The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-05
THAT INVENTORY
WHAT CAME OF A Hurry

Hy LHAH INaERsoLL.

q longer season than usual In the coun-
try on account OF Mrs. Chamberlain's
health, had decided to rent their town
house furnished. The tenants, whom
the agent reported to be an old couple,
demanded that there be an inventory,
STIMULATING that they would send
man 10 compare II with the articles be-
fore 1t was signed Mrs. Chamberlain.
being an invalid, was hurried OF BY
her physician, leaving her daughter,
Belle, to turn over the premises and
take q later train. The tenants had
agreed to send man to make the COM
parison At ii o'clock. At ~ be had
net appeared. Belle, desiring to leave
the city at 4, became impatient Just
as she was about to telephone to the
agent an Inquiry as to the delay there
was a ring at the bell She opened
the doer, and there stood a young man.
lie was about TO say something when
she forestalled him:
You're late. There is two hours
work to de. / must leave here at g."
She led the way into the library, took
a document from desk and contin.
ued:
Here's the inventory and here's 4
pencil. As / point cut the articles
'check them. Wen begin with the
drawing room.S
! The man took what she offered him
and followed her. Once in the draw
ling room she began to can on in a
businesslike tone: Zone rug ex10, one
rug 2x4. one rug 6x5, one piano, one
sofa" and 50 on TIL she had enumer-
atod every article in the room. Then
she started for the next apartment.
fBefoFe beginning the checking again
THE young man said:
"Flaye you ever attended a business
cpIIegef"
"No. Why 90 yeu askT"
Il sever knew girl so business
elike.v
zone easy chair, one lounge, one ma
hogany desk
Il beg pardonl Are you sure that
desk is mahogany be asked.
''0f course l am"
II did not understand that the ma
terial in the articles was to be speci-
fed. Suppose were to certify that the
desk is mahogany and 1t should turn
out to be black walnut"
Suppose the tenants" said Belle,
with an ominous fash in her eye,
iff,~t.~n 80 enrd = s9,.wrr a.. aax,,.o -. Az.
list"
'That depends upon what consti-
tutes a Ounce. My definition Of Ounce
is one who certiies to that which he
doesn't know"
do you mean TO tell me that you
don't know mahogany from black wal
nutT
Il question II could tell mahogany
from rosewood"
Belle was rapidly getting out Of pa
tience. She glanced at clock on the
mantel
"Ars you quite sure you could tell
the difference between a rose and
thistleY'
"Quite sure. ! would no more blum
der between a thistle and a rose than
/ would mistake myself for you"
Belle gave him another quick glance |
IA somewhat different enc.
"Are you aware that I have just so
much time and no more to get through I
this workf1
'The more reason why you should /
mot spend it at such ridiculous task"
eWell, upon my world Did Mr.. and
Mrs. Middleton send you here on this
business to spend your time criticising
them?"
at is Mrs. Riddleton who has insist
ed on this inventory. She is a nerv-
GUS, ftful, fretful old woman"
Belle stood ready to burst with IT.
ritation and indignation.
@IFen. / declare7 she said. what
am / to do? An inventory to be com
pared, and the person sent to compare
it thimks be knows more about Its
necessity than"
"You wish to leave at Q. It il now
i. Suppose we put the inventory on
the door and walk over 1t. That will
enable me to report to Mrs. Riddieton
that we have gone over t. We can
then sit down and spend the time from
new till in quiet chat"
Belle was SO full Of establishment,
not to say contempt for this method
Of eyading a duty that she could not
ind words for some time. Then she
said:
"You are SO clever at inYenting sub. /
terfuges perhaps you can invent somt
way to let me out Of this business. II
asked about the matter / shall tell the
truth, you may be sure Of that"
'.You viii not be asked about il, fol-
It shall cease to exist" He threw the
inventory into q IRE burning on the
hearth.
Upon my word Did ever any one
see such impudence in an'-
"A what2'
.Understrapper" ~
s'Where are the leasesY
ssHere on the desk Father haA
signed them. The tenant ID to sign
and forward them"
He went to the desk, took up one OF
two leases and wrote opposite the seal
walter B. Middleton"
Belle looked at 1t, then at him, a ray
OF light breaking upon her brain.
'Is it you or l." she said presently,
sthat has been making az
mo fool killer required In this In
stance / assure you. am the lessee.
NV mother simply lives with me. You
were In a hurry and didn't give me
49,. - AZ ~.o,, v.yt.~ xvaa