The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-06-01


breaking down.
Just opposite the corner was the shop
Of a candy maker. much Of whose time
was spent in the back yard Of his store
working great masses of candy dough
at first with his hands, then by throw
ng the mass over strong iron hook In
the wall and drawing 1t out into d.
minishing yellow white strings. When
it was of the proper consistency he
placed 1t upon a long marble slab.
where he drew 1t out and rolled 1t into
sticks, which were cut or broken into
right lengths by the slight touch OF
shear points. Sometimes he would add
tiny balls Of colored candy dough to
the mass, and when drawn out these
would make the stripes In stick candy
Ind candy balls and shaped objects.
All this was plainly visible through
the windows of the shop, and from her
position at the cart the girl watched
the candy maker much of the time
when not engaged with customers, at
first idly and then with increasing in
terest. Apparently the operation was
novelty to her. And on his part, aft.
or the first day, the old candy maker
got in the habit of smiling and nodding
all acknowledgment Of her interest.
He was n good customer for fruit,
partly to be used In his trade and part
ly for his own consumption. So on the
second day when re picked up a basket
and came out on the sidewalk bare
headed and in his shirt sleeves several
of the push cart men stepped forward
with eager anticipation. But he waved
them back brusQuely. He had seen q
good deal through the window In spite
of his seeming absorption In his work.
mo, no." he said irascibly, "your
hands are not clean enough to handle
fruit. / will buy from the girl"
The third day he began to watch the
girl anxiously. He, too, had noticed her
exhaustion. During the day he was
out twice and bought fruit from her.
The fourth morning a long line Of
girls went into the shop one after an
other, remaining a few moments and
then came out. For the most part they
were i'll clad, unattractlve girls, and
not one of them bought anything. 1t
was evident they were seeking work
and Just as evident, after the first
twenty or more had gone In and come
out, that the candy maker was becom-
ing irritated. Toward the end he only
gave an applicant single glance, and
more than once his "NO!' was plainly
heard by the girl at her push cart on
the corner.
At length late in the afternoon he
came out bareheaded and In his shirt
sleeves, as usual, but without his bas-
ket. He went straight to the girl.
"Are you going to run this push cart
all the time?" he asked.
The girl looked surprised.
IL don't know" she answered doubt
fully.
Because If you're not" he went on,
II want to hire you to work in my
shop. You saw all those girls strag
Cling I'm with soiled dresses and untidy
hair and sour faces and pert manners.
BAIL They'd make pretty shopgirls,
wouldn't they? want a lady. a nice
looking, neat. capable girl who can
look pleasant and at the same time he
ladylike. They all came In answer to
an advertisement. and not one Of the
whole lot suited me-"
The girl swayed slightly. but stead
led herself quickly by leaning against
the cart holding to 1t by both hands.
perhaps l wouldn't suit either" she
hazarded, forcing smile to her face.
Eyes, you would" he answered. But
his tone was not quite so positive.
I've been watching you through the
window for three days. You're neat
and particular about yourself. That
shows. And you're neat about other
things from the way you look after
your cart and fruit. And you're at
tractive to customers and make your
self look pleasant even when you feel
the other way. That's what you're do
ing now. You're not sickly, are your"
his new found anxiety at last finding
expression in words.
mo; I've always been very strong
and healthy" she answered. "Only
just now l am little weak"
II thought you must be strong" with
some relief in his voice, from the way
you handled the cart the first day you
came / was watching. But yesterday
and today you've seemed little sick
ly. My work will be lots easier than
having a cart like this and nicer and
think will pay you better. But Of course
I'll need girl who's spry and can
keep up. She'll have to help me make
chocolates and fancy candies and put
them in boxes and look after custom
ers. I'm too busy to wash my hands
every time customer comes in, and
it hurts trade. l could do twice the
business IL had good help. I'm turn
ipg away trade every day" HcN%aited
a moment, as though debating some
thing, then added cordially Anyway,
I'm willing to try you a few weeks
even II you should be sickly. You're
Just the appearing girl I want, and j
know you're spunky."
"Well, I don't know yet" the girl
began TREMENDOUSLY. Then her face sud
denly changed. She was looking be-
yond him. "Father!" she cried re-