The Press., 1915-03-31
AN INVESTMENT IN LOVE It Was a Complicated
 Business.
By EUGENE A. vOGT
= Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co. oooooo 0 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q co co

Glenwish Johnson sat in the private | office of the Acme-J ohnson Grocery company, of which commanding es tablishment he was president and prac tically sole owner.
 | Curtis, the confidential young man Ci ! Johnson's own business rearing. wus with him, us usual. at this hour-4 | o'clock-to receive his superior's ina instructions for the day.
 Well" concluded Mir. Johnson 1. that icy tone the meaning of whicf none knew better than Curtis. that's settled If that Marden note is no paid tomorrow you go ahead and fore close the mortgage. This presumint on old friendship and that sort of fo will not go. I've renewed it once. anC I'm tired of it.
 Curtis smiled and nodded as he shu down the top of his chiefs desk. Th1 latter had turned to go, but stopped suddenly.
 By lover he exclaimed. "I almos forgot My little girl is twenty-one TO day" The diplomatic Curtis merely smiled his congratulations. Hand me my private check book. Curt" ordered Johnson. "I'll take it home with me.
 Emil, the porter of Charles Thran's leaf tobacco establishment on Water street. New York. was the first mem Der of that firms force to gasp as Edna, Glenwish Johnson's daughter alighted from her electric car aud briskly entered his part of the house. su Marden, MT. Thran's stenographer.' 7 she said sweetly.
 Right in there. lady," he said. pointing toward the inner office.
 Hello, Edna" came Thran's voice. cheery and cordial. What on earth brings you way down to Water street2"
 "I came down to see Grace on busi- ness, Mir Thran. You don't mind let ting me speak to her in private for a few minutesT
 Thran patted the girls cheek with the familiarity of very old friend and ceremoniously bowed himself out of his own office. softly closing the door behind him. Presently, however. the door of the private office opened and Edna stood at the threshold. her face rather pale and her pose unsteady.
 "Please come in, Mir. Thran," she pleaded tremulously.
 Mir. Thran re-entered his sanctunl only to find that his troubles had just begun. His young stenographer was huddled in her chair disturbingly near the verge of tears.
 "I can't do a thing with her, Mir Thran." began Edna dercely. 'I do wish you would make her do it: l can't"
 What is 1t. Edna? p he inquired. with real concern.
 "The whole thing in a nutshell Is this: MT. Warden. this foolish girls ia ther, owes papa s5.OOO, and if it isn't paid before o'clock today papa says he will foreclose the mortgage or some thing. and Grace and Uncle Bully John Marden will be homeless. Now, was twenty-one yesterday. and papa gave me check for 5000 as birthday gift. was so happy about it. know | ing that 1t would just cover the amount
 
 -Grace-she won't take it. Please make her take it. Mir. Thran."
 Please. Mir Thran." now came ap pealingly from the other girl, please do not try to make me do this thing God knows appreciate Edna's motives. and l love her all the more for her kindly intentions. But l cannot take. this money from her.
 Edna" he said very tenderly. you are a very kind. dear girl. and am proud to know you. But you do not understand. my dear. am truly very sorry for both of you"
 
 Johnson would gladly have paid the five thousand himself. but was afraid of that man Curtis. After twelve years of patient work to make real busi- ness man out of his young confiden tial man Johnson did not dare to make so sentimental a proposition.
 So he had carefully planned it all. had presented Edna with the check and an admonition to invest 1t as she saw fit. and then dexterously apprised her of Marden's indebtedness to him and the inevitable consequences of a failure to meet the note the next day.
 Johnson only heard of the miscar, riage of his plan at about 2 o'clock that afternoon. Returning to his pri vste office from luncheon at that hour he found his daughter on the verge oi tears. with the check in her hand.
 "Oh. papa. Grace won't take the check. won't let me help her-me. her best friend"
 He turned to his daughter. smiling grimly. The girl placed the piece of paper she had been holding in his hands.
 Come along with me. dearie. You do not have to ask Grace Warden or any one else to pay that note. All you need do is to go over to the bank and pay it. But as my check is not certi- fled and. besides, you have never been inside of a real commercial bank I'll go with you if you will let me-" Edna rewarded her father with a grateful hug and kiss. and they traversed the outer offices. Glen John. son. accompanied by his daughter. Wdfkeu huiuOfILdtlfeiy up tO tue uOtc teller's window or one of New York's largest banking institutions.
 How do you do. MT. Johnson?' greeted the man behind the bars re- spectfully.
 All right. responded the other cor dially. You have note here for col lection. $5.0tO. John Warden. maker. to my order. This lady wishes to pay it. Want me to certify it?"
 The note teller Scrutinized the check
 "Oh. remarked smith. still smiling amusedly. the check is all right, of rourse. but 1 can't take It. The note has been paid. MT Johnson
 "Paid?"
 Most unusual thing about this col lection. resumed The teller. Tt seems everybody wanis to pay il. You are the third party to attempt to do so. It wasn't moro ham fptf fnintIfpS u on that