The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-03-11
NOSEY NORA
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

fWNU servicel
MORA had always been what the
! family yuigariy called "nasey-"
She always wondered what the people
at tables round about her were eating
and what shoppers had in their
numerous bundles. She even surmised
at sight of trunks and suitcases just
what their contents might be.
Nora didn't mind being kidded about
her curiosity.
tits perfectly harmless amuse-
ment." she always said. "And get
heaps Of fun out OF It."
"You should be q detective instead
of an editor" some of her friends told
her.
So In order to be nearer her editorial
chair Nora took small apartment in
an old house down town.
There were two rooms on the Sec
ond floor with a large dressing room
connecting them and Nora had scarce
~ decided on them when she fell to
wondering II there was anything in the
cupboards that lined the wall above
the ample wardrobes. They were so
high that she figured she would have
to climb on table top II she were to
make use of them. Soon after she
had settled in her new quarters she
climbed up on her small kitchen table
to pull open the old mahogany door.
"Humphl" she commented. there's
not much here. The former tenant
took everything along-fne place to
put away winter curtains and coats
and hats. What no! / believe I've
discovered something" She strained
on tiptoe and dislodged panel of
wood that had made the cupboard q
few inches more shallow than its
mates. Nora was getting excited.
She dislodged the panel and exclaimed
with surprise.
The little compartment so carefully
concealed was filed with papers and
| diary. Nora sat down on the edge OF
the table, her feet swinging animated
| ly, her eyes swiftly scanning the pages
of the diary.
| "Well, of all things!' she exploded.
this Is some poor struggling writer's
| farewell to a career and oh how
broken hearted he is" She reread
| portions, with the sealing up of
this panel am hiding away all that
| makes life wonderful-my soul and all
| the best of me is here-the rest is go
ing into world of business and hunt
for the filthy lucre that enables one
to live and-marry. am doing 1t for
AMY regret she could not give me
longer trial at writing. l know i
should have won out. However, there
seems to be penalties attached to low
ing so-good-by-fair dreams" tear
splashed down on the diary and Nora
dabbed her nose with her handker-
chief She jumped up swiftly and
hauled down lot of the manuscripts
packed In the cupboard.
For a long time Nora read the
stories. When she had finished about
a dozen she went down to the house
keeper and made inquiry as to the pre-
vious tenants In her room. She got
much information. Sufficient anyway
to make her fling herself into her coat
and hat and take the subway up to
Seventy second street.
1t was about seven in the evening
as she made her way to most re-
spectacle boarding house and asked II
Mr.. Tom Webber still lived there.
us he in at present?" asked Nora
and being told to have seat In the
reception room she waited.
She glanced up when sort Of mis-
cradle looking young man came ques
tioningly toward her. She told him
straight off that she wished to talh
with him about some stories and diary
that she had found in her studio.
The light that swept suddenly ovel
Webber's face brought swift lump tt
N0ra's throat. He was transformed
from his misery into radiant life ant
interest. He sat down close beside
Nora.
II "Mr. Weber," said Nora severely
"you are very wicked and very veal
young man."
Webber had not expected anything
like this and he looked his surprise.
"Worser' continued Nora. "Yo,
!, have deliberately tried to strangle
brain child-to cast it Off for the SAKE
of some woman. You should be thor
oughly ashamed of yourself-to hav,
knuckled down to a paltry money
making position when you have a won
derful gift"
Webber gasped, then laughed the frs
, hearty laugh he had felt since leaving
. his old studio. There must be lot
to tell me-" he said swiftly and eager
ly, wont you come out to some quie
place with me for dinner? I'm so fe,
up with this conventional boardin,
house with its three square meals
day that feel will bust-if dom
a get out"
Nora laughed in complete sympath,
and wondered how a fine manly mai
like Tom Webber had ever let himsel
be stepped on by some female. Love.
J she thought. us funny thing"
"A good idea," Nora said, 80 ge
al your hat. / can hardly wait to tel
you how good your stories are"
!, Webber snatched both her hands il
his and gave them squeeze that hur
: before dashing upstairs three at
: time for his hat.
. "You will be very large, red feath
er in my editorial cap" she told hir
n later. II am annoyed that you neve
tried my magazine-with any Of you
: stories"
II didn't dare aspire so high
thought you only took good Names" h
S said m0dpStlv