Page:Love and Learn (1924).pdf/323

 I could see from his face that he's telling the truth and I don't know why I feel sorry for him or sore that he should of met any young lady at all!

"Well, she gave you a pushing around," I says pleasantly. "Hereafter when you go out without your guardian don't pick up with every stranger that offers you candy—hundreds of children get kidnapped that way in New York every day."

He grins and pulls a blush on a complexion that I could do no more than tie myself.

"I don't blame you for laughing at me," he says. "But I would like to speak to that young lady because"

"Well, give me a good description of her," I butt in, "and I'll try and guess her phone number for you."

This time he laughs outright. Some giggle he's got, too—makes you warm right up to him whether you want to or not, if you know what I mean.

"Listen," he says, bending over real confidential, "I don't suppose you ever go out to dinner, do you?"

"Listen yourself!" I says. "You may be a fast worker, but mere speed will get you nothing here! I am no Miss Fish from the Aquarium! I never under no circumstances go out to dinner with male kiddies which I have just met. So run along back to school, I'm fearful busy. See you all of a sudden!"

With that I turn back to the switchboard and begin