Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-09
Evening Story.
THE EDGE.
BY Jeanne O. loIzeaux.

Copyright, 1912, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)
Penrose looked up from his morn
ing's mail and said bit sharply to
the boy:
ASK Miss Fairly to come in His
brow scowled downward over his
gray-blue eyes, but his firm mouth
was good-natured. He stopped to
pick up the letter he had dropped,
showed thinning spot In his thatch
of dead-brown hair, and Strengthened
again to see young Person stand be-
fore him with cheerful grin and an
outthrust business card.
II represent" he began as Miss
Fairly entered and stood waiting.
"You always represent something
you want to sell and that I won't
buy, Person! Lots In Angel Heights?
Get out! I won't and cant!" Miss
Fairly seated herself, poised her pen
Gil and waited. Person, undiscour-
aged, leaned on the top of the desk
and began to talk. $751;.
NO." said Penrose; I'm tax-poor
now. Don't need q lot.'
you'll marry and build homo
some day." insisted the young fellow
imperturbably. Then you'll want to
live on Angel Heights. It's the COM
ing residence district. You know It,"
Penrose would have ordered any
one but Jerry Person out, but he had
always liked him. ...
Look here" he said, I'm busy!
But I'll tell you the plain truth
I've bitten off more than can
chew. I'm putting all the profits
back into this business, which has to
be enlarged or go under. I'm land
poor. l need ready money. I've been
vestment, and that too long. It's a
crucial time now with business, and
I'm living right on the edge I'm
a little too close. to failure for even
my sorting taste. I've always taken
chances, but I'm not fool! Now,
will you get out of here, and not try
to sell me anything for at least thirty
days?"
Person laughed, departing, and
threw back a word. ..
BUY lot in Angel Heights. get
married, build house, and take a
real risk! Then you won't always be
buying gold bricks from other fell
lows and turning down good PROPOSE
ton like me-"
Penrose, as the door closed, turned
suddenly to the girl beside him. Her
clear, gray eyes were upon him in a
strange, disconcerting gaze, but she
was cool and poised, as usual Her
calm was one of the reasons why she
held her position.
Good morning." he said. 1--WE a
lot of letters. Will you try to get
them out by noon? This is to Snow
& Snow, Of -" he began debating,
not swiftly. but in jerky, decisive
way that most stenographers, found
trying. ~, =,
Gertrude Fairly, in two years, had
learned his ways, and as she wrote
Penrose looked half unconsciously at
the quiet, clear features, the heavy
dark hair drawn back from the low
rather tall with good shoulders and
a boyish muscularity
AS he finished debating his mind
reverted in exasperated amusement
to Jerry Person, who was always
representing" something. AS the
girl rose he remarked amusedly:
TITS a wonder that fellow didn't
try to sell you a lot, Miss Fairly,
five down, and dollar a week, till
the sentence expires He glanced
at her and met that same strange
look.
"You never talk!' he said.
please tell me what you are think
ing about. I need distraction" .
She had risen, but stood waiting.
81 wondered" she said in her good
voice, 1T you really think that you
know anything about living on the
edge of things?" There was a pas
sion Of intensity In her voice.. She
went quietly out and left him star
ing after her. w..
A dozen persons on different err
rands succeeded each other in
claiming his attention. Details Of
the business were looked after. The
forenoon passed. Afternoon waned
when Harris, his manager, came in.
Harris, subject to supervision, hired
all employees.
"Sales fair today" he reported.
Things are looking up. Shall l FIRE
bTduy IcuIOoc lOOucu. DIdS~
had been warned, but still dissipat-
ed. Miss Fairly asks for a raise.
What about it?' This gave Penrose
his chance. He remembered her
words of the morning.
Tell me all you know about the
girl Penrose commanded abruptly.
II mean personally. 1 know her
work to be all right"
"Well, she doesn't talk about her
self. But trust the other girls to find
out and chatter. She's not their Sort
Good family-orphan. Supports not
only herself, but is bringing up a
little brother, about ten, the kid is,
Keeps him In school all day. He comes
here for Saturdays sometimes. She's
all right-nothing cheap about her.
suppose she deserves a raise, but
the others will all want one, too
"Give 1t to her. And when you go
out, send her in a moment" IT,
AS he waited, Penrose forgot his
work and fingered the June garden
roses beginning to wither in the vase
IN his desk The sIlmmer hreezo