, 1915-11-11

81 see.' said Miss Grayson. "oi
course it's none of my business. Any
thing else. sir?"
A motor bus s~creeching along out
side came to n full stop at the corner
Mr.. Martin. who had begun to pact
the room as he talked, forgetting hif
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 te
see that she started involuntarily.
Would you mind ringing for John
son, my dear?" he asked, more pleas
antly.
Mary rose and pressed the buttor
and then sat down again as before
Johnson came presently and obedient'
ly r%eplenished the fire, while Cyrui
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 IL
a franker tone. 1T want your help.
You can help me II You will, and II
you benefit by It yourself, why SO
much the better. Pitch In and catch
Rodney If you want him. I should be
glad Of It. Only there would be one
condition"
Beneath this direct attack the girl
did finally blush a little. She gathered
herself together again, however, m
folded up her book by way of recap
turing her composure-
"Why, Mr.. Martin" she said. what
an ideal"
why Is 1t such an idea? Is there
nothing to attract a 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, MI. Mar
tin," said Mary.
"oh, yes, you arer' retorted her en-
ployer. And 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 o and | are
madly in love with each other. what
are your conditional"
WELL" said her employer, 81 tell
you frankly l don't want to lose that
$4,000 to John Clark, and l do want
to stir Rodney up. he needs an In
centive. and I've been r~ansacking my
brains to find the right one. And !
think I've found it. I think it's you"
81, Mr.. Martin? Do you really think
so?" she expostulated demurely.
Eyes, l 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 are about me If
he could have me Just for the asking?
1 don't see how l a help you at all"
"oh, yes. you canl And III tell you
just how" went on Old Martin trench
antly. ~ want Rodney to work for
his money and his wife together. I'm
going to turn him out of here
Turn him out, Mr.. Martini What
ever do you meanr
AUST what / say-turn him out,
throw him overheard. Didn't you eve
hear of the old admiral who taught his
children to swim by throwing them
overheard? The girls al well as the
boys. If they didn't drown they swan,
he said. But they usually swan"
But they might have drowned" OBJ
tscted Mary, with a pretty shudder.
NO" said old Cyrus, with a VII
lain's chuckle, I've got it all doped
out. I'll turn him out, right enough.
Ill find a good excuse for ii. I'm mad
enough with him half the time. Look
here, Mary, has Rodney proposed to
you YETI"
"well, really, Mr.. Martin" stammer-
ed the secretary, do you really think'-
We'll, the next time he proposes
you're to accept him. Seer You're to
tell him you'll have him II his father
consents, and then send him to ask
me. That'n be my big scene"
You'll say yes-you'l refuseT' 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 YOU
feelings, my dear.) Let some design
Ing woman get her hands on him for
a rich mans son? Business of indig-
nation, my dear.) I'll turn him down
and out in proper fashion. Upon my
word ! feel like doing 1t this minute
But there's n chance you've oyer