The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-11
1T Pays to Advertise

10 S0hn CS9SAs GoQ., 009p WORKS. NEW
Dear eir-counrming our conversation
Of even date send you . line 70 record
the bet made this morning between NJ
In 70 our sons, Ellery Clark and Rodney
Martin respsctivsly-namely. thst II my
boy. BY his own unaidsd sl1orts. Isn't
making more monsy 1T tho end Of . year
from Nov. ! next than your boy makes.
pay you thirty thousand dollars (9oo,-
900 in cash: and II he ID, then you pay
that sum to me: the books Of their several
business concerns. duly audited. to be the
deciding factor. Yours very truly.
Got that7' he added, darting akeen
glance at Mary beneath his thick eye
brows.
"Yes, Mr.. Martin" said that young
lady In q voice which she was evident
" trying to make a. colorless ~ pos
sible.
well. what do you think of it1'N' de-
manded Mr.. Martin, breaking a short
pause.
II think Mr.. Rodney has more brains
than you give him credit for" said
Mary impulsively. #..
''Oh, you do, do your
Yes, sir, do. But isn't $4,000 q
good deal of money to lose on bet2
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 wouldn't. / didn't want
Rod posing there as the boss son. in
terfering with the good discipline of
the establishment. Besides, I didn't
want them all down there to see what
a nincompoop he was in business. I've
got more pride than that"
Aren't you a little hard on Rodney,
Mr.. Martin" asked Mary gently.
"Are you a little sweet on Rodney,
Miss Mary!' retorted the soap king
grudfy.
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 a little
deeper. . ~--~-.. ..--... 49,
Because If you are" he went on,
II warn you. you'll have to marry him
for love. He'll get no money from me
unless he makes good. shall make a
will leaving him only an annuity, the
principal to 60 to charity when he has
idled himself into his grave, and I'll
see to it that the annuity isn't quite
enough for two, let me tell you, let
alone a family Of kids. don't pro-
pose to have him or a lot Of worthless
grandbrats making ducks and brakes
Of my money when I'm gone"
II see," said Miss Grayson. "Of
~
thing else, sirr'
A motor bus screeching along out
side came to 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 a mirror he
could see Mary's pretty head droop-
ing a little, giving her body a sudden
~ pensive air as she gazed abstract
eddy into the dying fire. He turned
and spoke again and was pleased to
see that she started involuntarily.
would you mind ringing for John
son. my dearT 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 stir back had disappeared
h. ~,
on another tack.
Look here. Mary" he demanded in
a franker tone. II want your help.
You can help me If you will, and If
you benefit by 1t yourself, why so
much the better. Pitch in and. catch
Rodney If you want him. I should be
glad of 1t. Only there would be one
! condition"
Beneath this direct attack the girl
did finally blush a 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 ideaw
"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 a judge of that. Mr.. Mar
tin." said Mary.
"Oh. yes, you are" retorted her en-
! ployer. And I'm not so sure you're
not quite willing myself"
But l think you're very unkind to
me-" protested Mary, taking another
| cue. you appeal to my woman's
curiosity. Supposing. for the sake Of
! argument, that your son and l are
madly in love with each other. what
are your conditioner"
"Wer." said her employer. II tell
you frankly l don't want to lose that
| $4,000 to John Clark. and 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. think it's you"
II, Mr.. Martin? Do you really think
so?" she expostulated demurely.
Eyes. do really think SO. Miss Gray
son." he mimicked.
Don't you think it's just perversi-
tyr persisted Mary. do you think
Rodney would really care about me If
he cOu1d have mo inst for tha n skfnoc