Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-07
Daily Short Story
Table for Two
sy WILLIAM ORNSTEIN

sy WILLIAM ORNSTEIN
THEY laughed at him al the
i office, Harry and Burton and
Leonard. Said he had no romance.
Must be made OF wood the way
he paSsively ignored Franny Mar
tan. his pretty secretary. And
spending his lunch hours porting
into books. munching sandwiches
with his milk. examining seconds
for All they were wefth.=
He didn't mind. though. Let
them laugh. He realized AS well
as the others she was the most
beautiful being al Automatic
Auditing. Possessed OF worldly
charm and personality, she could
turn il of or on Just like that,
But she never tried il on Franklin
jackson.
She knew better. She might get
fired for making faux pas As
his secretary she had 10 observe
rules and regulations religiously,
Beneath his hard boiled office
composure she suspected a kindly
sou, n human being with a heart
OF gold. Her philosophy was that
under any thick skin lies soft
heart. And Franklin Jackson
was no exception.
Why he didn't notice her beyond
the casual. matter-of-fact remarks
during business hours was a
mystery,
ADMIRE QUALITIES
Harry had told her how much
he admired her pointed chin. Bur-
ton raved about her long lashes
and the way her clear blue eyes
sparkled with life. And Leonard
went into raptures over her new
hair-do.
Yet never kind word from her
boss: not as much as a nod Of
recognition. She could dress 10
queens taste and il wouldn't make
n particle OF difference 10 Stone
wall Jackson. the second. That's
what she called him. Stonewall
Jackson. the second She didn't
care who knew II, either.
Despite il all, she admired him,
his unassuming manner. She could
even like him if he'd simply make
a wee gesture. AS Harry and
Burton put ii. romance stopped
meandering when il reac h d
Franklin Jackson, chief account
ant for Automatic Auditing.
When he left that night he saw
Harry at her desk. Last night il
was Leonard and Burton before
that 1t seemed like cycle.
The three men were junior ac-
countants with average salaries.
None took their jobs seriously or
planned for the future. While
they were out nights having lots
of fun dancing, dining, and enter
tanning, Franklin Jackson made
capital Of his time. II was fun,
too.
MAKE-BELIEVE
Every evening. before attending
q school for mechanics, he dined
at Pagonis. Pagoni himself would
lead the way To a table for two.
Then he would present the menu
and place another opposite him,
seeming to sense his customer
entry into a land OF make-believe
enchantment.
Franklin looked into the search
ing eyes of the rotund restau-
rateur, who said, Maybe, to-
night. yes?"
Something is happe at
Franklin Jackson's table. No one
is concerned. The diners have seen
him there night after night. week
after week. So whatever goes on
in the corner doesn't interest
them.
Franklin is all smiles as the
ohsequious Pagoni talks about his
roast veal and delicious sauce, to-
nights special.
The air cleared OF Pagoni. ar
image. a beautiful fiaxen-haired
creature w4b sw,eepin9 ssshes. and
clear blue eyes. took shape oppo-
site him.
what will you have, Miss
Marian" Fraklyn asked. Cor
recting himself quickly. "Franny.
] mean, I keep forgetting -
REPRIMANDS HIM
In the diffused light he can now
see her full lips and eager eyes
gently reprimanding him.
"Why. Frank, don't tell me
you've forgotten"
Somehow he had.
stupid OF mew he said.
II must be the excitement the