The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-01

chuckling. She laid a hand ON Net
ties head and said. soothingly:
i talked up to old Strong today. 1t
was right that I should. But haven't
spoiled anything. Give me two weeks
and I'll have him here begging you to
marry his son. You tell the young man
to remain quiet and do nothing rash.
Hilda Bascomb is managing this af-
fair. which will be one of finance from
now on, and If she makes failure it
will be for the first time. Now I've
got to go back down town and see a
lawyer. and then I'll have some riding
| around the country to do. oh. but
won't I make old Strong jump before
I am through with him."
In planning for the cannery Mr..
Strong had called upon most of the
farmers and had informed them
buy their tomatoes at the market
price. He had made no definite agree
| ment with them, however, for he had
| determined to pay q mighty low price
when the time came.
Miss Hilda Bascomb saw lawyers:
! she had contracts drawn up; with a
| boy to drive her she covered most of
the county the week after the inter-
view with the magnate. Contracts
were signed right and left, and some
| thing added for secrecy among the
| signers.
Meanwhile the tomato cannery was
hurried along and the fixtures arrived
to be put in place. In her walks about
the town the spinster met Mr.. Strong
| several times face to face. Each time
he scowled and she chuckled. There
4 was anxiety at the Scribners' to learn
what was afoot. but the only explana-
| ton they could get was:
"I am simply doing little finan-
ciering to help Cupid and the tomato
market along. When it's time to ex-
plode the torpedo you'll all hear the
| racket
She had been to strongsville almost
a month when the racket" was
| heard. The cannery was ready for bus
mess and farmers had been notified to
begin delivery on certain date. The
date came. but there was no toma-
toes.
A messenger was dispatched with a
horse and buggy. He had been back
about half an hour when Miss Bas-
comb entered Mr.. Strong's office for
the second time and pumped herself
down in the same chair.
Mr.. Strong was at the telephone.
He was using vigorous language and
dancing around.
well, and how's the tomato mar
ket?" asked the caller as he glared
at her and rung off.
ut is you-you who have done this
thing!" he exclaimed. ITO revenge
yourself on me! You'll You"
Eyes, 1 have cornered every tomato
in the country. 1t wasn't for revenge,
but to give Cupid chance. How
much will you take for your factory,
cash down? 1t hasn't any pedigree
to speak of, but I think Mr.. Scribner,
the carpenter, can give it one"
IT won't sell to you! Your tomatoes
can rot on your handsi"
| "Oh, no they won't. jacob" said
Miss Hilda. "I can sell them at very
nice profit. But your factory can
stand idle while I build one of my
own! Better talk business, Jacob
Strong. That son of yours is nice
young man, and think a heap of my
niece. It's love match. and 1t would
be q pity to see it broken off. Isn't
there some way that I can turn these
tomato contracts over to you and lei
your factory begin work? There's
money in the canning business, and
don't want to kill an industry"
| Mr.. Strong fought for an hour and
then gave in and shook hands. BY
the time the contracts were assigned
to him he was smiling. By the time
the woman in the rusty old bonnet was
ready to go he was ready to remark
blandly:
Gust so. Miss Bascomb-just so
Mr. and Mrs. Scribner are most wor-
thy people, and If Horace is In love
with their daughter 1 have no ob1ec-
tons to a marriage. He is old enough
to Judge for himself, and it is not FOR
me to interfere. Good day, ma'am
good day, and thank you ever SO much
for calling. ''-(Copyrighted. 1903, by
Associated Literary Press)
|