Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-02-24
Old Blocks
and Chips
BY 7. S. SrIbHns


and that would reduce the problemati-
calness Of my future to a minimum"
That's true, but we could hardly
take In a new and untried man."
Somebody must start new men,"
An ironical flicker touched Grim
stones gray mustache. "Our compel
itors do that-we select whom We
want"
Then my future relations with
Ce- Miss Grimstone will depend on
my business SUGGEST"
Entirely. ! have no objection to
you as a man, and assume Cecile
will desire to marry some one. II
she fancies you and you have the
money to keep her in the position she
now occupies, then no one will be
happier than /"
But II she believes am going to
succeed-trusts me?"
"Then she will probably wait for
you till you do" The old mans mus
tache fiickered again.
Maltravers arose and bowed him.
self tremendously out. He keenly
regretted missing the position with
Grimstone & Co. not only on account
of CeciIe, but because they were the
biggest real estate men in Rockdale
and Maltravers had always wanted to
work in realty.
That afternoon he rode with Cecile
in a motor down the main pike lead
ing out Of Rockdale as blithely as II
he had been appointed dozen ad-
vertising managers. On the left, the
girl pointed out Paramount, which her
father was then exploiting. a pretty
upland bit of woods, already laid out
in lots and covered with huge sign
boards, For sale by Grimstone &
Co."
On the right, Snake creek ran some
200 yards below the road, bordered by
cypress and sweet gums.
How long has GrimstOne & Co.
had Paramount on sale. little girl?"
queried Maltravers looking over the
handsome sites.
Nearly a year now"
who owns the land below here,
toward the creek?"
"Oh, they're just farms, not very
good, either, az the creek overhows
occasionally"
Maltravers stopped the motor and
sat looking up the rising ground and
then down toward the creek. III !
could sell this creek land right under
the nose of Paramount" he unused
aloud, wouldn't that rather convince
the firm Of Grimstone & Coz"
The girl laughed obviously. why,
dear, you couldn't possibly sell those
places for residences-it over1ows."
"Then perhaps can sell 1t to a
yacht club" suggested Maltravers
gaily, cor as a bathing resort-any-
thing. You know II I had an office
down town, the right sort Of an office
down town, a stenographer, some
files, plate glass, typewriter, grilled-
iron windows and other things right
up to now, could sell even that
stuff"
Cecile laughed. what has the Of
fee to do with selling real estate?"
cts a matter of business psy-
chology, dear. Plate glass and ma
hogany furnishings have hypnotized
many a man into buying things he
didn't want at prices he couldn't az
ford to pay. On some. Of course. it
doesn't act so strongly as on others,
but 1t affects all"
Couldn't you rent that sort Of an
office on credit" suggested the girl.
Eyes; but / couldn't get the stenog-
rainier. You must pay her promptly
at the end Of the month or it's all
off,"
"How would an imitation stenog.
rapher do?"
"What do you mean?"
81 mean a girl who knew nothing
about stenography, but who would sit
in your ONCE and pretend to be work
ing at shorthand and-and things?"
"As good as the real thing. sup
pose; there wouldn't De much Tor her
to do anyway"
"All right, you 60 ahead and get the
ONCE ready. / know some one who
wouldn't mind sitting down there =
while every day."
'Now, look here. Cecile. you are not
thinking about coming down there?"
"why not, pray?"
your father wouldn't let you"
"He has never refused me a single
thing I ever asked him. II want to
work out may. I sha'nt tell him
where"
Maltravers sat back and stared.
Great heavens, Cecile, you are a
trump! But we'd have fine time,
wouldn't we, working together? You
don't mean it,"
You get the ONCE" she persisted.
pulling her hand away.