Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 258, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1911 — Her Ruse Was a Good One [ARTICLE]

Her Ruse Was a Good One

Billy Brass, office boy, stood with his back to the office fir* his hands deep in hla trousers pockets, and regarded the clerks with a patronising sir. “Have you beard the latest?" he asked in the tone of one who is in possession of a secret sad longs to have the pleasure of sharing it with some one. “Ethel has given notice!" he announced. Twelve beads were raised simultaneously and twenty-three eyes—. Clapper had a glass one—looked inquiringly at Billy. Perhaps the flush that mounted to the cheeks of Harry Wilmore, a blond, good looking young giant, was more pronounced than any of the others. Bthel, it should be explained, was Miss Ansom, the pretty typewriter. Next morning Miss Aneom walked through the counting house,* unblushing, and holding her left band in a manner calculated to display to its best advantage an engagement ring which glittered and twinkled cheerfully on the correct linger. Wilmore gazed at it, first sorrowfully, then resentfully, and finally In a fit of desperation came to the decision that, ring or no ring, he would ask Miss Ansom to meet him that everfng after office hours. Sc lie what to his surprise she consented.

They met, and, having cleared the outskirts of the town, the attractiveness of a seat beneath some trees suggested itself to them. Wlimore fidgeted uneasily oh his end- of .the seat, and pulled out his handkerchief. Not quite what he Wanted it for, he put it back and coughed apologetically. “Thank goodness,’’ said Miss Ansom fervently. “I —I beg your pardon?” “I thought you were never going to utter another Bound,” she explained, with an amused look at his troubled face. “1 do wish you'd say something,” she observed, plaintively. “If I’d thought you were going to be as moody and sulky a* this I’m sure I’d never have consented to favor you with my company tonight.” “You look upon it as a favor?” hinted Wilmore. “Of course,” she said. “Wouldn’t any of the others at the ehance, don’t you think? You ought to feel flattered instead of moping there like an owl.” “Yes,” agreed Wilmore listlessly. “Then why do you do it?” she demanded. “Why don’t you say something pleasant?” Wilmore was silent.

“Do you know, Mr. Wilmore,” she cried, “I'm dreadfully tired of office life.” “Are you, Miss Ansom?” “Yes, and I shan’t be a bit sorry when my month is up.” "That, I suppose, is only natural,” lie said. “Br —I hope he is in a—er—good position, Miss Ansom?” “Yes,” she said slowly, “he’s in a good position—good enough for me, but he's so awfully dense.” “Dense!” echoed Wilmore. "Yes,” she replied, laughingly, "wofully dense, and stupid. Considering the encouragement I've given him, I wonder he hasn’t—didn’t hsk me weeks ago.” “I’ll leave you finish your laughter In solitude,” he remarked, with angry sarcasm. “And —and —I’m hanged If I won’t find out the chap that you are engaged to and get -him the sack.” v Wilmore seised her left hand almost roughly. “Whoput that ring on there?” he demanded. “I’m going to know, before we part tonight” “If you’ll promise not to fulfill your threat of getting the person dismissed I—l'll tell you.” “I promise. I didn’t mean it,” he pleaded anxiously. “I wouldn’t play such a trick.” “Then,” she said slowly, “the person who put the ring on my finger was” “Yes?” he queried eagerly, as she paused, and seemed on the point of laughing again. " “My—oh, dear!—myself!” she gasped. “You—you put it on yourself?” he repeatedly daxedly. “Why?” "Well, then,” she said, moving back along the seat and looking at him roguishly. "I will tell you. When I first came to the office I thought they were such a nice lot of fellows, and I didn't rea|ly know that I liked one more than the others. Consequently, I tried them all, and managed to make them all so fond of me that I saw I was going to gets into hot water. Then I found out that I liked one better than all the rest, but he was so dense and bashful that I was afraid that I should receive the proposals of all the others before his. and —I didn’t want them. So, to. make a long story short. I gave out that I was going to be married, and pat on the ring in self-defense—to keep them at their proper distance. I knew the one I liked was safe enough, aad that I could draw him oat whenever I wished, but I thought he deserved to be tested a little longer for being so stupid, and —well, I believe that's all/’ “Bxeept his name,” said Wilmore tensely. “You haven’t told me yet who he is.” Miss Ansom lifted her head aad smiled wtaalagly in his dlrestiea. * “Deal yea think yea aseMtty net