The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07

1 Supplementary Special Number Three | open in his hand. Tt would be interest | ing I wonder If I could do it," mur- mured Mrs. Bicks. She glanced from un- der her long lashes at the man whose I boyish face had flushed at the eagerness of his exposition.
 "Of course you could do it-splendidly!'' There was plenty of f1attaring sincerity
 in the tone, but the tone vas as straight as the look that answered her provoca- tive side glance. Tom Bfgelow knew that
 he had thrown the wrong. ball, but he was in love with his wife, anS constancy even in glances had not ceased to be a matter of impulse.
 evenings failure he decided that he must
 have been misjudging Mrs. Bicks. To the
 last minute the talk had been as chatty and cheerful as one could wish. T believe I can get her." he said to
 Tony, "I'm going to pay her the compH-
 ment of seeming really to want to Know
 her. I'll introduce her to you and take you both to the opera"
 You're too subtle, Tommy" grinned Mrs Bigelow "She doesn't want subtle compliments. She wants you to tell her
 that she's perfectly dazzling and the other women are blots beside her" That isn't like you, Tony, to run down another woman, complained Tom, and Tony was hurt. That was why she mace no more objection to his plan, and the opera, with dinner and an auto cac,
 were all offered upon the Bicks shrine. 'I don't think you're doing this right" Tony allowed herself to comment at c-ie last moment. T think she won't care a snap for me tagging along. What she wants is a man all to herself.' She had worn her most unhecoming dress and effaced herself so the most astute must have thought her stupid but Mrs. Bicks yawned dreadfuly as she said goodby,
 insisting that 1t was 'so sweet of them, and that she had a perfectly ravishng time.'
 | ence of another woman had acted upon | his guest like oil on water, preventing all | ebullition.
 i There was one week left before the | Board of Education met. At the meeting l the vote on the readers would be taken. | The lucky firm would get an immense 1 order. Johnsburg was swarming with 1 children of the elementary school age, | and as yet only the feeble and the feeble minded had drifted to private schools. Pa rents had not observed any change of tendency under the "new'' control. At this stage Bigeow lad secured pledges from nearly half the members of the hoard. So | had Bagley, the Jones and Rurnahy agent. And Mrs Bcks was lobbying for Bagley. 1 Then Bigelow was recalled, reprimend- l ed and sent back to Johnshurg. The reprimand made no bones of the situation. 1 Invited Mrs. Bicks to the opera with q i younger and prettier woman I guess it 8
 Davis Corners where you belong all l right was the softest word he got , What did you want me to dc?" he de-
 handed
 Succeed" snapped the general agent. True enough" said Bigelow bitterly.
 well. didn't. Mrs. Bicks is for Bag ley. If pull it off I've got to do 1t with out her.
 l " Without her! Understand this, Bige-
 low''-the general agent calmed himself 1 to a sirnmering white hotness--'if you get 1 that order it will be through Mrs. c. s. l Bicks Of all the blockheads we've ever sent out from this office you're the hu- ] man limit The white heat shot up a l flame of brief profanity. You had the game all your own way. Here's a wom- an, pretty widow who likes a little fir !, tation. and here's a good-looking young , fellow with no one to go up against but i Bagley. It's been 20 years since Bagley
 was as young as you. What do you do! l Send for your wifo!'
 'I thought little contrast with Bag ley's methods might please tho lady. ] l supposed she was respectable"
 ! "She Is respectable. She'd shoot the | man who insulted her-but that nsedn't 1 prevent her enjoying a little love-mak- ing.
 l "she won't enjoy mine" Bigelow got ! up. If that's what you sent me for