The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-06-21
A Man Named
Branigan
By HORACE THATCHER
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Services
HER twenty-sixth bIrt

Sally Talbot decided that so far
as present plans indicated she was
destined to be an old maid. Blu" "
she concluded. "it isn't as though I'd
never been asked Tom did and he
would suit almost any girl who want
ed to get married. but for me he was
too dull"
Through her six years working In
an Insurance office Sally had managed
TO save five hundred dollars In Sc
cret bank account Now that she was
twenty-six she had decided to take a
vacation and see California as we'll as
the Grand Canyon and the Rocky
mountains. She had approached her
friend, Dorothy Evans, about the trip
suggesting that they take the trip
together. After deep discussion the
two young women decided that they
could accomplish good deal of sight
seeing In the West during their three
weeks vacation. So Sally paid Wis
Il to the central ticket agency to get
some learned advice on the proposed
vacation.
She came back and was most en-
thusiastic. "Dot. there's the incest
man up there. He certainly took good
care Of me. He said his name was
Branigan.' Well" she ended with .
laugh. "you know always did enjoy
the Irish"
Dorothy and Sally Joined forces and
went to see Mr.. Branigan to ask for
further information about their pro-
posed trip. As Dorothy was just. a.
fayorably impressed with the gentle
man as Sally. whenever they were to-
gether Of an evening they thought up,
more questions to confront Mr.. Brani-
gan with.
These get-togethers were by appoint
ment as Sally lived IN Stonewall, q
little suburb town. and she committed
to work in the city. One day as she
was at the station waiting to catch Q
train to convey her to work, she was
exceedingly surprised to see q familiar
face behind a newspaper. There was
Mr.. Branigan reading.
As he didn't apparently notice her,
Sally was curious to know all about
Mr.. Branigan and whether or not he
was a married man.
At lunch that day she told Dorothy
all about the incident as they ate their
toast sandwiches and drank their malt
ed milks through straws. sand, Dor
othy," said Sally, "I've virtually told
that man my entire family history and
how much money l have in the bank.
Before l know 1t. 1t may be the talk
sof the town"
After confessIng her story to Dor
-othy, Sally decided to risk taking an
extra hour for lunch and she set of
to see Mr.. Branigan at his office. She
concluded that she would not mention
Stonewall until he did.
But after Mr.. Branigan smiled 80
graciously at her. Sally let her tongue
slip. "Mr. Branigan." she said, "do
you live In Stonewall?"
The young man said that he did and
returned to the discussion Of her pro-
lposed trip with Dorothy.
But somehow Sally was more inter
ested in Mr. Branigan than In her trip
at that particular moment. 81 had no
idea that you lived In Stonewall but q
friend of mine said she knew a man
OF that name there and our descrip-
lions conceded"
ooh. yes" said Mr. Branigan, I'm
m old citizen of Stonewall In fact,
was born there and have lived there
ever since"
"And you've never seen me about
the town, have your"
'sTve known you by sight for many
years." Mr.. Branigan answered quietly.
"oh," and Sally couldn't hide q
blush.
Presently Branigan offered her slip
of paper to sign and as she scrawled
her name on 1t, the ticket agent said,
81 had an idea the 8 stood for Sylvia.
So it's Sally. You see, stood behind
you one day as you were buying your
Communication ticket. Let's see-you
were wearing q blue hat and blue
coat with gray fur on the collar. Am
I rightr'
Sally was forced to smile. "You have
a remarkable memory. Mr.. Branigan.s
Then she looked at her watch and de-
-eided that It was past time she had
started back to the office. With hasty
1ood-by she dashed out Of the office.
A week before she and Dorothy were
20 start on their vacation, Mr.. Brani-
gan dropped In one evening at her
home. They were looking over pic
lures Of Yellowstone park when the
telephone rang. 1t was Dorothy and
she said her mother had been taken
Ill and would have to go to the noun
-tains. There was nothing for Doro-
thy to do but to cancel her western
"trip and spend her vacation with her
mother.
We'll. there go all my plans for !
grand time In the wild and woolly
West" said Sally as she Joined Mr..
Branigan on the lounge. "And after
I've bothered you SO much getting the
entire trip planned to perfection"
M pro nj on cloooA e. - L