The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-23

congratuIation- In her efforts TO en-
snare her customer, she had forgotten
the price the locksmith had made.
''Thr-four and a half" she said uncer-
tainly.
The customer made no protest. He
drew a five dollar bill from his pocket
and Cornelia made change from her
own little purse. Now, I'll have this
sent, please" he was beginning.
Obi" Cornelia looked at him in
blank dismay. I'm afraid can't send
it. Not before Saturday, anyway" she
added, remembering the grandson. Il
suppose. would be too heavy for you
to carry, wouldn't it?"
There was appeal in the gaze she
lifted to his She could not bear the
thought of losing sale for so trifiing
a reason. Luckily the customer was
still accommodating. He protested
hastily that the freezer was not at all
heavy, and looked about him with the
air of a man about to make purchases
with q view to settling up housekeep-
ing Cornelia felt 1t was time to as
. sumo a distant manner and she did
so with Immediate effect. The Gus
toner left the store, carrying his single
purchase in his hand.
When the locksmith returned grum-
bling. Cornelia announced her sale,
and he looked at her with reluctant
admiration. You done him out of a
dollar" he observed. THAT freezer
Z worth out So.OU- his sudden
accession of respect for Cornelia re-
ceived an immediate check from the
dismay with which she received the
news.
Don't you think he will come
back?' she asked anxiously. He was
such q polite young man. I can't bear
to think I've cheated him out of a
dollar
The locksmith grudgingly assented
that the customers return was pos
"a
have been a different thing If you,d
sold it a dollar under price. We'd
never see hide or hair of him again."
The customer did return within a
few days. He came in looking about
him in the same undecided manner
which had characterized him on his
previous visit, and yet he did not look
to be a young man lacking in deter
mination. After he had purchased a
screwdriver and a pound of nails he
came to the point.
1.-The young lady who waited on me
before, your daughter, perhaps"
'She amt no daughter of mine"
said the locksmith. Nor yet a clerk
She was asking about you this very
day." he added calmly
The young man spun about.
What" he shouted.
'She lives with her aunt at the
Rutherford apartments. She wanted d
key made for a lock, and she. stayed
III the STORE WUll6 went 70 get NilG
impression. She overcharged you a
dollar for that freezer" explained the
locksmith, reluctantly. opening his
cash drawer, land she asked if you
had been back to complain
1t seemed that the young man did
not care about the dollar.
See here" the locksmith said. The
young woman came down this morn
ing to bring the key. 1t stuck a little,
you know. I've filed it off and it's
4 toll IL lnaa
job. promised her I'd send my grand
son when he came from school"
The young man thought it would be
a pity to trouble the grandson. He
said, with feeling, that growing boys
need all the playtime they could get.
At the entrance of the Rutherford
apartments he met Cornelia coming
out.
"Oh!" cried Cornelia, dropping her
purse in her excitement. Have you
come about that dollar?"
1--WE come to bring your key" said
the young man, and gave it to her.
Explanations followed, and then
came argument Cornelia was not sure
that selling an ice cream freezer to
stranger constituted an introduction
The young man, on the other hand,
was positive about it.
But your wife" Cornelia limited,
delicately.
The young man blushed. you in
vented the wife and I held my tongue.
I was afraid that if I explained that I
was a bachelor you'd wonder. what I
wanted with an ice cream freezer"
What did you want with it2" Cor
nelia was indiscreet enough to ask.
The young mans reply was not YER
bal but such as it was it was respon-
sible for a marked increase in his
questioner's color
ooh, WE'LL said Cornelia, swinging
the key on her forefinger, lit may
come in handy some time"
1t Copyright. 1911, by Asso-
ciated Literary Press.)