The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-09-23
Emergency
Jim
By II. LOUIS RAYBoLD
60 by Mcclure Newspaper eyndicats.l
(WNU Service)

| stance and her chum Madge-on their
! adventurous expedition to the big city,
armed with two exquisitely engraved
diplomas of the local business college
and unlimited expectations.
Jim was gloomy and took no pains
! to conceal the fact Dutifully he
kissed his sister, then seized Madge's
little gloved hand Remember" he
said hoarsely, when the Fifth avenue
high hats are chasing you, I'm still
thinking about you back here holding
down my little old Job In Perkins
hardware. II you want me In an
emergency-well. I'll be waiting"
This was merely an attempt to con-
vey to her as well as q man could In
| the presence Of his sister that he was
hers to the death.
And now they had been here six
months, rooming together in tiny
apartment.
Through employment agencies, each
had landed small position and-a
fact which seemed more important to
each than the job-both had acquired
an esquire Of sorts.
This had come about through for
mer acquaintance Of Constance's In
the business college, one George Per-
kins, who, hearing from the folks back
home that Constance was In New
York, had got her address through
them and hunted her up.
The second time he came he brought
with him friend, a smartly dressed,
personable boy who looked. Constance
said afterward, just like his name
which was Mortimer Peyster. Madge
was smitten at once and by the third
meeting was convinced not only that
she was in love with him but that,
properly encouraged, he would return
her sentiments.
But first there was that little mat
ter of proper encouragement" for, as
the days passed, the young man in
question, although friendly and al
ways willing to make fourth at their
good times, failed to hint at any de-
sire for an engagement, much less
q wedding.
Yet it was Mortimer himself who
let fall the word which might have
proved Madge's undoing.
II sure miss good home cooking" he
remarked one night. "These sand
wiches are the berries"
The next time he came Madge had
made not only more sandwiches but q
chocolate cake, one Of those luscious,
three-decker affairs with a generous
topping Of frosting. Mortimer sam
pied it freely, while Madge watched
him gleefully. She was by nature a
much better cook than stenographer.
When he had gone she made brave
proposal to Constance. Let's invite
the boys to Sunday dinner she sug-
gested eagerly. I'm willing to do ev-
cry bit of the cooking"
Constance was doubtful. "On two
burner gas platter
ION one, IL necessary retorted
Madge. "Plank steak and all the FIX
ingsr
SO 1t was settled and the two young
men were duly invited over the tele-
phone.
Now it Is no small matter to get
up a large sized meal in q small-sized
apartment out Of very slender food
budget. In fact, it was only by con-
siderable planning, scrimping and self
denial that the thing was managed at
all and, by the time the Sunday Sc
lected for the affair had arrived,
Nadge was beginning to wonder If
even winning the handsome Mortimer
was worth the effort expended.
The meal, as meal, was a tremen-
dous success from start to finish. The
steak was done to q turn and not a
shade beyond; the vegetables were
tender and decoratively futed the
dessert, made earlier in the day, was
coldIy delicious. If Mortimer was less
lively than usual, Madge was too con-
cerned with her serving to notice.
Her moment was to come when, re-
plete with the good things she had
given him, Mortimer should expand
and perhaps suggest that she cook for
him, the rest Of his days. For Madge
imagined that that was what she de-
sired ABOVE dll else.
Came the moment, Constance, insist
ing that Madge had done her share
Of labor, was sociably doing the dishes
In the kitchen with George. Madge
and Mort had the tiny sitting room to
themselves.
1--WE got something to tell you," said
Mortimer suddenly.
"YesT encouraged Madge, her heart
skipping beat or two.
"rm going back home to my fathers
Office" he said. "All this"-he signi-
fed his surroundings with a wave of
his hand-"and your dandy meals and
all have made newell, sort Of banker
for place Of my own. There's lit
tie girl upstate there / used to know
that you remind me Of I'm going
back to her and l wanted you to be
the first to know"
Two days later, Jim Brenton entered
Perkins hardware store with an ex-
pansive grin on his face. In his pock-
ct was night letter from the girl he
had loved since kindergarten days, and
1t said the words he most wanted to
hear.
''Dear Jim,
There was man thought wanted
to propose, but when he didn't | was
glad after all, and 1t must have been
because l love you, only 1t took an