Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-01-25
The Sign
By MAY L. LUEDDECKE
Mcclure Syndicate.)
WNU Service.
LIE DIDN'T come when the flying

HE DIDN'T come when the flying
weather reports announced
good visibility; nor when fair visible
ity was forecast. With poor visible
lty of course she didn't expect him.
Ransom didn't dream that she had
read up on the improved weather
service the department of COM
merce and weather bureau were is
suing, or that she knew of the forty
or so work records that any aviator
was welcome to shoot at; no, Valarie
Templeton wouldn't think of men,
tioning the latter fact to this big,
easy-going, soft-voiced man of the
skies with whom she was head-over-
heels in love.
Valarie sighed. The atmosphere
in the aforementioned office high
above the street seemed, strangely
enough, to press her down.
After lunch she went out on the
balcony where she viewed Fifth ave-
nue. through the fog rift as narrow
lane far below, its human tide, ant
like creatures that just now held no
particular interest for her, moving
back and forth. Maybe Anne Bing-
ham was among them for all she
knew. She would like to step on
her, crush her. Ransom had men,
toned her twice in his last letter.
The rhythmic hum of an approach
ing motor! She turned her gaze
eagerly northward. Could it be?
Since the boss was safe in Canada
somewhere, Valarie had busted her
self with a mote lettered on the
back of a sign she had asked the
porter to make for her. The letters
were two feet high, so that any pilot
could read them if he flew low
enough.
The plane was just overhead now.
She stood watching. Then he was
gone, headed toward the airport.
Signing, she went back to her desk
to resume her tipping. From
Swinertz to Youthful Men," the slo-
gan the firm used with which to ad-
vertise its brand of tailored clothes,
blurred before her eyes. Suddenly
she heard the sound of the motor
again and rushed out madly. The
gray mist was clearing.
The plane was coming back now.
If she could only step from the build
ing into it, she thought, how. ro-
mantle it would be!
Valarie leaned the sign against
the balcony. She had done a good
Job of making the letters, only she
had spilled little paint on the rug.
The plane circled, came closer.
It was Ransom 1t was his plane.
He swooped by just above the fog
now he was coming back, circling.
And he had passenger, too. Was
it Anne? No, it was a man. She
could see his hat. How glad she
was of that!
The plane sailed away into the
bright sky. Then it banked and cir
cled again. She raised the sign
hopefully. No use, it was going
away and-it was heading straight
for the Empire State building. 1t
was going to circle the tower. It
did. Then headed for the airport.
The Empire State building of all
places! Valarie's heart was like
lead.
Anne Bingham worked in the En-
pire State building.
Detected and downhearted she re-
turned to her desk, the sign over
which she had labored so long COM
pletely forgotten. Maybe Ransom
would phone when he landed, and
then she would know if he had read
the mote"
She went to the window and stared
down into the misty depths. He
might at least have dipped a wing
to her, she thought.
Good morning, Miss Templeton
Any mail?"
She jumped as if shot. The boss!
And he seemed extremely peeved.
"Why-Mr Swinertz! l thought
you were in Canada"
He looked up, annoyed. II was.
] flew back this morning Say,
what's the idea of that crazy sign
you had out on the balcony?"
Valarie gasped. So that had been
the boss in the plane. And he'd
seen her mote"
Mr.. Swinertz strolled toward the
balcony, looked at the sign, then
turned it over. On the back it read ::
LOVE YOU
"Why," said Mr.. Swinertz,
whats all this? Say, look here.
There's what it said. You musta
had it backwards. Look at that,
now, will you!"
Valarie stared with open mouth,
Mortified. Good God!" she moaned.
'Why," Mr.. Swinertz was saying,
''you musta cut that strip from the
sign we took down the other day
From Swinertz to Youthful Men.
And you got it wrong side to-
No wonder Ransom had flown
away and dipped his wings to Anne.
The sign read:
NERTZ TO YOU
George Washington
General Washington's manners