Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-12-31

what was this sly puss artery ne spec.
uIated as lie babe Johnson show her
IN. Come 60 get her old job back. he
supposed Well. she could have it at
her old salary. lie said Tins last aloud
TO her as she came into the room look
ing very sweet he muSt admit The
serious expression she wore was not
at all unhyeoming 10 her pretty face.
The room looSed just as it used to
do. aud the recollection took Mary back
again IN spite Of her engrosslng err
rand. The diamond pendulum was
still swinging on the mantelpieee. Mr..
Martin himself wound all the clocks
in the house every sunday morning at
exactly half past .. when the hands
did not interfere with the keyholes.
But don't want il" said Mary ia
response &C. his unSrasious proposition.
oh then. Rodney has sent sou to
plead for him. SUGGESTED AIR. Martin.
NO. sir. said Mary. He doesn't
know I'm here
"Theu what are you here fory" he
demanded. really curious.
TO make You husineSs PROPOSE
ton" said Mary stoutly.
"Why doesn't Rodney make it him
selgy asked his father
'IIe doesn't know what it is" ex-
planned Mary.
That's something in his favor"
Martin conceded I can't see much
use in women tying up in meas BUSH
ness Somehow | love the scallawag.
and. - It. miss him around herer'
He looked at Mary curiously rs he
said this. wondering how she aud Rod
ney were getting along these days and
what her errand really was, though he
didn't propose to give away his inter
est in it. she had betrayed the true
nature Of things to him once, What
WAS she going to do HOW?
His reflections and Mary's business
we're interrupted. however, by John
sons entering a second time and an
nouncing the last two people In the
world that Mary had counted ON.
namely, Mr. Rodney Martin and Mr.,
Ambrose Peale.
ooh. the whole lem. ehg' said Mr.
Martin. eyeiHg Mary sharply.
Mary started guiltilf. For a moment
She feared that Roaney MIGHT bark
back to that S500a cheek his father
had given her ANA crow Jealous again.
she couldn't pretend to be pleased to
see him. despite her sentimental re
Elections JUS new downstairs she had
wanted 10 handle this Interview IN her
own way She felt as Il she could have
dene it right, conymeingIy. just as
hunter feels within himself that he can
clear the hurdle that looms ahead.
Now, here were Rodney and Ambrose
to interfere With her. and Ambrose of
course would interrupt and switch her
off and perhaps irritate the old gentle
man with his advertising talk. He
couldn't help it. Ambrose would pop
out of his jack in the box instanter
If you sprang the subject of soap and
advertising.
Old Mr.. Martin surveyed all three OF
them grimly, just long enough TO let
embarrassment set In on all their faces.
His eyes rested on Mary last of all,
and longest. A fairly perceptible
change crept round his firm old
mouth as he did so. He was satisfied
the little mink had told him the truth
about Roaney's not knowing anything
rs TO her mission here, and indeed.
when the boy came in and saw her
there he exclaimed in genuine sur
prise:
why, Mary. What are you doing
hereY"
Mary thought fast moment, and evil
IDENTIFY decided that the best part OF
diplomacy this time was the truth.
Il came to tell your father about
Brown x james" she said frankly.
Rodney looked relieved.
chats why were here too, he said.
absolutely" added Peale
"Well. what is it about Brown &
james," clustered Martin. Let me
tell you right now. won't back any
fake company.
But were not fake any longer"
protested Rodney.
We've actually sold some soap"
chimed in Peale.
Fifty thousand cakes" Mary ex-
planned impressively.
ITO Brown & james" said Rodney.
Then why did you send 'em only
five thousand cakes?'' inquired old
Martin bluntly.
Rodney looked astonished, but an
swered promptly:
Because after we'd got that much
from one of your branch factories you
shut off our supply
"And we couldn't get any more soap
anywhere" said Peale plaintively.
"And you knew it very WELL" Mary
said accusingly.
We've still got 5000 cakes to de-
liver If we can get 'em from you"
went on Rodney why let all that
money get out of the family?' he plead
ed. Its a business proposition"
mo, 1t isn't" said the father.
Don't fool yourself. | sent that tele-
gram"
what telegram" asked Rodney.
"The telegram from Brown & James
ordering the $4,000 cakes" grunted old
Martin.
Mary pumped down on a chair in
dismay.
"You sent it?" she gasped
Mr.. Martin decided to amplify a lit
lie.
THAT day at the Office you were
pretty game son." he said, "and, to
tell the truth. | felt SO sorry for you
| had to do something, SO sent that
wire