Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-30
; THAT INVENTORY
WHAT CANE or a HURRY

~ LEAH IMaERaoLL.


lcopysiGhf. isao BY Americas Preas Aaso-
clation.I
The ChambeFiains. desiring 20 spend
longer season than usual In the coun-
Try on account Of Mrs. Chamberlain
health, had decided to rent their town
house furnished. The tenants, whom
the agent reported 70 be an old couple,
demanded that there be an inventory.
stIpuiating that they would send a
man 70 compare II with the articles be-
fore Il was signed. Mrs. Chamberlain,
being an invalid, was hurried on BY
her physician. leaving her daughter,
Belle. TO turn over the premises and
take q later train. The tenants had
agreed 10 send man 20 make the com
paFison at II o'clock. At II be had
not appeared. Belle, desiring TO leave
the city at 4. became impatient. Just
as she was about TO telephone 10 the
agent an inquiry as to the delay there
was a ring at the bell. She opened
the door. and there stood young man.
He was about 20 say something when
she forestailed him.
You're late. There r. two hours
work 70 do. must leave here az q"
She led the way Into the library, took
document from q desk and contin-
ueds
Here's the inventory and here's a
pencil As ] point out the articles
check them. Wen begin with the
drawing ROOM"
The man took what she offered him
and followed her. Once IN the draw
Ing room she began to call on In a
businesslike tone: "One rug axlO, one
rug 2xl. one rug ex5. one plano, one
SOFA" and 30 on TIL she had enumer-
ated every article In the room. Then
she started for the next apartment
Before beginning the checking again
the young man said:
Have you ever attended business
collegef"
Emo. Why do Jon askf'
II never knew a gIFl 30 business
IKE"
zone easy chair. one lounge. one ma.
hogany desk
Il beg pardoni Are you sure that
desk Il mahoganyf' he asked.
"of course am"
III did not understand that the ma
teFiai In the articles was to Do speci-
ned. Suppose I were TO certify that the
desk II mahogany and II should turn
out to be- black walnutY"
suppose the tenants" said Belle,
with an ominous fash In her eye,
were 70 send Ounce 10 compare the
list"
"That depends upon what conati-
tutea a Ounce. My definition Of Ounce
n one who eertifiea 20 that which he
doesn't know"
"Do you mean TO tell me that you
don't know mahogany from black wal.
nutT'
4 question n could tell mahogany
from rosewood"
Belle was rapidly getting out Of pa
tience. She glanced at a clock on the
mantei.
"AFo you quite sure you could tell
the differences between q rose ana q
thistler'
"oulte sure. I would no more blum
der between a thistle aud a rose than
I would mistake myself for you"
Belle gave him another quick glance
"a somewhat different one.
"Are you aware that I have Just 20
much time and no more to ret through
this workf~
''The more reason why you should
NOT spend Il at such ridiculous task"
sWel. upon my wordi Did Mr.. and
Mrs, Middleton send you here on this
business 20 spend your time crltlciaing
themf'
at n Mrs Middleton who has insist.
cd on this snyentory. she h a neRv-
Gus. ttfui. fretful old woman"
BELLE stood ready 10 burst with lr-
ritatlOn aud indignation.
~Well. l declareH she said. "What
On 10 dot An inventory 10 be COM
pared. aud the person sent to compare
Il thinks no knows more about it,
necessity than
"You wish 10 leave at q II h now
!. suppose We put the inventory on
the door aud walk over It. That win
snahle me 20 IMPORT 70 Mrs. Middleton
that ne have gone ever H. We can
then alt down and spend tho time from
now til In q quiet chat"
nello was 80 full u aatonishment.
not 10 Say contempt. for this method
" evadlng duty that aha could not
ind words for some time. Then she
said.
sYoa are - clever At inventlng sub
lextages perhaps you can invent some
way 10 let me cut q this business. n
asked about the matter shall tell the
truth. yon may BE- SURF of that
'fon win not be asked about Il, for
& shall cease 10 exist" lie threw tha
Inventory into a ara burning en the
hearth
"upon my woral Dld ever any Ona
see such impndeRes IN an
"a whntr'
@UndeFstrapper.