Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-07
Novelized BY Samuel Field
From the Successful Play by

1f0nKer tone, want, your ueip.
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. should be
glad of it Only there would be one
condition"
Beneath this direct attack the girl
did finally blush little. She gathered
herself together again, however, and
folded up her book by way Of recap
turing her c6mposure
a"Why, Mr.. Martini she said, what
an ideal'
"Why is it such an idea? Is there
nothing to attract young fellow and
good looking girl like you to each
other? You're too modest, Miss Mary"
"Pm not judge Of that, Mr.. Mar.
t1n," said Mary.
ooh, 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 son and I are
madly in love with each other, what
are your conditions?"
"Well," said her employer, 81 tell
you frankly I don't want to lose that
$4,000 to John Clark, and do want
to stir Rodney up. He needs an in
brains to find the right one. And I
think I've found it. think it's you."
81, Mr.. Martin? Do you really think
soY' she expostulated demurely.
Eyes, I 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 could have me just for the asking?
I don't see how I 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
Turn him out, Mr.. Martin? What
ever do you mean?"
"Just what 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. If they didn't drown they swan,
he said. But they usually swan"
"But they might have drowned" OBJ
jected Mary. with pretty shudder.
NO." said old Cyrus, with VII
lain's chuckle, "I've got It all doped
out I'll turn him out, right enough.
Ill 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 il Ills father
consents, and then send him to ask
me. That'll be my big scene" &
You'll say yes-youll refuseY' slut
tered Mary. showing some concern in
the success Of the plot, despite her ef-
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
typewriter? Don't let that hurt your
feelings, my dear) Let some design
ing woman get her hands on him for
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 it this minute"
But there's one chance you've over
looked, Mr. Martin" resumed. Mary,
pursuing her pretty mouth slightly at
the corners.
whats tha.?"
''That he may not propose to me
again-1 mean at al" she corrected.
"Well. then. I'll disinherit him for
sure" roared the soap king. Now.
be OF with you, too, before I lose my
temper"
But as Mary turned to 80 he called
after her again (what fiat, pretty
back she had, he thought. subconsci.
ously. as he watched her lay her hand
on the doorknob):
"No. don't go yet. There's one thing
more. We must make bona fide dea)
Of this thing. You want to hear my
terms, Of course, don't your
'sYour termsY'
Eyes. terms, and here they are. You
needn't expect ANYTHING better. I'll pay
you $500 down II you turn the trick.
twenty-five hundred dollars! You could
use 1t, suppose. couldn't you?'
At these terms Mary turned all the
way round and leaned her pretty back
against the dark mahogany door. her
figure In Its gray dress prettily outlined
against it and her hand still clinging
to the cut glass knob. Twenty-Five
hundred dollars from Mr.. Martin! Her
face md eyes. II not her lips. repeat
ed the fat and racy words. But could
she? fiuttered from her pretty eyes.
And yet she would, said the set mouth
and chin. But no. she couldn't, said
her shell-iike ears, blushing as pink as
coral. But yes;swhy not. said the firm
mouth at last. and Mr.. Cyrus Martin,
watching this delicate byplay across
her lovely features, that found more
favor in his sight than ever this min
ute. despite his gruG demeanor, knew
that the fates were playing on his side.
Very well. Mr.. Martin snid Mary