The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-10-07

Yours respt. Willard Ferris"
Miss 1ngle gulped down lump in
her throat and reached for her hand
kerchief just as Biker came in.
Mr.. Biker," she said. Il want to
resign this morning."
Stenographers were easy to get, and
he let her go without question. She
took her coat-far too thin for the raw
February day-and hurried out. Poor
fellow. poor dear fellow!" she said.
What good brother he is. II only
had had such a brother to look out for
me. hope I won't be too late" She
went to the nearest telegraph Office
and sent this message:
willard Ferris, Gladeville, Mo-
Don't accept offer for land. It is
worth five times that figure.
IN. l."
Then she went to her room and
cried. She had no scruples over
thwarting the rascals in their deal.
She knew it was against the law of
business to use the secrets Of ones
employer; but she was obeying a
higher law. And while she was will
ing to expose the rascally deal. she
was not willing at the same time to
continue to draw salary from them.
She was out of work, and employ
ment at that time was hard to get.
Miss 1ngle had returned to her
d1ngy, poorly heated room. Today, as
for many days, she had searched for
work-and found none.
There was knock on her door. She
shrank back and hesitated to open it.
She owed for three weeks room and
board, and expected, every day, that
her landlady would tell her to leave.
Miss 1ngle," the landlady called,
there is a man downstairs to see
you"
She went down. wondering. AS she
entered the parlor a strong, clean
looking young man arose and came
toward her with outstretched hand.
He wore very new suit of clothes;
had large frank brown eyes. and a
lurking smile at the corners of his
mouth.
II am Ferris" he said-she knew it
before he spoke-"and you are Miss
1ngle?" They shook hands cordially.
i've tried for weeks" he explained.
to find who sent me that telegram;
and only found out when overheard
that Biker hog cursing his stenograph-
or after l wouldn't sell to him. Then
I found out who it was. and. at last.
where you live"
She smiled and a little color came
to her face.
Il hope you got the telegram in
timer"
YES" he said, shaking his head,
but only in the nick of time. Six
hours later and would have been sold
out"
And have you sold the land?" she
asked interestedly.
YES" he nodded. Sold it two
weeks ago for thirty thousand dol
lars Then he added very seriously,
Half of it belongs to you"
"Oh, no, indeed" she said, blush
ing.
He studied her for a minute as if
trying to think how to make her take
1t. She was an attractive girl, with
sweet honest face-a girl whose heart
was always sick for home.
"Then," he said slowly, IF you won't
take it, l reckon you will let me take
you to the theater?"
YES" she laughed. "You may do
that. That won't be robbing the kids"
He laughed, q little disconnected.
Wasn't green and easy?" Then his
face lighted. THE kids are already in
tho academy-the whole bunch of
them altogether"
Il have had a most delightful time"
she said when they returned from the
play. She held out her hand, and, as
he took it, How soon are you going
back-home?"
IL haven't any home," he said,
still holding her hand. And am not
going back at all for a while. l am
going to stay around here and see If
can't persuade somebody to go in
partnership with me and start a real
home"
And from the way he held her hand,
and from the way her heart pounded
joyfully, she felt pretty sure he would
succeed.