The Cairo bulletin., 1911-07-14
SHE COLLECTED
THE ACCOUNT
By MARY D. JENNINGS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

that were never paid for. Reinhart
sent collector after him. and the man
came back With black eye. He sent
another man, and he came back with
4 broken jaw. Reinhart found 1t i'm
possible to get any more collectors
after that, for he felt In honor bound
to tell them that Merritt was a fight
ing man and sent every collector back
with some damage instead of the
amount due.
One day a young woman came into
Reinharts store and asked him IL he
had any bad debts to give her for
collection. She was pretty, and q good
natured smile continually played about
her red lips, Just Ike humming bird
fitting near flower
Suddenly bright thought struck
Reinhart. He would give this girl
Merritt's debt to collect. He told her
that there was an amount ne would
like to get in, but felt bound TO in.
form her Of the reception his men col
lectors had met and to warn her
| that she would be liable to receive
some pretty rough treatment
"Just the kind Of man I like" she
said, with the same delightful smile
II have no use for these mild man
nered men-ha, ha! But you don't
think he'll really hurt me, do you?"
Reinhart told her that any man
who would hurt such a charming
young woman would be brute indeed
and assured her that Ii she received
any bodily injury from Merritt he
(ReinharD would have Merritt arrested
and see that be was punished.
The amount Of the bill was $185.57,
with S3S.42 for interest. Reinhart
told the girl (Miss Anthem she called
HERSELF that be would give her half
the amount il she succeeded in collect
ing it all and 30 per cent Of whatever
amount she did collect. He made out
fresh bill and gave 1t to the collector,
and she went away smiling.
The next day Miss Anthem went to
see Merritt. with the same pleasant
smile on her face, and succeeded in
getting into his house without his
knowing her errand. He received her
kindly, but when she sprung the bill
on him he told her that IL she didn't
leave instantly she would be elected.
She replied by sitting down in Mer-
ritt's study--he was literary man
and, removing her hat, let him see
that she was going to stay till she
chose to go. But she smiled on him
that perpetual smile Of hers, and the
debtor. forgetting his debt. watched it,
wondering where 1t came from. She
didn't seem a bit afraid, paying no Mt
tention to his threat to have her put
out She ratified on about various
things In simple and childlike way,
saying nothing more about the collec-
ton. She sat an hour, after which
she arose and asked II Merritt would
take up the matter Of paying Rein
harris account IL the interest were re-
mitted. Since there was nothing very
definite fin this, Merritt said that II
the interest were deducted he would
surely consider putting the matter in
shape for ultimate payment.
He chuckled when he closed the
door on the collector and thought
what an innocent, guileless girl she
was. Surely Reinhart had resorted to
very stupid method of getting his
account. But Merritt noticed that the
girl had left her smile behind her.
He was writing story at the time Of
her entrance and attempted to con-
tinue 1t after her departure. 1t re-
fused to be continued. 1t seemed to
Merritt that his characters were
laughing at him. He threw down his
pen and, taking up his hat, started out
to walk OFF this indisposition for work
| that had come upon him.
The next afternoon Miss Anthem call
| ed again on Mr.. Merritt, and 1t seemed
to the author that fountain sparkling
| and making rainbows in the sun had
come in with her. She began by say
Ing something pleasant, and ran from
that to something else pleasant, and
then something else pleasanter still, till
1t occurred TO Merritt that she was
like the girl In the fairy story who
every time che spoke. dropped pearl
from her lips. She made herself al
home as before, and Merritt made nc
threat Of eJectment, When she depart.
| ed she told him that Reinhart was
perfectly willing to throw Off the in
terest from his bill, and she wished to
know what Mr.. Merritt thought of q
compromise OF the account at 80 cents
on the dollar.
Merritt dismissed her. saying that
he thought so cents on the dollar quite
enough to pay under the circumstances
and Miss Author took her departure
again leaving her smile behind her. A
fortnight passed and she had not
called again. Merritt missed her. One
day he met her on the street and asked
her when she was coming to receive
payment Tor the compromise amonnt
Of the Reinhart bill She told him that
Reinhart wanted the full amount OF
the bill, with the interest.
"Well come In and talk 1t over" be
said.
The next day Merritt was revived by
cali from the collector. 1t seemed
that he had been living at the north
pole In December and with her en-