Oxford Democrat., 1915-03-02
,ooooooooooooooooo
!; AN INVESTMENT
); IN LOVE
It Was q Complicated
Business.
By EUGENE A. VOGT
By EUGENE A. VOGT

q Business. {
8 By EUGENE A. VOGT {
= Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co. =
ooooooooooooooooooc
Glenwish Johnson sat In the private
Office Of the Acme-Johnson Grocery
company, Of which commanding es
Enlistment he was president and prac
tically sole owner.
Curtis, the confidential young man OF
Johnson's own business rearing, was
with him, as usual, at this hour
o'clock-to receive his superiors final
instructions for the day.
"Well," concluded Mr.. johnson IN
that icy tone the meaning Of which
none knew better than Curtis, that's
settled. II that Merden note Is moi
paid tomorrow you 60 ahead and fore.
close the mortgage. This presumins
on old friendship and that sort Of rot
will not 60. I've renewed it once, and
I'm tired of it"
Curtis smiled and nodded as he shut
down the top Of his chiefs desk. The
latter had turned to 90. but stopped
suddenly.
"By Jover he exclaimed. Il almost
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 and
briskly entered his Fart Of the house.
IT should like to see Miss Grace
Marden, Mr.. Thran's stenogapher,"
she said sweetly.
Fright In there. lady" he said.
pointing toward the inner Office.
"Hello. Edna" came Thran's voice,
CHEEKY and cordial. What on earth
brings you way down to Water
street,
II came down to see Grace on bust
ness, Mr.. Thran. You don't mind let
ting me speak to her in private for
few minutesr'
Thran patted the girls cheek with
the familiarity Of a very old friend
and ceremonlously 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, Mr.. Thran." she
pleaded tremulously.
Mr.. Thran re-entered his sanctum
only to find that his troubles had just
begun. His young stenographer was
huddled In her chair disturbingly near
the verge Of tears.
T can't do a thing with her, Mr.
Thran," began Edna fercely. II do
wish you would make her do It;
can't"
"What is it, Edna 7" he inquired. with
real concern.
1.-THE whole thing in nutshell Is
this: Mr.. Marden. this foolish girls IA
ther, owes papa $1,000, and II 1t isn't
paid before 8 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 a check for $1,000 as q birthday
gift. was so happy about 1t, know
ing that 1t would Just cover the amount
Uncle John owes papa, and now Grace
l-Grace-she won't take 1t. Please
make her take it, NJ. Thran."
"Please, Mr.. Tbran" now came ap-
pealingly from the other girl, please
do not try to make ne do this thing.
God knows appreciate Edna's motives,
and love her all the more for her
kindly intentions. But cannot take
this money from her."
Edna" he said very tenderly, you
are very kind. dear girl. and l am
proud to know you. But you do not
understand, my dear. l 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 bust.
ness man out Of his young confden-
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 q
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 OF
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 bis
hnnds.
.Come along with me. dearie. You
do not have to ask Grace Mariea or
any one else to pay that note. All you
need do is to 90 over to the bank and
hay It. But as my check is not cert-
fed and. besides. you have never been
Inside Of real commercial bank I'll go
with you If you will let me-"
Edna rewarded her father with q
grateful hug and kiss. and they
kraversed the outer offices. Glen John
son, accompanied BY his daughter.
Wxiked authoritatively up to the note
esllsr's window OF one Of New Yorks
largest banking institutions.
"How do you do, Mr.. Johnson
greeted the man behind the bars ~
spectfuily.
IAN right" responded the other cor
daily. "You have a note here for col
lection, 5000, John Marden. maker, to
my order. This lady wishes to pay It.
Want me to certify itf"
The note teller scrutinized the check