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Show LESSON IN TACT By Lealon Martin t 1," VKRYHODY knows she's "cranky!" Mary Blair, society r-ditor, circulation manager, and .iffiee (nice of the News told her i'oss when the ruffled caller had I'epnrteti. "Even so, Mls Blair," Howard Kankin said, "perhaps you could he, er, less positive." "All I ilul was hnw her the carbon of the subscription order she'd signed. Anyhow, she paid up. She still wants the paper " "She seemed very angry. " "She always does Last year, the year befoie. Next year, too. probably prob-ably " Mary went back to her desk. Six months earlier, Howard Rankin Ran-kin had been an assistant professor of economies at the stale university. univer-sity. Making a survey of the state's newspapers, he found his interest in journalism so great that he had given ii) teaching, was now the proud owner and editor of the Cell-treville Cell-treville News. Wuh the paper he had inherited Maiy Blair, twenty-two and redheaded. red-headed. She was vaguely disturb-Hi)? disturb-Hi)? As efficient a person as she should not be alsrt pretty. "Why don't you run on, Miss Blair." he said, noting that she was still at work past closing time. "I want to finish this editorial on mass hysteria for my series. I'll slay mi," "Okay. But look, I'd soft pedal that. Some folks think you're on the wrom; tack." "1 prefer to complete thu series. I'm not afraid." j " 'Seuse ma, folks!" Baid a ' cheery voice. "Forgot my bag," I Mary added, breezing past tu her desk "Why, It's Mr. Hough!" she said, "and you're showing Mr Rankin how to shout. How nice' Mr Hough was the best pistol shot in his re;iiiiv:iit in the Spanish-American Spanish-American V.'.u " "Even in". Mis' Mary. Naw, jus' Company ii'." the man said. "Isn't this lucky'" Mary said. "You see, Mr. Hough, Mr. Rankin had just this afternoon asked me to see you " "What."' Howard started, then caught on. "Y'es . . . yes," he gulped. "He wanted to have rue talk to someone who knows all about the Army and keeps up with things, and we thought you'd be about the best one to talk to." "Uh, well, I don't know 'bout that." The old man grinned, bashfully, bash-fully, shoving the gun down into a pocket, "Will you excuse us, Mr. Rankin'.'" Ran-kin'.'" said Mary. "Just step in here, Mr. Hough, please." She led him into the outer office. Twenty minutes later, Howard's nose came cautiously through the door when he heard, "Goodbye, Mr. Hough, and thank you." "Has he gone'"' Mary smiled and nodded, and he saw that her head came to Just above his shoulder, that her eyes were a warm, deep brown. "Forgive me," he said, "for lecturing you on tact. And thanks a million, Miss . . . thank you. Ma ry " "That's all right . . . Howard," she said. "Mr. Hough's really a nice old man. He has spells, but he's harmless if you know how to I handle him. Oh, here's something for you." She offered a slip of paper. He read quickly, then looked at Mary, standing very near. Their eyes caught and smiled. The slip read: "Centreville News ! Subscription Order. I'lease send I me the News for one year from I date. Signed: Elmer Hough.'' j "That's not the point," Mary I sa ill. leaving, Hy seven-thirty he was through and reading over the editorial when j the office door swung slowly open i A grim man in overalls stalked in, ; u blue-barrelled pistol dangling m one h;. ml. "I h;.e come for you," the tig ure said ! "Hi, there must be some mis U i;e." IT. ward managed. "No mistake. You the new editor edi-tor .iin't you' Been writing about h., !i.,t folks being ei . Now, I'm gonna . . ." |