Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-18


sold a man named Merritt some goods
that were never paid for. Reinhart
sent a collector after him, and the man
came back with black eye. He sent
another man. and he came back with
a broken jaw. Reinhart found it i'm
possible TO get any more collectors
after that, for he felt in honor bound
to tell them that Merritt was fight
ing man and sent every collector back
with some damage instead Of the
amount due
One day a young woman came into
Remnants store and asked him il he
had any bad debts to give her for
collection. She was pretty. and a good
natured smile continually played about
her red lips, just like a humming bird
fitting near n flower.
Suddenly a bright thought struck
Reinhart. He would give this girl
Merritt's debt to collect. He told her
that there was an amount he would
like TO get in. but felt bound TO in
form her Of the reception his men col
lectors had met and 10 warn her
that she would be liable to receive
some pretty rough treatment.
'Just the kind Of man ! like" she
said, with the same delightful smile
Il have no use for these mild man
nered men-ha, hal But you don't
think he'll really hurt me, do your
Reinhart told her that any msn
who would hurt such charming
young woman would be q brute indeed
and insured her that If she received
any bodily injury from Merritt he
, Reinbarb would have Merritt arrested
and see that he was punished.
The amount of the bill was S1s5.5I.
with S3s42 for interest Reinhart
told the girl CAfiss Anthem she called
HERSELF that be would give her half
the amount If she succeeded in collect
ing it all and 90 per cent Of whatever
amount she did collect. He made out
q fresh bill and gave It 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 If she didn't
leave instantly she would be elected.
She replied by sitting down In Mer-
ritt's study-he was a literary man
and, removing her hat, let him see
that she was going to stay till she
chose to 90. But she smiled on him
that perpetual smile Of hers, and the
debtor, forgetting his debt, watched it,
/ wondering where it came from, She
didn't seem a bit afraid, paying no at
tention to his threat to have her put
out She ratified on about various
things in a simple and childlike way,
saying nothing more about the collec-
ton. She sat an hour. after which
she arose and asked if Merritt would
take up the matter of paying Rein
hart's account if the interest were re-
mitted. Since there was nothing very
definite in 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 Remnant had resorted to
a very stupid method of getting his
account. But Merritt noticed that the
girl had left her smile behind her.
lie was writing a story at the time OF
her entrance and attempted to con-
} tinue it after her departure 1t re-