Putnam patriot., 1916-01-14

suspect.
'Alr. Peale. like you said old Mar
tin
Huh said Peale.
Have cigar?" asked Martin.
Ambrose took it. feeling better than
he had felt for many days.
He wondered idly what that butler
guy meant presently when he stuck
his head in and announced TO his mas
ter that he had telephoned that party,
who was at his office now. He heard
Martin mutter:
Good. good. Peale, I've got to go
out on an important soap deal. oh, by
George, | nearly forgot" he added.
There's another matter | must attend
to first. Peale, you'll find the countess
in there Do the best you can. Well
settle the details when l get back.
Make yourself at home"
"Sure. This cigars great company
said Peale. He strutted up and down
cockily ON the thick rug. He must at
tend to tie countess. he remembered,
and no fooling. So he went over to the
door behind which she was hiding and
threw it open with a flourish of fake
French.
"Countess de Bull Rum he ratified
on. DE Jule-de joie-politern no.
blesse oblige."
You ought to take up French, Am
brose.s she said sweetly. Your ac-
cents immense. Well, little sweet
heart
Say, what are you doing ia these
parts?' Peale interrupted her
"Oh, | came to see Mr.. Martin" she
said lightly.
What for?"
What do yoH thinkT'
"See here now, if you're aiming to
trim the old man | won't stand for it,"
protested Ambrose.
Ambrose, do me another favor" the
countess begged.
what is it?''
Don't tell old Martin what / tried
to do TO you boys. He's the kind that
would put me in Jail I'll be on the
level. did come here to try to trim
him. but I'll cut 1t out. Honest will
Oh, Ambrose. l don't like being a
CRATER"
NIX, nix" said Peale HE left me
here to settle it. Where is the contract?
Come on. Gimme gimme
you mean you've been on all the
timer" cried the countess.
Sure"
And you let me sit there a-moultin
nll over the place again?"
Gimme gimme
"Oh. | suppose I've got to. Oh, I'm
sick of soap anyhow. Thirteen may
be lucky for you boys. but 1t has been
a hoodoo for me-
She handed over the contract to him
gracefully enough.
"And now. my little hearts of let
tuce," Peale chanted, this concludes
your portion of the evenings entertain
ment."
"You are an IS carat kid" said the
countess. eta, ta,' she added. Ring
me up some day.
$50 long" said Ambrose. BE good"
And so he assisted at the dismissal
of one Of Mr. Martins callers that aft
ernoon. OF the first, of Mr.. Bronson
of Chicago and his 10000 cakes, he
had not yet heard. Perhaps this was
just as well. The mood of ambrose
this Saturday afternoon had grown far
too genial anyway.
Into the middle of this mood, just as
he was showing the countess to the
door, with no intervention by the
faithful Johnson, burst Mary, follow
ed by Rodney in tearing hurry.
They stopped abruptly when they saw
Ambrose.
ooh, have you seen father?" Rodney
asked. SIS he here?"
I'm waiting for him now" Peale
answered
Its most important" said Mary
breathlessly.
"You remember the countess" Peale
put In cautiously.
Theg al lowed, embarrassed, and
there was an awkward pause. which
the countess broke
We'll, guess I'm not wanted she
said perspieacioaslv. looking shrewdly
Mt the trio, 80 III .rot. I'll trot. So
long. ron - soapsuds.r
Alas for the Inequalities of this
worldI If for Ambrose Peale these
last DAYS had been blue. for Rodney
and Mary they had been all the color
OF roses
Much history had passed over their
heads as well as the company's IN the
hours leading up to their visit to Mr..
Martins library and their foregather-
s-x thoro with A rnhrnso and the count