Putnam patriot., 1911-08-04
Damon, PUthiaS &Co. How It Became Corporation With Limited Capital and Unlimited Dividends
 By F. A. MITCHELL Copyright by American Press Asso-
 eiation, l9lI.
By F. A. MITCHELL

MT. Clarkson, I am happy to see you. Be seated Win told me that you would call Indeed. he showed me the letter which said you were coming"
 The gentleman grew red in the face. He showed you the letter. Mrs FieIdT"
 'Certainly. Do you suppose men can receive letters thai their wives are not permitted to ready"
 "But-but Will is only just married. you know"
 Certainly The day before marriage and the day after marriage are very different. During the first he is single: during the second he is double"
 Good gracious! did not know that marriage turned an honorable man into dishonorable one
 If we can't be honorable toward two persons we must decide fin favor of the one t0 whom we have made definite pledges-that is the wife. How ever, l will do Will justice to say that he did not show me your letter. I learn tu Ol US NOnltAllS III dltlIti Wa
 How :''
 'l am not prepared to make that clear just now But enough of my hay ing become aware of your feelings to- ward the woman who has robbed you of your friend. I can understand those make, I will divide Will with you. Instead of you and he being Damon and Pythias we will make the firm Damon. Pythias X Co.,. 1 to be the company"
 1.-Two men and a woman!'
 "Why not? Will loves you. and you love Will. Will loves me. and l love Will It only remains for me to love you and you to love me to make a de lightful trio"
 Glarkson drew few short breaths and looked about him like one fearing to be caught in trap
 "Oh. but WiHr' he rejeined Would such an arrangement please himT
 "He will be delighted with it."
 How dc you know thatY'
 Before he went away
 Event away? Has he gone away?"
 "For a month";
 Clarkson looked more frightened than ever The lady continued:
 "We had a talk about this letter of yours in which you mourn your friend as lost to you and speak so bitterly of the woman who has taken him away from you. It was decided between us that we should take you into the CO., partnership"
 Take me fn7"
 The tone and expression on his face when he said this were SO comieal that the lady failed to repress smile.
 Yes. take you in," she repeated.
 An idea seemed to strike him. and he frightened. There's an advantage in that he said. Another woman couldn't He checked himself.
 Right will see that no other wom- an gets you away from us'
 "I rather like that. But tell me about Will. Don't newly married men usual ly go away on honeymoon rips2"
 "They do"
 "Wen?"
 She thought a moment before reply ing. Wills affairs are now Ill his wife's keeping, and some of them this one particularly-aTe not to be di- vulged"
 But I thought was admitted into the firm
 'So you are But there is reason in all things l am to know Wilfs secrets and pours. You are not to know Will's nor Will yours
 "weE. I like that. Do you call it reasonf''
 ~Certsfnly. What else would you call ttf'
 ..oh. suppose 1t is-since you say SO"
 Now l propose to make up for lost dime. You and Will have loved each other since boyhood. Will and ] have l0red each other for several years Tbe chain between you and me is alone wanting. It was agreed between will and me before he left that l was to take you in and form this bond between us"
 MT. Clarkson started and again look ed wildly about him.
 .I don't know he said. that 1 ever heard of an arrangement like this.'
 .There's always a first time for everything"
 There's one advantage in it.' mus inglv. that I have already mentioned To be frank with ysn. I'd rather steer clear of en-matimonially mean It's all right for Will to go in for that sort of thing but ] don't. This ar rangement will be q barrier for me. won't itT'
 .I'n guarantee that ns woman shall come near you. To facilitate matters we will let them all knew that you be long to the firm of Damon. Pythias < Co by making yourself al home here. For starter Will left pair of tickets to the theater for tomorrow evening. Have you any enga gementsT'
 ''N-n-o."
 "Oh. if you don't care to go ] can AfSpose of the tickets" She looked trifle miffed.
 ..f shall be delighted.
 .fyery well Now we will talk of other matters IL has been quite warm lately. hasn't itr' "Yes-no. haven't noticed. How long did you say Will is to be absent" "A month"
 1Won't you miss him very much~ sOf course love him dearly. as ne owes me. But here comes in the ad- gantage of a trio. l shall have you Clarkson started as if a bomb had fallen on the floor before him and was ,nurtering ready to explode. If he had