The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-10-14

door, but Carter stuck his toe in. He
was smiling very sweetly. He had one
of the most innocent and winning
smiles you ever saw.
MY dear madam" he said, "you
must have misunderstood me a mo.
ment ago, but I'm sure a woman of
your standing in the community would
not be rude to gentleman. 1 assure
you did not ask you for n piece of
cold pumpiin-pie. 1t may have sound
ed as though I said that, but believe
me. that was not the idea Mt ALL"
The woman started to say something,
but Carter didn't give her the oppor-
tunity.
II pray you don't - don't apologize,
madam" he cried. ITS all right.
Ladies do frequently think l am ask
ing for cold pie. Perfectly natural mis-
take, l assure you. You will note
that when smile have a real coaxing
mouth for pic"
Carter gave the woman one Of his
sweetest efforts in the smile line.
But l mustn't bother you by talking
about pie" he continued. "You un-
derstand I'm really here on business.
You know there are different kinds Of
business. l would prefer to be run
ming a New York department store,
and have my customers come to me,
but in the stress of present circum-
stances l am obliged to go to my
customers. l do not enjoy transacting
business on the doorstep. for the neigh
bors are very inquisitive in all places.
1t is ridiculous what stories the neigh
bors will start sometimes. Once was
kept talking on the doorstep for some
time, and it got reported around the
place that the So-and-sos were hard
up financially, for an agent of a col
lecting firm had been at their place,
and real wrangle occurred on the
doorstep. 1 very much prefer to do
all my talking in the house" Again
did Carter lavish his radiant smile.
His manner was so ingratiating and
his quiet waggishness so won upon
her that she relaxed her hold on the
door. He took off his hat. and saying
by your leavew he went in. AS the
door closed 1 could hear him start in
on his sewing-machine "oration."
l walked slowly along, pondering
that in all probability the woman
would annihilate him as soon as she
got him cornered in the sitting-room.
| couldn't understand the gall of a man
who could do the thing that Carter had
just mareuvered. looked back once
or twice, half expecting Carter to come
flying out through one OF the windows.
But whatever the tragedy that was oc-
curing within, the outside walls gave
no sign.
Carter had told me that when he was
safely inside the house was to go and
do likewise. "Just follow my hand"
was what he said.
Really, had half mind to jump
the whole business right then and
there. l couldn't picture myself brac-
Ing through such an ordeal as Carter
had just faced so valiantly. / saw a
woman sitting in the window of the
first house on my way. l hurried past
that house, as didn't have the heart
to walk up the steps. But setting my
teeth, / went TO the front door of
the next house, and rang the bell.
l tried to get smile on my face as
l had seen Carter do. / am rather
sour-visaged. l was twisting my face
around for the proper expression, when
the door was suddenly flung open, and
there stood the woman of the house.
By the manner in which my face was
working she must have concluded
had st. 'Vltus' dance. She looked
frightened, / was so embarrassed
that my usually sour countenance
must have seemed demoniac. l had
been thinking of Carter's speech to the
other woman, trying to remember how
funny 1t had sounded. hoped to bring
up smile in that way. Now, in my
excitement, / blurted out, "Ah, good
morning madam; this is lovely after
noon. You may think by my looks
that l want sewlng-machine to eat,
but assure you l have called merely
to sell you some pie THAT is"
Well, you ought to have seen that
woman look at me. I could tell from
her eye that she thought 1 lived in a
padded cell at home. But I kept my
self from falling Off the steps, and be-
fore the woman had time to escape, /
blundered out the whole story-how l
had been watching Carter down the
street, and how I had mixed up what
he had said to the other woman. 1t
tickled her. She was a brisk little
woman, with snappy way of speak
ing, and she invited me right in, and
wanted me to tell the story over to
some women who were calling.
made real hit.
Before the laugh died out the woman
confided that It was queer should
come along that day. for she had been
thinking about getting new ma
chine. Oh. didn't talk to that woman
thenl II / could sell q machine,
wouldn't ! crow over Carter. the old