The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-12-01
misceIlamep11s
Business Venture Of Cissy Jayne
By W, r. ROSE.

Business Venture Of Cissy Jayne
By W, r. ROSE.
| The tall man at the desk by the bis
window looked up with start. There
was something strangely familiar
about the little figure in the doorway
He arose hurriedly from his chair.
| why, it's Cissyl" he cried anG
stepped forward. The child's figure
swayed toward him, and he caught il
| in his arms.
| George Henderson," a tired little
voice painted, "why don't you live up
| to heaven and be done with it?''
| What is it, Cissy2" cried the young
man as he placed the child in the
great padded chair in the corner and
unfastened her big hat and anxiously
looked her over.
Its 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 upt''
The tired head weakly nodded.
She was slender girl of perhaps a
dozen years. Her features were prom.
inent, her eyes keen, her chin ag.
gressive. Her light hair was brushed
tightly back from her face, and this
emphasized 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,
ND cl crnitaI of tho =,
and lifted one eyebrow in a whimsi-
cal way.
"I'll tell you, George, she answered.
81 went into the vesty bool, way down
by the sidewalk, you know, and l
was just going to step into the ele-
vator when the fresh kid in brass
buttons that runs it pointed to q sign
on the wall. While was reading it
he ruined the elevator up. You
know the sign. It's the one that
dogs allowed in this building Tread
it and walked up"
but don't see"-began the puz-
zled young man.
George Henderson" cried the girl,
don't youlook at me as if you thought
| took myself for u dog! I'm O book
agent"
"a book agent, Cissy Jayne?'
derson. Is there anything the matter
with my being book agenti'
Certainly mott laughed the young
man. Its an ancient and honorable
profession, even If a rude and unap-
preciative jauitor does classify it with
peddlers and dogs. But how did you
happen 30 adopt it?'
The girl scowled at him.
"See here, Gsorgie Porgie," she
snapped, don't you give me any of
your Harvard talk. kindergarten
words is good enough for me. I'm 6
book agent cause dad put it in my
head. At the table yesterday he got
mad and said had brass enough for
a. book agent. DO you think I'd make
a good book agent, dadr says l. It's
| Just what you're fitted for, he growled.
And SO this noon / picked two books
of mine from the big bookcase and
started out"
See here, Cissy jayne" cried the
young man, you don't mean to say
! that you came all the way down town
alone? How did you do it?'
with nickle and transfer,'
| giggled the child.
"And your father, and-and Miss
Ethel don't know where you are?"
mo, they don't"
"Tll telephone to them at once,'
said the young man, as he turned
toward the phone.
| Don't do it," cried the child
"Papa Jayne is down town at his
office and of course hasn't missed me
and Sister Ethel is out to luncheon
with Name Oliver and she won't miss
me until she comes back. And now
| let me ask your 'tention to those nice
books. They are very choice. One
is 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 pit
choors in them. Lemme put dowr
your name for BOTH"
"Good," cried George Henderson
"very good. Your father was quite
right. You have found your profes
sion and you are sure to rise in it."
Haven't already come up eight
stories p laughed the child. The1
she quickly added, DO you take
the books?'
81 have so many books now,'
laughed the young man.
You'd better take them" said tn,
child. i've got something to say t.
you about Sister Ethel"
The young man started.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Cissy,
he said. "I'll take them on approval.
whats that?"
at means that I'll take them ant
look them over" replied the young
man, land if like them I'll keel
them and pay you for them. If
don't like them, I'll return them t.
you"
SIS that straight, George2"
"Certainly. Besides, Cissy, yol
know the elevator boy can't keep yo'
out if you haven't the books will
you"
"All right, George. I'll trust you.
"And now, Cissy, what have you t.
say to me about Ethelf"
But the child had perched hersel
on the broad window sill, lookin
down on the public square, and wa
softly humming, Hello, My Baby.
She paid no attention to Georges iI
quiry. George looked at her curious
ly.
"Cissy," he said. show would yo
like heaping plate OF ice creamr'
The child nodded, but did notceas
her tune. George smiled and glance
at his watch.
"Cissy," he said, "what do you sa
to getting the heaping plate of ic
cream and then going over to til
matinee of Jack and the Beanstalk2
! Cissy looked around quickly.
"Honest?' she cried. George noe
: ded. She sprang from the windo
sill. You're darling" she mu
!. INJURED, and snatche up her hat.
: PLENTY of fun," said Georg
you were going to tell me something
r you know"
Yea assented Cissy, know. 1t
= about Ethel"
Its about Ethel" softly rspeate
: George.
= We'd" said C:ssy, 'she amt bee
q happy minute since you quarrele
!, with her."
Il didu't quarrel with her." pr
: tested George.