The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-05-15
CHAPTER vIi,.--contlnued.


I've explained to Mr.. Jones. Josie, D
said the judge, that the affairs Of the
plant are entirely in your hands. You
can give him pretty good idea of
how things stand without the books
and figures in front of you. can't your"
To Broadway's grief he sat down CON-
fortably."
We'll, hardly. Judge" said Josie.
smiling at him in a way which panied
Broadway, for 1t seemed certain to
cement the iurist's firm intention of re-
naming with them for the balance of
the evening. 1t seemed to him that
this was inconsiderate.
THE old gentleman told me-" the
Judge explained. that the works
showed profit of about forty thou.
sand dollars last year. Is that right"
ooh, 1t was more than that"
This distracted Jackson Jones' atten,
ton even from the color of her eyes.
More than forty thousand dollars!
ut was!" he said, with an elongating
gesture of the neck and q side head
twist which were habitual with him in
moments Of delighted surprise.
He drew his chair q little nearer
even than 1t had been. Eyes were all
right enough; but. after all. forty thou
sano dollars! And possibly the eyes
thrown in! Had he been lucky to es-
cape the bonds of wedlock with the
ancient widow? Verify he had!
1T was nearer fifty, If / remember
rightly" said the pretty business won.
an.
We'll, that wasn't SO bad, now, was
it," exclaimed Broadway.
"Why, no." his fair informant grant.
ed, considering that we've been fight
Ing the trust all the time. / think
1t was perfectly remarkable"
do your" inquired Broadway, with
the eyes of faith, as if he we're quite
willing to accept her judgment upon
all things.
"Why. yes; don't you" Her fore.
head had pretty, earnest pucker that
almost unnamed him.
Sure, think it u.s." he made haste
to agree. What do you think about
1t, judge?" The Judge must be brought
into the talk, of course, as long as he
was there.
The judge settled back into his chair
and looked complacent. II always said
1t was the best chewing gum in the
world"
we are talking about profits, not
about the gum" said Broadway, and
Josie burst into ripping laugh which
ne felt sure was of the sort which
tinkies among angels when something
makes them happy on the golden
streets.
There was that in this speech which
penetrated to the depths of the judi
cial system; 1t served as light to show
the Judge what might be going on.
Although he had been comfortably set
tied for long hours chat about a sub.
1ect which intensely interested him. he
rose abruptly and stood looking down
at them.
Welt" said he, and laughed. "You
talk 1t over, now, with Josie. Im-I
guess ] am a poor hand where figures
are concerned" He moved slowly
toward the door, and smiled at every
step. Il want to ask MON about some.
thing, anyway"
Jackson Jones was really embar-
raised for moment when he found
himself alone with this old friend of
his youth, this simple little country
girl. But he knew 1t wouldn't do: he
was certain that it was absurd To
kill time he referred back to what the
judge had said about the gum.
Can you beat that?" he inquired
THE best chewing gum in the world"
She looked at him with the serious
light of real reproof in her incompar-
able eyes. Il don't think there's any
doubt about it, Mr.. Jones. The trust
people realize it. If they don't, they
certainly wouldn't be willing to paw
q million dollars for It,"
They're willing to pay more than
that for it, he told her, feeling for
the first time a real interest in the
conversation. Before that he had been
absorbed only by the conversationallst
Twelve hundred thousand they've of
fered."
She was not pleased. Il didn't think
you knew that" she confessed. "They