The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-10
SHERMAN AND JOHN.

Well, daughter, he said,
"what s the news | mean the
sort of news | can't find in the
daily press. .
What sort of news, Daddy 2"
News that concerns the one top
ic that interests me most--your-
self 2"
The girl hesitated.
It's all good news, daddy. | IN
well, I'm happy here with auntie.
have pleasant friends. And now
that you have come, daddy, I've
nothing left to ask for. -
He looked at her searchingly.
Your letters limited at some
thing" he said. Il thought it
might be a young man. ?
She blushed a little, but met his
glance with frank laugh.
There are two young men, dad
dy."
He laughed too-and then his
face grew grave.
"Then it ism I serious ?"
Not yet daddy"
She came around the table and
drew her chair close to his.
Well, dear ?"
"You know, daddy, that Mr..
Right is quite likely to pop around
the corner at any time, and when
he comes II say TO him Mr..
Right, recognize you at glance,
but until you can make my daddy
acknowledge that your credentials
are approved, you can just set your
self down as Mr.. Wrong now and
forevermore. "
THAT s our agreement, y said
the man, and he fondly strokcd the
girls shining hair
Eyes, she went on. And
now there are two young men who
seem to like me very well, and
sometimes | have an impression
that one is Right, and then m al.
most sure it's the other. And
sometimes IN quite afraid to think
that at any moment may find out
which it is. F."
The man softly laughed.
While you are in that sccsaw
state Of mind my dear" he said,
80 feel quite positive it is neither.
Anyway, your old daddy will or
ganize himself into a private detcc-
tive agency and look the field and
the candidates over. He is going
to stay here now indefinitely and
watch over the welfare and safety
Of his interesting child
"Oh, daddy {"
:" No more European trips. no
more conferences IN dingy foreign
Offices. Daddy has graduated
from that sort Of thing He cx-
poets to settle down and save him
self from rusting oui ny keeping
more or less watchful eye on the
factory when il does not interfere
TOO much with the golf links.
The factory, daddy 2"
" Yes, forgot that you didn t
know In making some financial
shifts recently, the factory fell into
my hands. In fact. | brought the
deal about. Perhaps there was
little sentiment about it. You re.
member | told you that | got my
first start in life at one Of the looms
in the old building that stood on
the site of the present office. "
" Yes, daddy. And it's all your,
that great building 2'
It's mine, dear. and will be-
yours-mlcss we tire Of the busi.
ness.
The girl suddenly laughed.
Isn't it funny, daddy, that both
those young men spoke to you
about should be employed at the
factory ~
The father whistled.
1T is funny" he answered.
And perhaps it simplifes matters.
Let me think OF course these
youngsters didn t know | was com
ing 2"
"No, daddy, they couldn' t know
it. | didn t know it myself"
" And they have never seen me
and know nothing about the change
in ownership Z"
They've never seen you-I am
sure of that, daddy"
g And the change in ownership
is not to be announced until de
sire to announce it. "
He suddenly rubbed his hands.
This looks good to me. he
laughed. 81 IL take a look at your
young friends, unbclnownst as
Uncle Hi Daniel used to say. Who
are they 2"
lie drew out a memorandum
book and pencil and frowned alb
surdly.
The girl laughed at his air.
p" can only give you their pres
ent names, daddy don t know
their aliases
" Very well just remember
that you are here to speak the truth
without fear or favor Who is No
! 2"
No. | is Sherman Treat He
is acting superintendent Of the fac
tory in the place of Mr.. John Con
way, who went to Colorado for his
health last spring.
A eefe4o -, 4 ,,,,,,.., 81. .. I - "