The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-08
! Knee Deep in Knockers
A Business a, '%9enture of Emma McChesney
b. EDNA FERBER
author Of sDapn olBaTa 4" "Buassd Side DOsn " ETC.

By EDNA EERBER


the NutuHAn VI AhNhtn NAuNt NMN h1aN
ing known as Loss" are so %unevenly
balanced that che wrong side OF the
ledger says, then to the listening
stockholders there comes the painful
thought that at the next regular meet
ing It ia perilously possible that the
reading may come under the heads
Of assets n liabilities.
There had been a meeting In tho
Offices OF the 7. A. Buck Featherloom
Petticoat company. New York. The
quarterly report had had a startlingly
iop-sided sound. After II was over
Mrs. Emma McChesney, secretary OF
the company, followed T. A. Buck, its
president, into the big. bright show
room. T. A Bucks hands we're thrust
deep into his pockets.
He turned TO face Emma McCheB-
ney.
Well" he said, bitterly. IT hasn't
taken us long. has III Fathers been
dead a little over a year. In that
time we've just about run this great
concern, the pride Of his life, into the
ground"
Mrs. Emma McChesney, calm. cool,
unrufled, scrutinized the harassed
man before her for a long minute.
What rotten football material you
would have made, wouldn't your" she
observed.
oh, | don't know" answered T. A.
Buck, through his teeth. Il can stand
as stin a scrlmmage as the next one.
But this isn't a game. You take things
too lightly. You're a woman I don't
think you know what this means
Maybe / don't take myself serious
ly. I'd have been dead ten years &
II / had But do take my Job seri-
ously. Don't forget that for a minute.
You talk the way a man always talks
when his pride is hurt"
pride! II isn't that"
"oh, yes, It is. I didn't sell T. A.
Bucks teatherloom petticoats on the
road for almost ten years without
learning a little something about men
and business. When YOU father died,
and learned that he had shown his
appreciation Of my work and loyalty
by making me secretary Of this great
company, l didn't think Of Il as a
legacy stroke Of good fortune
NOT"
No. To me Il was a sacred trust
something 10 be guarded. nursed, cher
ished. And now you say we've run
this concern into the ground. DO you
honestly think that?"
T. A. shrugged impotent shoulders,
Figures don't he." He plunged into
another fathom OF gloom. Another
year like this and we're done for"
Emma McChesney came over and
pgt one firm hand on 7. A. Bucks
dropping shoulder. Il was a strange
little act for a woman-the sort OF
thing a man does when he would heart
en- another man.
Wake upi" she said, lightly. Wake
up, and listen to the brides sing
There isn't going to be another year
like this. Not II the planning. ant
achemlng, and brain.raoking that I've
been doing for the last two or three
months mean anything"
7. A. Buck seated himself as one
who IN weary, body and mind.
Got another new one?'
Emma McChesney regarded him
moment thoughttully. Their sh'
stepped to the tall show case, pushe,
back the sliding glass door, and point
ed TO the rows OF brilliant-hued petit
coats that hung c~lose-packed within.
Look at emf" she commanded, dis
gust in her voice. Look at emf
T. A. Buck raised heavy. lack-luste
eyes and looked. What he saw diI
not seem to interest him. Emma Me-
Chesney drew from the rack a Skin
Of kings blue satin messallne an
held Il at arms length.
Ana they call that thing a PETE
coat Why. fifteen years ago the mi
terisl in this skirt wouldn't have mad
ever q fair-sized sleeve
T. A. Buck regarded the pettiCoa
moodily. Il don't see how they 90
around In the darned things. I hol
estly don't see how they wear EN-.
That's just It They don't wes
'sm. There you have che roo Of II
whole trouble"
oh, nonsensei" disputed T. !
Ihey certainly wear something-soH
sort OF an"
Il tell you they don't Hero. Lis
en-. Three years ago our taieta Skin
ran from thirty.six TO thirty eigl
ards TO the dozen, We paid fro
Ainety cents to one dollar and fl
cents a yard Nov our skirts run fro
twenty-five 70 t~wenty-elght yards
the dozen. The SILK costs US from az
70 sixty cents q yard. silk skirts us
20 be a luxury. Now they're not ev'
= necessity"
Well, what's the answer T.
been bordering some pettieoat pro
lens myself ! know we've got to 81
three skirtN today 20 make the pro
that We used to make ON one thr
years ago.
r. A. rose % YEARLY 40 ne had 4
down. Even the most optimistic
Retchers could have discerned
CLEAN OF enthusiasm on his face,