Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1907-01-18

Peggy was working IN fashion syn
dicatc office for $40 week. A kim
dred spirit OF homesickness had
brought them together, and when Peg
gy had pushed her way to the point
where she could afford a tiny studio
of her own and command regular or
ders she had fed the Offices of the fash
ion syndicate and had asked the girls
to start up small establishment with
her They had selected an apartment
with Il northern exposure for Pegsyi's
work, furnished it on the installment
plan. and for time all went well.
Peggy, being most domestic in her
instincts, picked up the burden Of
household management, and in time
the other two girls not only depended
upon her for managing the little estab
ll5hment, but failed to do their share of
the work In her first enthusiasm
Peggy bore this meekly, but very soon
she found that the housework inter
fered with her work at the easel. She
ran behind on her orders, and then,
automatically and kindly. she took up
the question with her housemates. Kit
and Lucy promptly announced that
they were disappointed In the house
keeping scheme, and they would be
only too glad to return to boarding,
where working girls belonged If she
wanted 10 pay the rest on the furni-
ture and keep the nat open for herself,
they would not besrudge what they
had spent.
And that was just what Peggy found
she could not do-meet the~rent and
furniture payments. She sat up, wiped
her eyes and figured some more. The
girls were leaving Saturday, the rent
was paid for two weeks longer, and
company was ten days distant. She
would enjoy 1t while she might. PEI
haps within the fortnight She shook
her head. 1t was no use to depend
upon girl chums.
She felt somehow that the furniture
company would get the best Of the
bargain, and yet she would be break
ing her word for the first time In her
brief business history, and this hurt.
Henry Brightwen, with a chipping
from the want nd. columns OF a morn
ing paper, stepped into the collection
Office Of the Jones & Grab Furniture
company.
II don't know what yosr job is" he
said easily as the chief collector mo-
toned him to a chair and looked him
over shrewdly, but I'm sober indus
trious, and strong, and 1 want work.
any kind to get a start"
"You hook as If you might do" re-
piled the collector dryly. But looks
don't count much in this business. It's
your ability to get the money or the
goods. We sell furniture on the in
stallment plan. A lot of people forget
the last few instailments. That's where
our profits come in. You get the last
payments or the furniture We don't
care which. Want to try it?"
"Yes," replied Brightwell promptly
"When do you want me to beginT
Fright now"
hnnrs etc Rr"htrr"ii -"iii~1 h~"+,-
armed with the book OF his predeces-
sor.
He ran down the list "Moore,
Greenwich, HALL" an within a block
of each other. Moore and Greenwich
We're marked as "slow." The name OF
Hall had this memo. written after it,
Hear that two of the family have
skipped out. Expect trouble"
1t was characteristic OF Brightwell
that he started Mt the hard end of the
ShIlle ana runs uIC ueII marked nan.
He climbed the narrow stairs and
flung back his shoulders as he rang the
private bell on the second floor.
'ls Mrs. Hall in? Peggy-why, Peg
ry lIall"' he exclaimed Then he step
} .Ly lnSlue ana closed me door
behind him.
II thought it was the furn-
Henry Brlglitwell, what are you doing
here? However is your mother getting
along without youf"
She had led the way into the tiny
living room ana now stood regarding
him with a severe look not at aIl In
Keeping with the song her heart was
singing.
II decided that Alf was big enough
to look after mother and that If ever
won you I'd have to follow you to New
York and MARE good, as you have done,
or you'd crow away from me-"
Pcggy's gaze fell. Henry had never
told her he loved her or wanted to
win her, but OF course she had thought
He drew her very close Perhaps he
had recognized this as the psycholog-
ical' moment.
81 struck n job the first place l went,
Peggy, dear. | think can make my
way here. VIII you help me?"
Fifteen minutes later he remembered
the firm OF Jones & Grab.
Il guess I'd better be moving on.
was looking for Il family by the name
of Hall that owes my firm some
money
Peggy turned scarlet. i
I'm the Hall, and | can't pay you.
The girls" her eyes snapped-"the girls
went back on me-"
Henry Brightwcll sat down very sud-
denly on the sofa on which $3.50 was
yet due.
"Wcll, what do you think of that?"
Then his face cleared. Yankee shrewd-
ness asserted Itself. He began to fig
IRE, and Peggy helped him.
That afternoon he walked into the
office of the collection department and
laid down his book and roll of bills.
Moore and Greenwich paid up to date.
Miss Hall Is up against it. Her two
partners skipped and LETT her with all |
the furniture on her hands She wants |
to keep it IL she can. There's $97.50 |
still due. VIII you let me compromise
with her for $40 cash?"