Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-06-05
HE LED HER UP STAIRS.


the crosstrees to the deck, he grabbed
hold of my hand and told me not to do
II again, that he'd got the idea, and he
didn't want me to risk my life un-
necessarily. Say, | nearly fell down!
And when told him how much made
in n good season he broke the point off
his pencil he was so astonished. Why
he says, that's about double what n
bookkeeper makesp asked him what
he pulled out of his trade, and he said
that forty was his limit"
The conversation with the reporter
showed Jim relative values as applied
to himself and Pearley. then he went
to see Mary.
He found Mr.. Pearley before him.
and Mary introduced them in her
grandest manner:
"Im proud to make you acquainted
with my friend Mr.. Pearley." And then
TO Mr.. Pearley, This Is our old family
friend, Jim Hollis, l told you about"
Jim sat ont the evening somehow,
his mind apparently working double.
He heard dimly the filppant conversa-
ton led by Mr.. Pearley and at times
tried to join in the topics which seem
ed to entertain Mary. But all the
while he was thinking how he could
Outflank this saffron colored counter
Jumper" as he dubbed Pearley. 1t was
not until he rose to leave that the In
splratlon came to him. He recalled
his chat with the newspaper reporter
and spoke firmly. so firmly that Mary
looked bit astonished, then worried.
~ want to see you about something
most particular tomorrow, Mary. Meet
me at Grey's drugstore by the soda
fountain. Don't fail me-"
In vague way Mary realized that
Mr.. Pearley would have called for her;
that this was another evidence of Jim's
lack of good manners, but she held her
peace. Something in Jim's expression
and sudden memory of his patient
years of waiting made 1t impossible
for her to refuse his request.
The next morning Jim took Mary to
the Empire department store. He made
no explanations, but led her up stairs
to point where they could see the ex-
pert handlers Of money make change
and dispatch the cash carriers. And
beyond these stood Pearey. He had
his coat off and paper pinned around
his cuffs. His handkerchief was tuck
ed about his collar, and woman with
hard face was "slanging him." as
Jim put 1t. When she left, young
person with pale, pompadoured hair
nj fpI N
cry: Say, Mr.. Pearley, you're a gem!
guess you must be dabbling in love
from the bulls you make. This is the
third identical time you've brought me
up here this morning. Now, say, II
Mr.. Moses hears Of this, out you'll go!"
Mr. Pearlcy did not answer, but wip-
ed the pcrspiration from his strained
and worried brow with one hand while
he drove his pen with the other. Mary
was silent and fairly jumped when Jim
| said: "Say, Mary, meet me at our docks
after supper tonight We have Span
ish bark to rig, and I'll be through
about 8. You'll come, won't you?"
Mary nodded Ler head and looked
back at Pearley, and when she turned
| Jim was gone.
At 7:30 she was at the appointed
place. A full rigged ship lay at the
| dock, its hull dark In shadow, but its
| shrouds and rigging thrown into bold
relief by n searchllght. And there on
the crosstrccs, balancing himself with
dexterous grace, was Jim. He was
| shouting orders at the top OF his voice.
And then Mary saw the well dressed
and much reyered Mr.. Hogan point his