The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-09-26


boy. by his own unaided effort1. Isn't
making more money at the end Of q year
from Nov. next than your boy fnnkea
pay you thirty thousand dollars C$So, J
900 in cash: and Il he %, then you pay
that sum to me; the books Of their several
business concerns. duly audited. TO be the
deciding factor. Yours very truly.
scot that?r he added, darling keen
glance at Mary beneath his thick eye
brows.
Yes, Mr.. Martin said that young
lady In a voice which she was evident
ly trying to make as colorless as pos
sible
swell, what do you think Of itg' de-
manded Mr. Martin, breaking a short
pause.
Think Mr.. Rodney has more brains
than you give him credit for,' said
Mary impulsively.
"oh, you do, do youa"
yes, sir. I do. But isn't $4,000 a
good deal of money to lose on betl
Somebody always loses. you know.
And Mr.. Rodney has never had any.
business experience to speak Of. You
wouldn't have him in your own works,
you know"
"Of course I wouldn't. I didn't want
Rod posing there as the boss son, in
terfertng with the good discipline of
the establishment. Besides, I didn't
want them all down there to see what
q nincompoop he was In business. I've
got more pride than that"
AREN'T you a little hard on Rodney,
Mr.. Martini" asked Mary gently.
care you little sweet on Rodney.
Miss Mary?' retorted the soap ling
'gruf1y.
She had her head bent over her
work, and he couldn't see her features
during this colloquy. He would have
to carry the plummet line little
deeper.
Because If you are," he went on,
81 warn you. you'll have to marry him
for love. He'll get no money from me
unless he makes good. 1shall make a
will leaving him only an annuity, the
principal to go to charity when he has
idled himself into his grave, and I'll
see to 1t that the annuity isn't quite
enough for two, let me tell you, let
alone family Of kids. / don't pro-
pose to have him or lot Of worthless
grandbrats making ducks and brakes
ofimy money when I'm gone.e
II see," said Miss Grayson. cot
course it's none Of my business. Any.
thing else. sir?"
A motor bus screeching along out.
side came to a full stop at the corner.
Mr.. Martin, who had begun to pace
the room as he talked, forgetting his
convenient or inconvenient govt, lin.
gered at the window and saw, two
women alight and stand talking In
definitely on the sidewalk. In one Of
the window panes where the curtains
darkened It and made mirror he,
could see Afary's pretty head droop-
ing little, giving her body sudden.
" pensive air as she gazed abstract
edly into. the dying Ere. He turned
and spoke again and was pleased to
see that she started involuntarily.
Would you mind ringing for John.
son, my dear7' he asked, more pleas.
antly.
Mary rose and pressed the button
and then sat down again as before.
johnson came presently and obedient-
" replenished the fire, while Cyrus
Martin twiddled his keys and small
change in his trousers pockets. When
Johnson's stiff back had disappeared
through the doorway he began again
on another tack.
"Look here, Mary" he demanded in
franker tone, II want your help.
You can help me II you will. and Il
you benefit by 1t yourself, why so
much the better. Pitch in and catch
Rodney IL you want him. should be
glad Of 1t. Only there would be one
condition"
Beneath this direct attack the girl
did finally blush little. She gathered
herself together again, however, and
folded up her book by way Of recap
turing her composure.
"why, Mr.. Martin" she said, what
an idea!v
why is it such an idea? Is there
nothing to attract young fellow and
good looking girl like you to each
other? You're too modest, Miss Mary"
"1'm not Judge Of that. Mr.. Mar
TIM" said Mary.
ooh, yes, you arer retorted her en-
ployer. "And Pm not SO sure you're