The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-01-18
LISTENING
IN
g
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS
Mcclure syndicate-WNU Service.l

glad that he had learned the deaf
and dumb alphabet, otherwise he
might have missed one of the most
interesting and happy adventures of
his somewhat checkered career. As
boy and even to this date Jimmy
and his deaf uncle were the best of
pals, and it was because of this hap
Ply companionship that Jimmy had
become so proficient in the art of
silent conversation.
He was wishing his uncle had been
able to accompany him that after
noon to the concert whittier he had
gone in search of ideas to exc out
his newspaper column and to enjoy
some good music at the same time.
Jimmy was a rising young reporter
on a big daily whose unusual abili-
ties were making themselves mani
fest.
Jimmy was bit grieved that his
seat was beside two girls. He usu-
ally found that girls chatted about
the latest thing in hats and frocks,
crumpled numerous candy wrappers
and otherwise disturbed the lovely
silence of the auditorium.
But to his great interest, no soon
er were the girls munching content
edly at the inevitable caramels with
out which no place of amusement
was possible, than they started chat
tering like silent magpies on their
hands.
Suddenly he became very inter-
ested. The two girls were talking
about story plots, and the one near
est to him was telling her pal a
most fascinating plot for a short
story.
II wish l felt l could do it JUS
tice," she said to the girl beyond,
land I shall certainly have go
at tit would make dandy movie,
too" .a..-'oe,
''You just bet it would" thought
Jimmy, make a darned good
movie"
After that, while an exquisite in
depreciation of the Meditation from
That's was being played, Jimmy's
brain was off in the clouds chasing
after the complete threads of the
story he would have on paper be-
fore the dawn broke on another day.
Fortunately Jimmy noticed, on the
morning paper she still carried, the
name c. Cooke, Warren Arms, Riv-
erside drive.
After the concert Jimmy arose,
and let the two girls pass him. An
al-too-swift glance from the one who
had occupied the seat beside him
made him realize that the world
could be much more glorious place
to live in if companioned one might
be by girl of her type.
All that night Jimmy sat under
the proverbial candle light with the
blacklist of coffee beside him writ
ing out the plot of that story.
Jimmy had no difficulty in get
ting a rather large check straight
, away for the story. And he de-
manded also early publication and
that under the name of c. Cooke.
The editor had looked a bit blank
but the story itself was far too good
to miss, so prompt publication was
promised.
There was nothing more to be
done for the moment except to en-
close the check, payable to C. Cooke
in an envelope and post it to the
Warren Arms, Riverside drive. This
Jimmy proceeded to do, and fell to
wondering just what that fair and
lovely girl would think when she
received it.
mot within mile of the truth"
decided Jimmy, and wished he might
be there to watch her. Jimmy had
succeeded in working up a great
longing to know the girl better and
then even better than that.
Cora Cooke most certainly had the
surprise of her young life when she
found the check in her mail with no
other indication as to it's origin than
a penciled note accompanying it.
Watch August Talebearer," was
all she received by way of infor-
nation.
Being girl of swift action Cora
was down at the editorial offices of
the Talebearer before she had quite
swallowed her breakfast.
The editor glanced at her card,
took a good look at her and smiled.
The young rogue" was his half
muttered comment. Aloud he said,
THAT check is payment for very
fine story which will be published
in months time. Jimmy Cosgrove,
one of our brilliant young writer's,
brought it in and l supposed he was
using nom-de-plume. Now l be-
gin to scent something else He
briefly outlined the story plot and
Cora sat breathlessly listening.
"I'll just call up the young rascal
and get him over here to explain"
he added, for Cora's face was GER
tainly a puzzle of bewilderment.
1t wasn't ten minutes before jim
my occupied third side of the edi-
tors desk and there was undoubted
joy in his eyes.