Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-12-19
James Financial
Embarrassment
By HELENA SMITH DAYTON


"Violetsv shifted Jane. opening the
lavender box with none of the en-
thusiasm she usually displayed on such
occasions. 'Of course il never would
have occurred to the extravagant IN
known admirer TO send so cents worth
of postage stamps insteadv'
Jane glanced toward her desk, where
a neat pile of brown envelopes stared
her reproachfGiiy in the face.
AN entire weeks work held up be.
cause the brilliant young writer, Jane
Gaylord, lacks the necessary POSTAGE
she groaned. "As it's all timely stuff
and special orders-I may as well de-
stroy il unless it goes today. | may as
well give up looking for that check and
do something desperate" Jane paced
up and down the apartment trying TO
think of n method TO obtain the trifiing
sum at once.
ASK Your mother for 30 cents to
see the elephant jump the fence" she
repeated for the hundredth time. The
silly jingle refused to he dislOdged
II were only $50 could hustle around
and get it-but 30 cents" 1t seemed
as if IA hooking voice echoed. ITO see
the elephant jump the fence!'
"Of course she went on sarcastical-
ly. II might waylay little children and
steal the pennies from their moist
,palms, or | could make these violets
into small punches and sell them on the
street cOrner-iower girl in tailor
suit and Paris hat would be novelty.
There must he some way of raising 80
cents without selling my possessions.
never approved of getting the pawn
shop habit-it's hard to shake, once ac-
quired. ! don't like to let little fifty
-to-see-the-elephant get the best OF
me.
why, | won't need another penny
until my check comes. My board is
paid in advance, and before anything
Is due therell be lots of checks. But
must have 80 cents to see
Jane stopped impatiently, and, as II
the narrow confines of her own room
were sitting her, she opened the door
and stepped into the hall. She paused
as voices from the upper landing float
ed down 10 her. She always paused
when she heard Peter Gleason's deep
tones.
Here's a dollar" he was saying.
Run over TO Carriers and buy me three
DR. four magazines. Haven't seen one
FOR a month, SO anything you get will
be new TO me. And you may keep the
change, John"
THANK you, Mr. Gleason" came
Johns squeaky answer. "Fll be back
with 'em in a jiffy." He came down
the stairs two at time.
John" called Miss Gaylord softly.
'I'm on an errand for Mr. Gleason,
out when ! get back
Eyes. yes, It's about that she inter
-upted. Il want you to do me a partic-
ular favor, John. It's all right, but
.ather unusual. | have some new mag
lZines-the very ones Mr.. Gleason
would like. I've more than | can read.
1t would save you trip out in the
stOrm-the magazines are really just as
new ms you could buy at the store.
Would you-buy them from me-"
1t was out at last. Jane never had
Felt so shy of any one in her life as she
lid of the astoniShed little hall boy.
Sure Miss Gaylord" he said with
out hesitation ia do anything for
you. It's on the level, amt it?'
Yes. John, strictly on the level she
answered, with a little laugh that sug-
gested tears.
Have 'em ready when l come back"
he whispered.
You are a dear boy cried Jane.
She fled back to her room in a panic
Of nervousness at what she had done.
She selected several magazines of re-
cent issue and was back at the door
long before the return Of the boy.
If | was back with the books too
soon he'd get on to it, was his naive
explanation.
And. John" she pleaded in voice
that shook, please give him this box
of violets. Don't tell him who sent
them. But he has been so i'll, poor
man! You see. it will give good meas
ure for the 30 cents
John nodded wisely and took his
way upward.
Good boy. john" she heard Gleason
say Il moment later Couldn't have
made Il better selection myself. VIC
let's too? No name given? You won't
tell? Very well If you promised not
10, OF course
Back in his study Gleason tossed the
violets carelessly on table already
loaded with flowers and took up
eagerly.
II hope my little Jane has a story in
this month";" he said, scanning the ia
bic of contents. He passed his own
name, but James was not there. He
took up another, and again was he dis
appointed. but in the third magazine
James name headed the list He was
turning to her story when sheet of
paper fluttered out. On the closely
written page his own name caught his
eye. Naturally he read every word,
though II was obviously part OF let