The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-11-10
THE BUSINESS
VENTURE OF
CISSY JAYNE.
Cissy Was . Child, but she HadA
Remarkable Aptitude For
Trade.
eY W. r. ROSE.

The tnll young nan ut the desk by
the big window looked up with a start.
There was something strangely famil.
lar about the little figure IN the door.
way. He arose hurrledly from his
chair.
"Why, It's Cissy" he cried and step.
ped forward. The chlld's figure sway.
ed toward him, and he caught It In his
arms.
"George Henderson," a tired little
voice painted, "why don't you live up to
heaven and be done with It"
"What IL It, Cissy" cried the young
man as he placed the child In the great
padded chair IN the corner and unfas.
tened her big hat and a%nxlously looked
her over.
cts these eight flights Of stairs,
George" the faint voice painted. "But
I'm all right. Just gimme time to get
my breath"
"Gracious, Cissy, did you walk up"
The tired head weakly nodded.
She was a slender girl Of perhaps a
dozen years. Her features were prom
inent, her eyes keen, her chin agrees
sive. Her light hair was brushed tight
~ back from her face, and this en-.
phasized the sharpness of her features
and her look. She was very neatly
dressed and. under one arm, carried
two handsomely bound books.
"Why in the world didn't you take
the elevator, Cissy"
Her breath was coming back now,
and she smiled up at the young man
way.
"1ll tell you, George" she answered.
II went into the vestybool, way down
by the sidewalk, you know. and l was
just going to step Into the elevator
when the fresh kid IN brass buttons
that runs 1t pointed to a sign on the
wall. While | was reading It he ruined
the elevator up. You know the sign.
It's the II that says, NO book agents,
peddlers or dogs allowed In this build.
ing I read It and walked up"
"But l don't see"- began the puzzled
young man.
George Henderson," cried the girl,
"don't you look at me al II you
thought l took myself for Il dog! I'm a
book agent"
"A book agent, Cissy Jayne"
eyes, u book agent, Georgia Hender.
son. IL there anything the matter
with my being n book agent"
"Certalnly not" laughed tho young
mar TITS an ancient and honorable
profession, even II n rude and unappre.
ciative janitor does classify It with
peddlers and dogs. But how did YOU
happen to adopt It"
The girl scowled ut him.
".See here, Georgia porgie," she snap.
ped, don't you give me any Of your
Harvard talk. Kindergarten words II
good enough for me. I'm a book agent
cause dad put 1t In my head. At the
table yesterday he got mad ut me and
said | had brass enough for a book
agent. DO you think I'd make a good
book agent, dadT says l. It's just
what you're fitted for he growled.
And SO this noon l picked two books of |
mine from the big bookcase and start
ed out"
"See here, Cissy jayne" cried tho
young man, you don't mean to say
that you came all the way down town
alone? How did you do ltT
"With a nickel and a transfer" gig.
gled the child.
"And your father, and-and Miss
Ethel don't know where you are"
mo, they don't"
A"1ll telephone to them ut onee," said
thu young nan us he turned toward
the phone.
"Dont do It," cried the child. Papa
Jayne Is down town ut his Office and
Of course hasn't missed me, and Sister
Ethel IL out to luncheon with Name
Oliver and she won't miss me until she
comes back. And now let me ask your
'tention to these nice books. They are
very choice. One IL little Women by
the author Of Little Men, and the other
Is Little Men, by the same author.
They are nice, morul books. There are
pitchoors In them. Lemme put down
your name for both"
"Good," cried George Henderson,;
Every good. Your fathel'was quite right.
on have found your profession and
Oh are sure to rise In It,"
Haven't | already come up eight
storles?' laughed the child. Then she
quickly added. "Do you take tho
books?"
II have SO many books nowY laugh
ed the young man.
YOU'D better take them," said tho
child. "f'vc got something to say to
you about Sister Ethel"
The young man started.
I'll tell you what I'll do, Cissy," he
said. IN take them on approval"
Whats that"
IT means that I'll take them and
look thera over" replied tho young
man and II ! like them I'll keep them
.uu pay YOU for them. II don't like
snetn' III return them to YOU"