The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1917-09-21
HER COMPETITOR.
BY JANE OSBORN.

to pay for the expenses of her senior
year at college by running summer
gift shop, she went straight to Deans
Bay and leased loft in a weather.
beaten shack OF building, once fish
er's cabin, that provided the desired
tone Of picturesqueness for such ven
ture. 1t was not far from the prone
made that led past the fashionable hO-
tells, the Casino and the larger cot
tages.
In order to effect every possible
economy, Edith had arranged to sleep
In her loft--havlng one end partltioned
off and divided into a bedroom and liv-
ing room. The first thing that Edith
did was to go out to the little rustic
gateway, mount on rickety old chair
and hammer her blue and green sign
into place. The sign simply said;
'nThe Fishnet. Goods for men and boys
aspeclalty."
This done, Edith returned to her
shop, and by dlnt Of much lnexpert eff
fort uncovered the packing cases and
boxes in which the supplies had been
sent to her. Then she set to work joy
ously to make her shop ready for Gus
toners.
When Edith tucked herself into her
little cot that night she heard strange
and unexpected rappings and ham
merings, apparently in the other and
unOccupied end of the loft; but realiz-
ing that pluck was absolutely essen
tial IL she was to live alone during the
summer in her little "Flshnet," she
dismissed all alarm and assured her
self that It was pure Imagination.
1t was not until after breakfast the
next morning, when she CHANGED to
look out of her door and saw Butler
tudsOn tacklng up n sign on the rustic
gateway, that she realized the truth.
The other loft had been rented and,
what was really calamitOus, 1t had
been rented for gift shop. Apparent
ly the proprietor was man. Edlth's
feelings of jealousy were mingled with
contempt. The man she saw, cOmfOr-
tab1y attired In white fiannels, tacking
his sign on that rustic gateway, was
much too substantial of frame and too
muscular and tall, to content himself
with running a gift shop, especially
when that enterprise was to interfere
with the profits of the "Fishnet." From
the first Edith made up her mind to
dislike him. II he sought to make her
acquaintance, as competitors often do,
she would stand alOOf.
In spite of all good resolutions, Edith
did become friendly with the prOpri-
etOr Of the adjoining shop, and be-
fore two weeks had passed she found
herself counting the hours Of the after
noon till night when the two little
shops were closed and the competitor
would come in with his contribution In
the way of fresh fruits and other dain'
ties, which they shared in front of the
large open fire in Edlth's living room
ITS funny you make such a 80 OF
It," commented the rival. "Pm salts
fed with my success, but what gets
me Is how you happened to make such
a. go with your mems things"
"You see, it is this way" Edith ex
iplained. "SOmehOw n man is alway'
sorry for a girl, and If the girl dOesn't
seem too shrewd, he always likes tC
see her make a profit. That's man'i
nature. And that's why the men com'
! in here without in the least trying Il
, fiIrt or be silly because l am girl, bu
always buy quickly. But women are diff
ferent with each other. A man can al
ways sell more quickly to womsi
: because a woman is more fiattered b!
the attention of a man, l suppose.
don't know whether this theory hold
good everywhere, but 1t certainly doe
with these Deans Bay people"
"And in the meantime" commented
Judson with frOwn. 'yOu are max
ing a profit on the fact that you ar
an attractive young woman. FOrgiv,
me, but that is the way II looks to me
, And incidentally we are both lOsinI
all the trade of the women. For sure
!. Iy 1 don't go in for fancy work an
E fiattery. How about making that sig
> read, THE Fishnet. u. and b. JudsOr
}. ProprletOrsY You know am distract
;. ed about you. l didn't think had tn
right to ask you till had won out an
that might be years hence. But don
! You think you could love me enOug
to-"
And a week later, after a hurrie
weekend trip to Edith's home in tn
4 dty, the sign was changed, the part
4 49,. ,,ar term oVtt ana nrO6tn WerA n