News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-01-12

| what was TINS sly puss afterl he spec
ulated as he babe johnson show her
| in. Come to get her old job back. he
supposed. Well, she could have it at
| her old salary. He said this last aloud
| to her as she came into the room look
| ing very sweet, he must admit. The
serious expression she wore was not
| at all unbecoming to her pretty face.
The room looked just as it used to
do, and the recollection took Mary back
again in spite of her engrossing err
rand. The diamond pendulum was
still swinging on the mantelpiece. Mr..
Martin himself wound all the clocks
in the house every Sunday morning at
exactly half past 8, when the hands
did not interfere with the keyholes.
But | don't want it," said Mary in
response to his ungracious proposition
"Oh, then, Rodney has sent you to
plead for him." suggested Mr. Martin.
"No. sir" said Mary. HE doesn't
know I'm here"
''Then what are you here for?' he
demanded, really curious.
"To make you a business PROPOSE
tion," said Mary stoutly.
"Why doesn't Rodney make it him
self?" asked his father
"He doesn't know what it isl ex-
planned Mary.
"That's something in his favor"
Martin conceded. II can't see much
use in women tying up in mems bust
ness. Somehow / love the scallawag,
and, - it, l miss him around herew
He looked at Mary curiously as he
said this, wondering how she and Rod
ney were getting along these days and
what her errand really was, though he
didn't propose to give away his inter.
est in it. She had betrayed the true
nature of things to him once. What
was she going to do now?
His reflections and Mary's business
were interrupted, however, by John
sons entering a second time and an
nouncing the last two people in the
world that Mary had counted on,
namely, Mr.. Rodney Martin and Mr..
AulUIOSc edle.
ooh. the whole firm. eh?" said Mr..
Martin, cycling Mary sharply.
Mary started guiltily. For a moment
she feared that Rodney might bark
back to that $1,000 check his father
had given her and grow jealous again.
She couldn't pretend to be pleased to
see him. despite her sentimental re-
Elections just now downstairs. She had
wanted to handle this interview in her
own way. she felt as if she could have
done it right. convincingly, just as
hunter feels within himself that he can
clear the hurdle that looms ahead
Now, here were Rodney and Ambrose
to interfere with her, and Ambrose of
course would interrupt and switch her
off and perhaps irritate the old gentle
man with his advertising talk. He
couldn't help it. Ambrose would pop |
out of his jack in the box instanter |
if you sprang the subject of soap and |
Old Mr.. Martin surveyed all three of |
them grimly, just long enough to let |
set in on all their faces. |
His eyes rested on Mary last of all. |
and longest. a fairly perceptible |
change crept round his firm old |
mouth as he did So He was satisfied |
he little mink had told him the truth |
about Rodney's not knowing anything |
Is to her mission here, and indeed, |
when the boy came in and saw her
here, he exclaimed in genuine sur
rise:
"Why, Mary, what are you doing
lere?"
Mary thought fast moment, and evil
lently decided that the best part of
diplomacy this time was the truth.
Il came to tell your father about
Brown IL James," she said frankly.
Rodney looked relieved.
That's why we're here too" he said
absolutely" added Peale.
"Well, what is it about Brown &
ames?" clustered Martin. Let me
ell you right now, l won't back any
axe company"
But we're not a fake any longer"
Rodney.
We've actually sold some soap"
himed in Peale.
Fifty thousand cakes" Mary ex-
lained impressively.
ITO Brown & James," said Rodney. :
"Then why did you send 'em only
We thousand cakesY inquired old
Iartin bluntly.
Rodney looked astonished, but an
wered promptly:
Because after we'd got that much
rom one of your branch factories you
hut off our supply"
"And we couldn't get any more soap
nywhere," said Peale plaintively.
"And you knew it very well,' Mary
aid accusingly.
We've still got $4,000 cakes to de- /
yer if we can get 'em from you"
-ent on Rodney. "Why let all that