Middletown transcript., 1914-04-18

! The judge nodded wisely. That
what thought"
She sighed again. There was Ion
silence, full Of troubled thoughts.
Did he talk as If he intended I
SELF" the judge asked finally.
She worked at her papers nerVousl
moment before she framed the word
Of her reply. I'm afraid that's wha.
he's thinking of. Judge" After a 81
lent moment she Strengthened ou
more papers, and then looked up again
I'VE must do all we can to influence
him against it."
The judge nodded, then rose. and
after worried turn about the great
bare room, approached her and stood
facing her with eyes intently on her
face. "You have influence with him,
josie"
She could not meet his eyes, yet we
not certain why. She hoped that whs
he said was true, yet scarcely dared
think it. do you think so?" she aske
somewhat weakly.
The judge answered in a heart
voice, full Of real confidence. 81 know
it. You made great impression OF
him. He likes you, Josie"
This was entirely unexpected. II
confused her. even in the Office wherd
she had so trained herself to business
that nothing ordinarily could affect
her. She felt that she could rightly
show rejoicing at the news, for it
boded well for Jonesville, but. at the
same time, she was inwardly aware
that it was not because it boded well
for Jonesville that she really was
pleased by it.
"Oh, nonsense, @judge!"
But he was very much in earnest. 1t
was plain enough that he attached no
significance other than commercial to
this liking of which he spoke. It was
fortunate fact. and that was all.
"He thinks you know your business, -
he declared.
Somehow she was intensely disapI
pointed. For this she criticised herl
self. What could be better than to
have the owner Of the enterprise of
which she virtually was manager think
she knew her business? This was GER
tainly good reason for congratulation.
She must not be silly. Confidence in
her ability at business might even help
to influence him toward refusing to
sell out If she could but impress him
with the fact that she was able, might
it not be possible chat his confidence
in large future profits would weigh
powerfully?
To her surprise she heard a chuckle
from the judge and when she looked
at him discovered definite amusement
on his face.
"And after you had gone last night,
he just raved about your eyes!" the old
man happily informed her.
my eyes!" She felt the blood
mounting to her cheeks and tried to
hide them with an industry which kept
her bent above her papers. II he had
raved about her eyes then the impress
sion she had made on him was not en-
tirely commercial!
That's what he didl He said you
had the bluest eyes he'd ever Scent"
Now the judge laughed heartily.
She flushed with sudden wrath.
why, judge, my eyes are gray!"
The judge himself was now sur
prised. He had believed them brown.
Are they?" He arose, went to her,
and, through his thick-lensed specta-
cles, peered at her face. why, so
they are!" He walked away, non
plussed. well, what do you think of
that!"
'T think"
Perhaps he's color blind" the judge
said hopefully. 81 guess have been"
Maybe that is it"
They were interrupted by Sam Hig-
gins. The foreman, it appeared, wished
to talk to Josie. Sam had a way of al
most shutting both his eyes end throw
ing back his head when he announced
things of this kind.
"Yes," said Josie, with the indiffer-
ence Of the business woman who has
long been Of authority, "Tll see him in
just few minutes"
Sam whirled slowly, went to the door
and loudly delivered her message, as
if his voice must reach to the factory's
farthest end.
This focused the judges attention
upon something he had been consider
ing. He leaned above the desk and
spoke to Josie confldentia1ly. 'T
thought of something on the way over,
Josie. Nobody but US knows that the
young fellow is in town. He registered
at the Grand. you know, under the
name Of Jackson. Maybe the people
in the plant are getting nervous"
'Yes. they are" she granted. There
have been so many rumors of the SALE
I'm worried
We'll, then, don't you think it might
be a good thing to spread the news
around among the men little?"
NOT BR0UGHT RY THE STnRK