Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-12-26
Faint Heart"
By EVELYN GORDON
G Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service

AVA with soft impauence on MS uesh-
Then he got up and for the tenth time
stopped to listen al his open door
No she wasn't coming yet Past
nine now. Ruth Royal during these
TIVE 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 De re-
vealed III her lovely face when she
would emerge through that door con-
meeting their Offices. Would il be yes
or no:
For months he had been like a tnIld
swimmer atop springboard, but Win
insufficient courage 70 take the actual
lean And now il was as though ne
had positively cast of by proxy. Be
cause of yesterday; yesterday. when he
had walked firmly out sid bought an
expensive engagement ring.
He wrote a letter then and placed
IL inside the velvet case beneath the
ring.
Now, how TO get II &c herr II was
ike g voice from Paradise when on
the way out AT FIVE, Ruth said, My
mothers with me for a week. She's
keen 20 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 coffees served"
And Milt 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 Mills eyes focused on the
connecting door. His heart leapt like
q racehorse taking final hurdles in COM
petition with other sspirants. he
yearned for the light Of acquiescence
On her face. Some one was with her.
Let il be anyone but Allerton." he
prayed
ITS serious. Ruth" The voice was
low. secretive; and Milf knew that
voicAJoe Anerton's. We've simply
9ot 10 get together" Che failed TO catch
tie next pleading words but read his
own suspicious into them) otherwise
the bottom will drop out Of everything
ho
said firmly: LET'S get these orders
enlightened out first I've had so many
complaints about mistakes" Her
words an pertaining 10 business
bumped up in a huddled mass in his
brain through telephone buzzer on
Ruth's outer desk she fastened to
answer il
And suddenly he was alone again
when the door opened gently. Some
one peeped in. then entered noiselessly
Milt's face paled. "Why-Anne y
His eyes were gray clouds You
What have you come here for?"
Pm glad you're going to marry her
Milt Any girl would give her ears II
marry you You've always been 81
fine. staunch" She hestated a:
though her throat were blocked "Onl!
she doesn't know yet"
You see. Mit. it's my one bad habit
I'll always steal. Because can't seen
10 help II. somehow. ] took Mis-
Royals ring: found il Cd the pillow
when ! went in 10 turn the bed down
20 from place 10 place. YOU know. Blu
left there this morning"
An aching void for te girl he haC
once adored CAPPED in Mills gentl
heart de had helped her so man.
times TO escape punishment
Anne opened her purse, took out tn
square-cut purple box with reveren
care; put it safely into Mills hands
II was only then that her dark eve
misted- Don't do II this way. Milt,
she begged. 81 mean-not the writin
part Tell her She'll like il better
Milt II seems sort of cowardly to d
II this way"
Milf looked hard into her thin fac'
Thank you. Anne" he said with diff
Guilty. 81 will"
Suddenly he Strengthened up 70 hi
full six feet and slapped his thum
over the buzZer nightly.
Ruth came running in. Her eye
were red. strained without a dout
she had been crying
Come here, Ruth What's the ma
terri
her lips quivered. oh. everythin
that was ever the matter in the whol
= world. The business Is going TO rui
and you can't see-can't see
the reason why be supplied |
thick certain voice -Well-this
it," His arms closed tight about he
This Is Why"
'-Oh. Mift." she WAS saying oreat,
iessly. whats been the matter wit
youf This curious hedge you SCENE
Co have around you, felt you care
shout me. but somehow we couldn't 2,
through TO one another
He kissed her hard I'VE have now
ne said triumphsntiy.
And all the time you were gettir
more absent-minded than ever Sen,
20 ing the wrong material out Mixing Q
the merchandise; making clients ms
until Joe AIlerton and | were almo
beside ourselves Only this mornir