The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1938-11-18
THE SPIRIT OF
THE TIMES
g
By ]. B. M. CLARK
M. CLARK
= Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

always made him pause.
Martha attracted him tremen-
dousH with her pretty eyes and
bright ways. Her people were well
nxed, too, and Martha was the only
child. But that was just the STUN
bling block-her people.
Mr.. Summers had been a carpen-
ter and had grown rich quickly in
one OF the Los Angeles building
eoems. He and his wife were ex-
ceilent people, DR.. Pike felt, and
bad been. very kind to him. But as
possible "inlaws"
The thing had worried DR.. Pike
and held him back, for a dentist
with a fashionable clientele simply
had to be particular.
Then came the Scott stockbroking
scandal and Mr.. Summers fortune
disappeared overnight.
DR.. Pike met Ruth Swinnerton on
The way home from church and
turned to walk with her.
what do you Think" said Ruth
vivaciously. poor Mr.. Summers
has lost everything in the Scott
smash-at least it is thought he has.
can't suppose anyone will know
I'LL after the meeting of the credi-
tors next week, or until the books
are cleaned up. Martha's gone and
taken a position in the Boulevard
Lunch Counter-serving pie and
things. Isn't it shame2"
Boulevard Lunch Counterl-pie
and thingsl" said DR.. Pike aghast.
Good heavensi"
Martha seemed further away
nom him than ever. y
Eyes," said Ruth nodding briskly.
II must drive down there and take
lunch one Of these days just to cheer
the poor dear up. You know where
it is-down near Exposition park?
You might 60, too. It becomes a
duty, you know. ! believe they're
going to sell their beautiful home
and move to their old neighborhood
out east"
At the first opportunity DR.. Pike
motored over to the Boulevard
Lunch Counter, where Martha re-
ceived him with blush and a smile
Of gratitude that somehow suggest
ed tears. She looked prettier than
ever in her white apron, DR.. Pike
thought.
A tall, dark-haired, whitehead
male attendant who had observed
Martha's blush and smile, scowled
disapproval.
Martha and the doctor exchanged
. few embarrassed commonplace
while she served him with soup,
and pie, and other things which he
ordered haphazard cts too bad
you couldn't have found something
a little more congenial," said DR..
Pike alphabetically. "Some OF
your friends might have offered
something. I'll try some of my
business clients if you like-to get
you a job in the bookkeeping line
perhaps"
mo, thank you," said Martha,
flushing again. II got this position
for myself, and it just about suits
me- It's my own fault-never
learned anything useful you know.
] just ran about enjoying myself
and trying to be a society girl.
Father was too easy with me, poor
darling. But do know something
about cooking and food, and Mr..
Blake (the proprietor, that tall, dark
fellow over there) is perhaps going
to give me charge of the kitchen
and the buying later on"
DIR. Pike nodded thoughtfully over
his apple pie, noting with some
slight misgiving that Martha
seemed rather proud of what she
had done.
81 suppose you'll learn ste
biography as soon as possible?" he
hazarded, "and get away from here
as quickly as you CAM"
"Oh, don't know" said Martha
with. a sparkle in her eye. "Why
should I? This work is quite hon
est. and / seem to be fitted for it.
But / might consider learning ste
biography" she added hastily, not
ing the disappointment in his face.
She had been fond Of him in the
halcyon days, and thought it beau
tiful that he should come seeking
her in her time of trouble.
DR.. Pike drove round to the Bou-
levard Lunch Counter at regular in
tervals during the next few weeks,
and ate many things that did not
agree with him.
Martha usually took short walk
about one O'Clock and he got into
the habit of taking her for drives
instead.
The unlocked for development of
character In what had hitherto been
D Light and careless girl charmed
and fascinated him. To propose
marriage seemed the obvious
course. But he was obsessed with
the notion that he might now have
20 include Mr.. and Mrs. Summers in
the bargain-bring them into his
home, and the prospect unnerved
him.
He had heard il rumored that Mr..
Summers was going back to car
pentering, and the vision of that