my money"
"I'll grant you that" Nancy
agreed, but | don't like your Gym
ical attitude toward the accomplish.
ments of other men. You never
have won a club championship al
golf, tennis, swimming or anything
else. Yet you make fun of the
boys who have"
"ThCse things don't mean any.
thing" Tommy protested.
"They do mean something.
Nancy insisted. "They at least
show an interest in things that are
going on around one. You aren't
contributing thing to anyone's
life"
THAT is pretty harsh," Tommy
commented. But just what do you
want me to do about it?"
"WoIld you really like to dc
something about it," asked Nancy
"Go ahead. What is it?"
Just this" Nancy went on. al
you want to marry me you have
got to do these things. First, you
must get job. and you have got tc
hold job through merit, not
through your money. I'm not say
ing you must become a partner in
the firm within a year, but you
must be promoted at least once
during the next six months. And
secondly, you must win at least one
sports tournament here at the club
If you have done these things by six
months from today. I'll marry you
Otherwise, why then you go your
way and I'll go mine"
"But that isn't fair" Tommy pro
tested
Six months later, on a cold Jan.
uary night Tommy paced nervously
back and forth across the Phelps
living room. A few moments later
Nancy, looking more beautiful thar
he ever had seen her, came dowr
the stairs and approached him with
a smile.
Tonight is the night, isn't it
Tommy" she greeted him.
Pm afraid it is" Tommy re
piled Then, impulsively, Nancy
won't you forget the conditions you
made and marry me anyway"
Let's review the conditions be
fore we talk about that" Nancy an
swered evasively. you were SUD
posed to win at least one sports
tournament at the club. Did you?'
you know / didn't" Tommy said
Golf was the only game | could
play well enough to enter a tourna
ment, and you saw Ted Parsons
beat me at the last hole in the
finals. But you'll have to admit i,