The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-12-18
Tommy Preston
Takes an Interest
BY JOHN FRANCIS
n n TV X NK n K X " n N " ~ " 20 ~ " u N n
((9 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate3
(WNU Servicel

fSa by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate3
(WNU Service.l
TOMMY PRESTON was lounging
= on the shady side Of the porch at
the Kingsboro Country club when
Nancy Phelps ambled up the steps,
said, Hi, Tommy" and Topped into
chair beside him.
What's the matter, Nancy?" asked
Tommy, "You look tired out"
Il am" said Nancy. "I've been fol-
lowing Ted Pearson and Sam Shane
around the links. What a 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 beauti-
fully and won at the eighteenth. But,
boy! 1t was hot walking out there"
"You didn't have to be there, Tom
my drawled "You didn't see me out
under that sun watching two saps
chase golf ball, did you? You just
bet you didn't. sat here in the shade,
enjoying a nice, cool drink"
II thought you were going to enter
the tournament" Nancy said.
II 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 pleadingly
and half angrily, "aren't you interest
ed in anything?"
''You know I'm interested in some
thing, Nancy" he said. II love you
and you love me, too. l know that
Nancy glanced up slowly. you're
right, Tommy" she said. 81 do love
you. But won't marry you. Do you
really want to know why?"
rs it something I've donef"
'Tt's partly that" said Nancy, "and
1t Is partly something that you don't
do. Shall 1 continueT'
please do"
First Of ALL" Nancy went on, "you
have been going around town wearing
an expression Of superiority when
you've done nothing to prove that you
are a superior person. You've just
lived on the money you inherited"
'Well," Tommy interrupted, at is
my money"
''Tll grant you that" Nancy agreed,
"but l don't like your cynical atti-
tude toward the accomplishments of
other men. You never have won a
club championship at golf. tennis,
swimming or anything else. Yet you
make fun of the boys who have"
"Those things don't mean anything"
Tommy protested.
"They do mean something" Nancy
insisted. "They at least show an In
terest 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?"
would you really like to do some
thing about it?' asked Nancy.
go ahead. What is it?"
"Just this" Nancy went on. "If
you want to marry me you have got to
do these things. First, you must get
job, and you have go to hold job
through merit, not through your mon
ey. I'm not saying you must become
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.
IN Nv r,fx
months from today, I'll marry you.
Otherwise, why then you go your way
and I'll go NINE"
But that isn't fair" Tommy pro-
tested.
Six months later, on cold January
night Tommy paced nervously back
and forth across the Phelps living
room. A few months later Nancy,
looking more beautiful than he ever
had seen her, came down the stairs
and approached him with a smile.
Tonight Is the night, isn't 1t, Tom
my?" she greeted him.
I'm afraid it is," Tommy replied.
Then. impulsively, Nancy, won't you
forget the conditions you made and
marry me anyway"
Lets review the conditions before
we talk about that" Nancy answered
evasively. "You were supposed to
win at least one sports tournament at
the club. Did your
"You know I didn't" Tommy said.
"Golf was the only game I could play
well enough to enter a tournament,
and you saw Ted Pearson beat me at
the last hole In the finals. But you'll
have to admit 1t was great match"
Nancy just smiled again, and said:
"And about job? You did get one,
didn't your"
''You bet l did, and got two raises
and one promotion as WELL" Tommy's
eyes were flashing as he spoke. Will
| you marry me, Nancy. even though
| Ted did beat me?"
"Of course I will, Tommy" Nancy
replied eagerly. II never cared
whether you were champion or
duffer. l just wanted you to get In
terested In something beside yourself
/