New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-04-21
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!: THAR INVENTORY !:
WHAT CAME OF A HURRY .
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
BY LEAH lNGERsoLL.

c1at1On.l
The Chamberlains. desiring to spenG
q longer season than usual in the cOun
try on account Of Mrs. Chamberlain
health, had decided to rent their towr
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 to compare it with the articles be
fore it was signed. Mrs, Chamberlain
being an invalid, was hurried off b,
her physician, leaving her daughter
Belle, to turn over the premises ant
take a later train. The tenants hat
agreed to send a man to make the com
parison at II o'clock. At - he hal
not 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 ring at the bell. She opened
the door, and there stood young man
He was about to say something wher
she forestalled him:
You're late. There is two hours
work to do. must leave here at 81
She led the way into the library, took
a document from a desk and contin.
ued:
Here's the inventory and here's a
pencil. AS l point out the articles
check them. Well begin with the
drawing room.''
Tho tnnEy hot oh
and followed her. Once in the draw.
Ing room She began to call off in a
businessike tone: zone rug Sx1O, one
rug 2x4, one rug 6x5, one piano, one
sofa" and SO on till 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 a business
college?"
NO. Why do you ask?'
Il never knew a girl so business.
like
Zone easy chair, one lounge, one ma.
hogany desk
II beg pardon! Are you sure that
desk is mahogany" he asked.
''Of course l am
Il Gid not understand that the ma.
terial in the articles was to be speci.
ned. Suppose I were to certify that the
desk is mahogany and it should turn
out to be black Walnut"
suppose the tenants" said Belle,
with an ominous flash in her eve,
were to send Ounce to compare the
list
THAT depends upon what consti-
tutes Ounce. My definition of Ounce
is one who certifes to that which he
doesn't know"
do you mean to tell me that you
don't know mahogany from black wal
uut!'
II question if 1 could tell mahogany
from rosewood"
Belle was rapidly getting out Of pa
thence. She glanced at a clock on the
mantel.
"Are you quite sure you could tell
the difference between rose and a
thistle?'
"Quite sure. I would no more blum
der between a thistle and rose than
I would mistake myself for YOU"
Belle gave him another quick glance
"a somewhat different one.
care you aware that 1 have Just so
much time and no more to get through
this work?'
1.-The more reason why you should
not spend it at such a ridiculous task"
well, upon my word! Did Mr. and
Mrs. R1ddleton send you here on this
business to spend your time criticising
them?"
1T is Mrs. Riddleton who has insist
ed Oh this inventory. She is a nerv-
GUS, fitful, fretful old woman"
Belle stood ready to burst with ir-
ritation and indignation.
"Well, declare!" she said "What
am l to do? An inventory to be COM
pared, and the person sent to compare
it thinks he knows more about its
necessity than
"You wish to leave at 3. It is now
l.. Suppose we put the inventory on
the floor and walk over it. That will
enable me to report to Mrs. Middleton
tnat we nave gone over it. We can
then sit down and spend the time from
now till 8 in a quiet chat
Belle was so full of astonishment,
not to say contempt, for this method
Of evading a duty that she could not
find words for some time Then she
said
You are SO clever at inventing sub
terfuges perhaps you can invent some
way to let me out of this business. If
asked about the matter shall tell the
truth, you may be sure of that"
You will not be asked about it, for
it shall cease to exist" He threw the
inventory into a fire burning Oh the
hearth.
Upon my word! Did ever any one
see such impudence in an
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