The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-08-29
"Fa int Heart"
BY EVELYN GORDON
G. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

Then he got up and for the tenth time
stopped to listen at his open door.
No, she wasn't coming yet. Past
nine now. Ruth Royal during these
two years as his secretary in the Mar
rick Advertising agency never had been
late. Until this morning.
And this morning of all mornings!
When fate lay in what would be re-
vealed III her lovely face when she
! would emerge through that door con-
Meeting their Offices. Would it be yes,
I or no?
For months he had been like timld
! swimmer atop a springbOard, but with
insufficient courage to take the actual
leap. And now it was as though he
had positively cast off by proxy. Be-
cause of yesterday; yesterday, when he
had walked firmly out and bought an
expensive engagement ring.
He wrote a letter then and placed
it inside the velvet case beneath the
ring.
Now, how to get it tc her? 1t was
like voice from Paradise when on
the way out at five, Ruth said, MY
mothers with me for a week. She's
keen to meet the man I'm working for.
Couldn't you drop into the apartment"
Ruth had the merriest fire cracking
in the CRATE when he arrived.
Some one said, quietly. Miss Ruth,
the cotfee's served"
And NIilt decided that when the la
dies preceded him to the dining room
he would place the precious box on her
pillow as he passed Ruth's bedroom
door where she would discover it.
He had not slept, thinking of Ruth
and of Joe AllertOn-he'd seen them
together lately more than enough.
The electric light button clicked in
the adjoining room!
Instantly Mit'S eyes focused on the
connecting door. His heart leapt like
a racehorse taking final hurdles in com
petition with other aspirants. He
yearned for the light of acquiescence
on her face. Some one was with her.
LET it be anyone but Allerton," he
prayed.
Its serious, Ruth" The voice was
low, secretive; and Milt knew that
v0ice-Joe Allerton's. We've simply
got to get together" Che failed to catch
the next pleading words but read his
own suspicious into them) otherwise
the bottom will drop out of everything"
After a curt "Good morning" she
said firmly: Lets get these orders
Strengthened out first, I've had so many
complaints about mistakes" Her
words all pertaining to business,
bumped up in huddled mass in his
brain through a telephone buzZer on
Ruth's outer desk. she FASTENED to
answer it.
And suddenly he was alone again
when the door opened gently. Some
one peeped in, then entered noiselessly.
Milts face paled. "Why-Anne! !"
His eyes were gray clouds. You!
What have you come here for?"
I'm glad you're going to marry her.
Milt. Any girl would give her ears to
marry you. You've always been so
fine, staunch." She testated as
though her throat were blocked. "Only
she doesn't know yet"
"Iou see, Milt it's my one bad habit.
I'll always steal Because l can't seem
to help it, somehow. ! took Miss
Royals ring; found it Cd the pillow
when l went in to turn the bed down.
go from place to place, YOU know. But
| left there this morning"
An aching void for the girl he had
once adOred gaped in Milts gentle
heart. lie had helped her so many
times to escape punishment.
Anne opened her purse took out the
square-cut purple box with reverent
care; put it safely into Milt's hands.
1t was only then that her dark eyes
misted, Don't do it this way, Mit."
she begged. 81 mean--nut the writing
part. Tell her. She'll like it better,
Milt. 1t seems sort of cowardly to do
it this way"
Alilt looked hard into her thin face.
'Thank you, Anne" he said with diff
Guilty. 81 will"
Suddenly he Strengthened up to his
full six feet and slapped his thumb
over the buzzer nightly.
Ruth came running in. Her eyes
were red, strained. Without a doubt
she had been crying.
Come here, Ruth. What's the mat
ter?"
Her lips quivered. ooh, everything
that was ever the matter in the whole
world. The business is going to ruin
and you can't see-can't see"
the reason why" he supplied in
a thick certain voice. "Well-this is
it," His arms closed tight about her.
This is why"
"Oh, Milt,' she was saying breath
lessly, whats been the matter with
you? This curious hedge you seemed
to have around you! felt you cared
about Inc, but somehow we couldn't get
through to one another"
He kissed her hard. I'VE have now"
he said triumphantly.
And all the time you were getting
more absent-minded than ever. Send
ing the wrong material out. Mixing up
the merchandise; making clients mad
until Joe Allerton and l were almost
beside ourselves. Only this morning
Joe said the bottom would fall out of