The Coolidge examiner., 1933-11-03

came.
AS she sat taking Mr.. Blan's
dictatiOn she found herself wonder
ing what sort of things he really
liked to possess.
She liked TO imagine herself
something of a student of faces.
She was studying him intently.
Suddenly Mr. Blain looked up and
for a second his eyes met hers.
1t was apparently a trifle discon-
certing to him to find his stenog-
rapher studying his face so closely
when she was supposed merely to
be taking his dictation.
At any rate he had to ask her
to reread the entire letter before
he could collect his thoughts suffi-
ciently to continue.
ITS going to be pleasant over
the weekend" commented Nancy
Howe that afternoon as she was
about to go home.
Il always like pleasant Satur-
days and Sundays. 1 suppose you
play golf"
Golf, goodness no." quoth Mr..
Blain.
I'D rather saw wood. Golf would
bore me to DEATH"
Most people who don't like golf,
like horses and dogs" ventured
Nancy Howe, surprised at her own
bravery.
Maybe they do" said Mr.. Blain.
Then I'm an exception"
Everyone has to have some sort
of hobby" Nancy continued.
"But when one has a good fast
car l suppose that's enough"
Il haven't even a slow one," said
Mr.. Blain, beginning to be amused
at the pumping process.
"Then l suppose you'd like one
that would go along about sixty
miles an hour"
mo motor cars for me, Miss
Howe" he said.
II took enough chances when l
was in the war;"
The next day, Saturday, Nancy
managed, in spite of great deal of
dictation for a half day, to engage
Mr.. Blain in conversation about
books.
But from this she had no salts
faction.
Later she discussed clubs with no
better luck.
Every day for a week she cOntin-
ued her pumping process, all car
ried on, as she thought, with the
greatest tact possible.
The most disturbing thing about
it was that Mr.. Blain seemed to be
laughing at her.
He seemed to be as eager to keep
her from knowing his preferences
as she was eager to discover them
1t was the ninth of March and
the next day Mrs. Kellogg would
come for her information.
Much to her surprise, Mr.. Blain
asked Nancy to have luncheon with
him.
Nancy might have hesitated, be-
cause she had always felt that ii
was unwise for a girl to lunch with
her employer.
Still she took this as good op-
portunity to continue her probing.
"See here" said Tom, after they
had finished a rather light lunch
con and were dallying over their
hot coffee. You want, for some
reason or other, to find out what
want for a birthday present.
"rll tell you the honest truth
about the matter if you'll answer
me a few questions.
Goodness knows l have a right
to ask questions after the way
you've been putting me through the
third degree lately.
Now mind, answer me the truth
and nothing but the truth.
w HlCu uO yOu plClCA, hCh VIII
blue eyes or brOwn?"
Il think l prefer blue eyes," she
said, trying not to look embar-
rassed.
"Would you be willing to marry
a man with whom you had worked
in business?"
II don't think I'd object"
would you mind much being
| called Mrs. Thomas Blain"
Really, this is too much," said
Nancy, very much confused.
You promised to answer the
| truth" said Thomas.
"You really wouldn't, would you?
81 don't suppose would" STAN
mered Nancy.
! "Now you know what l want for
birthday present. VIII you give it
to me?'
And Nancy said she would.