Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-01-08

N01o
balanced that the wrong side Of the
ledger says, then to the listening
stockholders there comes the painful
thought that at the next regular meet
ing 1t is perilously possible that the
reading may come under the heads
OF assets and liabilities.
There had been a meeting In the
ofiices Of the 7. A. Buck Featherloom
Petticoat company, New York The i
quarterly report had had a startlingly
lop-sided sound. After it was over
Mrs. Emma McChesney. secretary of
the company, followed T. A. Buck. its |
president, into the big, bright show
room. T. A. Bucks hands were thrust |
deep into his pockets. His teeth wor-
ried cigar. savagely Care that
clawing, mouthing bag, perched on his
brow, tore at his heart.
He turned ) to face Emma McChes- !
ney.
Well" he said, bitterly. ''it hasn't
taken us long, has it? Fathers been
dead little over a year lib that
time we've just about run this great
concern, the pride of his life, into the
ground"
Mrs. Emma McChesney, calm, cool,
unruffied, scrutinized the harassed
man before her for long minute.
What rotten football material you
would have made, wouldn't your" she
observed.
oh, don't know" answered T. A.
Buck, through his teeth. 81 can stand
as stir scrimmage as the next one
But this isn't game. You take things
too lightly. You're a woman. | don't
think you know what this means"
Emma McChesney's lips opened as
do those Of one whose tongues end
holds a quick and singing retort.
Then they closed again. She walked
over to the big window that faced the
street When she had stood there a
moment, silent, she swung around and
came back to where T. A Buck stood,
still wrapped in gloom.
Maybe l don't take myself serious
ly. I'd have been dead ten years ago
If had But do take my job seri-
Ously. Don't forget that for minute
You talk the way a man always talks
when his pride is hurt"
Pride! 1t isn't that"
"Oh, yes, 1t is. l didn't sell T. A..
Bucks featherloom petticoats on the
road for almost ten years without
learning a little something about men
and business. When your father died,
and learned that he had shown his
appreciation Of my work and loyalty
by making me secretary of this great
company, | didn't think of II as a
legacy-a stroke Of good fortune"
Nor"
mo. To me 1t was sacred trust
something to be guarded, nursed cher.
ished. And now you say we've run
this concern into the ground. Do you
honestly think that?"
T. A. shrugged impotent shoulders
Figures don't lie" He plunged into
another fathom OF gloom. Another
year like this and we're done for"
Emma McChesney came over ant
put one firm hand on T. A. Bucks
dropping shoulder 1t was a strange
little act for a Woman-the sort O
thing a man does when he would heart
en- another man.
Wake up!" she said, lightly. WAX
up, and listen TO the brides sing
There isn't going to be another yea
like this. Not IL the planning, ant
scheming, and brain-racking that Nv
been doing for the last two OF tire
months mean anything"
T. A. Buck seated himself rs on
who is weary, body and mind.
Got another new one?'
Emma McGhesney regarded him
moment thoughtfully. Then sh
stepped to the tall show case, pushe
back the sliding glass door, and poin
ed to the rows OF brilliant-hueh petit
coats that hung riose-packed within.
+'Iook at 'eml" she Commanded, dii
gust in her voice. Look at 'em!"
T. A. Buck raised heavy. lack-luste
eyes and looked. What he saw di
not seem to interest him. Emma M
Chesney drew from the rack . ski
of kings blue satin messalihe an
held It at arms length.
And they call that thing d pett
coat Why, fifteen years ago The m
terial in this skirt wouldn't haze mac
even a fair-sized sleeve"
T. A. Buck regarded the pettico'
moodily. Il don't see how they o
around in the darned things. ] no
estly don't see how they wear EN-.
That's just 1t. They don't wei
'em. There you have the root of u
whole trouble"
"oh, NONSENSE" disputed 7.
They certainly wear something son
sort of an"
Il tell you they don't Here. Lii
an. Three years ago our tanetR Skin
ran from thirty-slx to thirty-eig
Yards to the dozen. We paid fro
A ninety cents to one dollar and d
cents a yard. Now our skirts run frc
twenty-five to twenty-eight yards
the dozen. The silk costs as from u
to sixty cents yard. Silk skirts US
10 be a luxury. Now they're not ev
a necessity
well. what's the answer
been bordering some pettieoa1 pr
lens myself. know we've 60 to
three skirts today to make the pre-
that we used to make on one tn
years ago"
Emma McChesney had the BRA
heartedness to laugh. This sk
business reminds me of game