The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-08-11
SHE COLLECTED
THE
By MARY D. JENNINGS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

! III SoPyAA6AS w IlIC 4ANSS <16SO- iii
citation. 1911.
When Reinhart was in business he
sold a man named Merritt some goods
that were paid for. Reinhart
sent a collector after him, and the man
came back with q 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 a fight
ing man and sent every collector back
with some damage instead Of the
amount due.
One day a young woman came into
Reinhart's store and asked him II 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 a 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 aud to warn her
that she would be liable to receive
some pretty rough treatment.
"Just the kind of man l 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 a brute indeed
and assured her that if she received
any bodily injury from Merritt he
(Reinhart) would have Merritt arrested
and see that he was punished.
The amount Of the bill was $1S5.57,
with $3s.42 for interest. Reinhart
told the girl Miss Anthem she called
herself) that be would give her half
the amount If she succeeded in collect
ing it all and so per cent Of whatever
amount she did collect. He made out
a 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'
fits study-he was a 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 u 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 IL Merritt would
take up the matter Of paying Rein
hart's account il the interest were re-
mitted. Since there a 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 Reinhart had resorted to
a very stupid method Of getting his
account. But Merritt noticed that the
girl had left her smile behind her.
He was writing a story at the time of
her entrance and attempted to con-
tinue 1t after her departure. It re-
fused to be continued. It 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 i%ndisposition for work
that had come upon him.
The next afternoon Miss Anthem call
ed again on Mr.. Merritt. and it seemed
to the author that a fountain sparkling
and making rainbows in the sur had
come in with her. She began by say
ing something pleasant, and ran from
that to something else pleasant, apd
then something else %pleasanter still. till
It occurred to Merritt that she was
like the girl in the fairy story who
every time she spoke. dropped a pearl
from her lips. She made herself ut
home as before. and Merritt made no
threat Of ejectment. When she depart
ed she told him that Reinhart was
perfectly willing to throw OF the iii.
terest from his bill. and she wished to
know what Mr.. Merritt thought Of a
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 ray under the circumstances.
aud Miss Author took her departure.
again leaving her smile behind her. 4
fortnight pissed and she lad not
called again. Merritt missed Ter. One
day he met her on the street aud asked
her when she was coming to receive
-o-~-.