Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-01-11

NFRlNG, tapping on the ONCE VIII
dow-panes with the quick, nerv-
~ GUS fingers of an April breeze.
Within the Office, nervously tap
ping out her transcription of the morn
ing's dictation, Shirley Davis, young
and lovely-a personification of spring
and eternal youth.
AS restless and sweet as the April
breeze, with hair cleaning like golden
dafsodils and eyes like violets.
Thus thought Harold Watson, her
employer, as he gazed at her from the
doorway.
''Wish could ask her to marry me-"
he thought, and he said, Back at two,
Miss Davis. I'm off for lunch"
Shirley looked up, nodded and
smiled, and Harold Watson left her.
He loved her, and that was that.
He was engaged to Catherine Phil
lips, and that was that.
Catherine was great girl. The
match was thoroughly suitable from
every angle. Both she and he had
wealth and social position. They had
many tastes in common.
The families had been friends for
generations Worst of all, he loved
Catherine-or had been sure he did.
until few days ago. And Catherine
had said she loved him.
Fifteen minutes later Shirley
perched herself on a high chair in
front of her favorite lunch counter.
She watched the clean, bony, red
hands of the young man behind the
counter making sandwiches Then she
raised her eyes to his pale, serious
face. She smiled-as sweetly, as ra-
dainty, as she had smiled fifteen min
utes before at Harold Watson.
"Hello," she said. Making sand
wiches?"
He grinned.
Morning" he answered. "No, I'm
driving out to the country club for q
game of golf"
Shirley's cheeks flushed rose color.
Shirley was in love with nobody.
Not with the grave young man who
worked so hard behind the lunch coun-
ter. Not with her rich, discontinued
young employer. At least, Shirley as
sured herself that she was quite heart
free. Yet she was sensitively con-
seious about them both. She knew
they were both interested in her, per-
haps.
Mention of the country club made
her wonder If the counter man could
know she had been foolish enough, the
evening before, to motor in his expen-
sive car out to a roadhouse for dinner
with Harold Watson.
There had been nothing wrong in
that, Of course. But Shirley felt sure
Harold was engaged to the owner of
the possessive voice that so often
called him by telephones cultivated.
charming voice that belonged to the
rich young Catherine Phillips, whose
pictures graced the rotogravures and
whose name appeared in all the impor-
tant society notes.
Shirley looked carefully at the man
before her.
No. she decided, he had just men,
toned driving out to a country club
as his idea of a good Joke.
Catching her eye, he stopped slicing
ham and leaned over the counter.
"My names Michael Ryan," he said.
Have dinner with me tonight and let
me talk to you, will your"
Eyes, know-I mean, l know your
names Mike. You see, I've been COM
ing here for weeks"
you're telling me that? know
the first day you came. How about
tonight"
"Well-"
"All right, dent decide now. I'm off
here at quarter to six. I'll be waiting
for you at the corner. Come, If you
decide you want to-"
Almost rudely he turned back to his
work.
Shirley hurried through her lunch
and went back ahead Of time to her
office.
Harold Watson did not come in at
two. At two-thirty the cultivated,
pleasant voice of Catherine Phillips
called him.
'Mr. Watson's secretary" queried
the voice, little TREMENDOUSLY. ooh
he's not there?"
"Poor kid" thought Shirley. Some
body's told her about last night.
Wasn't fool to make life any more
complicated than it is, anyway"
"No." she said, through the mouth
piece-"No, Miss Phillips. He went
to lunch some time ago-an important
engagement. l expect him back before
long. Shall ask him to cali your"
mo, thanks" said the cool, self-pos-
sessed voice. "rll call later"
jealous cat!" thought Shirley.
And then, "Poor kid" she said to
herself.
At three o'clock Harold Watson
came through his Office door. He
walked with careful effort. With great
precision he took off his hat and coat
and hung them up. In short, he was
slightly the worse for such liquid re.
freshmen as he had partaken Of with
his lunch.
important business engagement my
eyei" thought Shirley looking at him
with an experienced eye.