Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-14

on the desk before the Colonel, who
scowled at them, to appear very business
like and cautious as he Scrutinized the in
dorsements.
"Seven thousand dollars!" he said as if
hypnotized by the sum. @Why, that's as
much as had left when | came away from
Chattanooga"
He laid the slips of paper on the desk and
whirled toward the real estate agent with a
warm CLEAN in his eyes.
@Mr. Jones-Burmah,' he said, at isn't
fair for me to grasp all this opportunity, Sir,
when you are the one who brought it to my
consideration. No, Sir, it isn't fair. | want
you to do me the favor of accepting half this
money as your own. | want you to do more
than that. / want you to take half of every
thing that comes in from all those lots we
had surveyed, from now on"
Burrnah had not expected this generosity.
He had confidently believed that by the use
of diplomacy he would get his share and a
little more Of all that was sold; but he had
not, in his widest moment, hoped that the
Colonel would offer him half of the total
receipts. But not by the slightest twitching
of muscle did he display any emotion.
Thank you, Colonel" he said, with
beautiful simplicity. Il accept your offer in
the same spirit in which it is made. It's
pleasure to do things with the right man at
the helm, and you're sure it,
The Colonel beamed at this praise, and as
he carefully divided the checks on the desk
replied, with due modesty, making money
is very easy, after all, Burmah. 1t consists
in knowing how. You have no idea how long
| studied over finance after it-ahem-be-
came necessary for me to enter into COM
mercial pursuits
He pocketed the checks and stood to his
feet with an air of industry.
al must go right down now" he declared,
sand buy some lumber to build my house
with. No, maybe I'd best buy it of Mr..
Todd. very nice man is Mr.. Todd. We
must patronize our home merchants
@But, Colonel, objected Burmah, Il tele-
phoned for some contractors to come around
and give you bid on the house"
The Colonel looked at him blankly.
that's the best way to get 'em built, you
know" Burmah went on, 4and the con-
tractor likes to buy his own material"
Il declare l never thought of that, said
the Colonel. at seems to me that down in
Chattanooga most everyone tends to all
that himself. Buildings a little out of my
line
@Then,' said Burmah cheerfully, @you
just leave those plans you brought, and let
me talk to the contractors
@Thank you, Burmah," replied the Colo
of things to attend to. I'm powerful busy
man."
After which he promptly departed for his
hotel, from which, carefully groomed, he
emerged two hours later to take Arabella for
long drive in hired touring car, that
being the important business that occupied
his attention.
AND Burmah Jones, fat and glowering,
was browbeating the different con-
tractors that had come at his behest, and
driving them to give quick estimates, and
displaying a knowledge of all the details of
contracting that compelled the reluctant
admiration of those with whom he wrangled
A week before that he would have informed
the contractors, in his first overture, that he
expected to get good fat commission for
giving them the job, and that they had to
figure him in on the profits; but now, with
the Colonels generosity still edging into his
mind, he had not the heart, and fought as
valiantly for the Colonel's interests as if they
were his own.
am a sucker for dom it, he communed
with himself that evening, after he had
closed a contract much to the Colonel's adj
vantage; "but Teller can't be hog. That
is a new way of playin' a game with me; but
80 Il