Putnam patriot., 1912-03-08
JANE CARTER s ! CONTRACT
By HELEN ROSS
Gcoggllgll. I-ll. 5y 4s.oei.lea Lirsrafg Pfsa.-j

ke2alna iu the fuE araf n4f nE WHICH abe shared With fwo artist friends az snaeeauBaas as hefsall. and hsfst snto she living room. Her flushed face and sparkiine eyes were pleasant to see
 @Oh gfrIs she cried I'm so sor- yJ to De late when It's mF n1gnt 10 cook
 @Yes. yoa cruel creature. I'm starve9 lgaed Miss Mason But what ls The excitement you're trying eo keep from hHab.lng over2
 The other occupant 0 the room, 2sisa B8y. anticipating pleasant neEs. closed her desk
 I'm too high ln The clouds 10 fry potatoes but hungry enough to eat tbem. cried Jane 50 come oar Niih me and IsB treat 10 a real dinner
 Mi bat you're rash You'll not he able 1o buy new shoes tbls week. warned Miss Day
 sBe meTeffsl and tel the news'e e smplofed Miss Mason
 Jane swept aside a number q pack ages and peEzhed on tbe cieaFed space of the table
 T cant believe my good fortune. Ebe began a trife unsteadlly. lust as ] vas going out for lunch a stFan- ger. a logged ap in stunning motor ang costume. asked If could direct him to Mas Jane Carter. the interior decorator l hated him 10 see that shabbF bole Of a studio. but there Was no way out Of it He was awfHlly nice and didn't look around a blt. and said ] vas recommended highly as having excellent ideas and good taste. Isn't thai lovely He Is the big bankez Daniel Lord. and wants his rountry home decorated He took me there in his motor this afternoon and She house is magnificent"
 -Yo8 deserve f, dear exclaimed Miss Day 2 can't tell you ho@ glad ] am that luck Is finally coming your way
 Really. girls. fl viii take months eo do it as he wishes it done. and while we were out there he suggested one innovation after the other and is retain InE me a great deal longer than necessary 10 oversee details Before ! left. be made me sign contraci- az if ] would balk half way.'
 Its as well 10 have all that set aled. commented the business-like Miss Mason
 .as be young. old or indifferent" ehimed in Mss Day. "Married2"
 About thirty eight and unmarried Nov I'll de If don't get something to eat II you love me eome!" groan- sd Jane, jumping of the table.
 They left the apartment and start ~d towards an Italian cafe. all takling mt once The sudden change in lanes fortunes delighted the older girls Jane was 10 start water-eelor cravings Of the rooms the following day fer Mir Lords inspection.
 When the drawings were delivered 1r Lord returned them personally snd declared himself delighted. in- sisting upon paying liberal retain tng fee.
 Y hated to take that money" con. nded Jane hlushing a rosy red at the recollection Of her discussion with Mir lord +Mr Lord declared that it was unly good business 10 accept l."
 When your time is taken for that Aeugth Of time you should be com. pensated " declared Miss Day
 All the sane. it seems so mate rial sighed Jane
 You little dunce." scolded Miss Mason "all the big decorators do it What have you to live on while this contract is on deck II requires your exclusive attention and all other work must be dropped
 Az the decorating of the huge house progrt ssed Sir Lord found it ot such absorbing importance that he Ire. aueutly called in the evenings to dis euss details His great motor look Jane 10 any country houses of his friends which possessed unusual fear. unes. and the great banker always found time to go along and satisfy his tbirst for decorative knoWledge These spins through The gurgeousIy colored October country were fairy. land 10 Jane As they were ire quenuy late returning 10 town. they dined at queer inns or picturesque farmhouses lanes frequent Iateness seemed 10 pass unnoticed by her Trends. and as her financial affairs improved, certain luxuries. hitherto unknown, appeared in the apartment.
 Isn't she the darling7. remarked Miss Day. Just think of her trudg. fng sii the way 10 the market for per simmons because she knew liked chem. Most girls would be too much taken up with their own affairs 10 think Of others, Shes wonderfully ,enssifsh~
 Indeed she is," agreed Miss Ma son Do you know l have an Idea that she is very fond of MT Lord in delightfaily friendly way. so let's De careful not 10 spoil her innocent pleasure in bis kindness and consider. stion for her She is such & sensl- ssse little goose. and if she got the toen that his interest is more for her than her work it would be 6 shook
 -sse cant help admirlng her work answered the loyal Miss Day. Meth. CT car he heip sdmiring such an @arr~st little worker Jane Is too ssnsieie to misunderstand his kind. ness
 she got up 10 answer ibe doorbell easd returned carrying long box
 -Taxss the third box of American BeSut,sa this &eek she observed
 T hope he doesn't oyerdo it be gan Miss Day anxioasiy ~lf"
 But Jane returned from the country at this Juncture and the sentence was tnever completed.
 Its just too wende4suI@ sighed 5zne. T seem 10 be living in g kdream. ~l hate to look around and