Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-26

diligently. mo one has swindled your
father. In the ordinary course OF busl-
nsss. a. Mr.. Tomlins would say. our
agent secured an option from him On his
farm, but II was entirely proper"
'.Oh, yesv' exclaimed the girl indignant
ly, ITS all right to confuse and delude
an old manic take advantage of his in
flrmities-but it's very wrong to interfere
With a rich mans bargains!
you surprise me-" said Mrs. Tomlins.
IT supposed you would see that you had
put your father in the position of being
guilty Of bad faith, when I explained the
matter to you. and would be willing to
undo the harm you have done. If you
would notify these people that you were
mistaken
II WON'T
went on serenely. that we intend to have
a large and magnificent place here, and
1 have no doubt that you would make
a splendid lady's maid. shall look out
for you personally, and the opportunity IS
one that you can hardly afford to throw
away"
The girl was speechless with indigna-
ton, but Mrs. Tomlins thought she was
overwhelmed by the glorious possibilities
OF the proposition. which she calmly con-
tinued to explain at some length. A lady S
maid would see much of the world, and
might even hope to be taken to Europe.
And" she concluded, las a sort Of re-
tainer, as my husband says, I'll pay you
q hundred dollars now"
The girls voice and wits came back to
her She rose and opened the door to the
hall
Il think that will be all today she
said.
1t was Mrs. Tomlins' turn to be speech
less. Such a rebuff she never had known
before. And slang, too. The girl was not
at to be- lady's maid.
Peter Tomlins, however, had a sense of
humor-not strong enough sense OF
his business operations, but still enough
to make the story Of his wifes discom-
future diverting. He decided that a girl
who could so clevely and signally defea,
his wife must be interesting. Besides. he
had an idea that she would not be so diff
ncult in the hands of q resourceful man.
and it would be gratifying to win where
his wife had failed.
I'll be in that vicinity on other busi-
ness next week." he said. land I'll have =
talk with her. Is she pretty?"
"Oh, 1 suppose so-for country girl,
answered his wife.
They're the prettiest kind" he re-
marked.
mo air. no refinement. nothing but
commonplace health she criticised: so
different from society,"!
well, I'll try her." he announced.
Better give me a chance" suggested
Paul Tomlins.
NO" said his mother. decidedly. which
served to convince Paul that the girl was
worth seeing, even II she had no "air'' Of
aristocracy.
So Peter Tomlins followed Mrs. Toni
Inns, and he had no better success, al
though he went about his task in an en-
tirely different way.
Business is business" he said. breez-
lily. my agent did quite right in making
derstand how you feel about 1t. Now.
I've come down here to Ak it up-"
what position have you to offer me?"
she interrupted
What position do you want?' he asked.
smiling broadly. His smile intimated 50
MAINLY that he considered this an alb
surdity that she lost some Of her resent
fulness.
II haven't seen any that l want yet"
she returned.
well, when you do. just file claim on
it and Lot me know" he said. Il don't
want 20 be turned out with chill, as
Mrs. Tornlins was, so I won't make any