News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-11-10
Copyright, 1914-1915, by Teoi Cooper
Megrue and Walter Hackett

and then sat down again as before
Johnson came presently and obedien
" replenished the fire, while Cyru
Martin twiddled his keys and sma
change in his trousers pockets. Whe
Johnson's stiff back had disappeare
through the doorway he began agai
on another tack
"Look here, Mary" he demanded il
franker tone, II want your help
You can help me if you will, and i
you benefit by it yourself, why s.
much the better. Pitch in and catcl
Rodney if you want him. l should b.
glad of it. Only there would be ont
condition"
Beneath this direct attack the CIR
did finally blush little. She gathered
herself together again, however, ano
folded up her book by way of recap
turing her composure.
"Why, Mr. Martini she said, what
an idea"
"Why is it such an idea? Is there
nothing to attract young fellow and
a good looking girl like you to each
other? You're too modest, Miss Mary
''I'm not judge of that. Mr.. Mar
TIM said Mary.
"Oh, yes, you are!' retorted her en-
ployer land I'm not so sure you're
not quite willing myself"
But think you're very unkind to
me-" protested Mary, taking another
cue. "You appeal to my woman's
curiosity. Surprising. for the sake of
argument, that your son and are
madly in love with each other, what
are your 0onditions?"
"Well," said her employer, 81 tell
you frankly l don't want to lose that
$4,000 to John Clark. and I do want
to stir Rodney up. He needs an in
centive, and I've been ransacking my
brains to find the right one. And l
think I've found it, l think it's you"
81, Mr.. Martin? Do you really think
SEP sire expostulated demurely.
eyes, do really think so. Miss Gray
son." he mimicl1ed.
Don't you think it's just perversi-
typ persisted Mary. "Do you think
Rodney would really care about me if
he could have me just for the asking?
I don't see how can help you at ALL"
"Oh, yes. you can! And I'll tell you
just how" went on Old Martin trench
antly. 81 want Rodney to work for
his money and his wife together I'm
going to turn him out of here
''rnrn him out, Mr.. Martin? What
ever 40 you mean"
"Just what l say-turn him out,
throw him overheard. Didn't you ever
hear of the old admiral who taught his
children to swim by throwing them
overheard? The girls as well as the
boys. II they didn't drown they swan,
he said But they usually swami"
But they might have drowned" OBJ
jetted Mary, with pretty shudGer
NE" said old Cyrus, with a vii
lain's chnckle, I've got it all doped
out III turn him out, right enough.
I'll find a good excuse for it. I'm mad
enough with him half the time. Look
here, Mary, has Rodney proposed to
you YETI"
'Well, really, Mr.. Martini" stammer-
ed the secretary, do you really think -
"Well, the next time he proposes
you're TO accept him. See? You're to
tell him you'll have him if his father
consents, and then send him to ask
me. That'll be my big scene"
You'll say yes-you'll refuse?' slut
tered Mary, showing some concern in
the success of the plot, despite her eff
forts to be detached and business
like.
Consent? No! That's my cue for
turning him out of my house forever"
roared the stage father, working him
self up into quite an advanced condi-
ton of parental fury. Let him marry
a typewriter? Don't let that hurt your
feelings, my dear) Let some design
ing woman get her hands on him for
a rich mans son? Business of indig- /
nation, my dearD I'll turn him down
and out in proper fashion. Upon my
word l feel like doing it this minute"
But there's one chance you've over
looked, Mr.. Martini" resumed Mary,
pursuing her pretty mouth slightly at
the corners.
whats that?"
THAT he may not propose to me
lgain-I mean at ALL" she corrected.
We'll. then, I'll disinherit him for
sure" roared the soap king. Now.
be off with you, too, before 1 lose my
emper"
But as Mary turned to go he called
after her again (what a fat pretty
pack she had. he thought, subconsci-
,usly, as he watched her lay her hand
IN the doorknob):
mo, don't go yet. There's one thing
more. We must make bona fide deal
# this thing. You want to hear my
erms, of course, don't your
"Your terms?"
"Yes, terms, and here they are. You
Ieedn't expect anything better. I'll pay