Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-07-26

| you've been here five or six years
Bell, and never noticed you partlcu-
larry before. But you've got tact, do
you know that? OF course, I'd forgot
ten Inez entirely Saturday and your
quicllness with that Philadelphia story
saved me a bad half hour with a GER
tain young woman who has temper
and clever tongue"
The "Old Man" drew his private
check book toward him and passed
over a check to Bell for $1,000.
"This is coming to you on last years
salary" he said. From today you are
to be my personal representative at
five thousand a year."
Bell took the check with thanks-he
was never effusive-and went out Of
the office. He went straight to the
bank and deposited the "Old Mans"
check and then drew one of his own
back to the "Old Man" for the twelve
hundred and eighty odd dollars Of his
shortage. This he inclosed with an
itemized statement, a short eXplana-
ton and his signature, and sent up
to the office by messenger. Then, with
a little sigh, he started slowly uptown,
walking with careless feeling Of free
dom that he had not known for a
long time. At last he was square
but at the sacrifice of the only oppor-
tunity that had ever come to him.
Well, 1t was the only way, he felt, and
there were other Jobs! Then, just In
front of him roadster drew up to the
curb and a girl got out. And as she
turned to shut the door they were face
to face.
"Why, It's Mr.. Bell !" she smiled cor
daily.
Bell shook her hand in compelling
manner that for some reason or other
was vastly exciting to Inez Vrain.
launching again with father?" he
quizZed with q twinkle.
aren't you working today?" she
came back at him.
NO." he said shortly. 81 quit this
morning"
Her eyes grew stormy. "Did he fire
you for lunching with me?" she de-
manded angrily.
ooh, no." he denied.
"Then why did you quit?"
"Ask your father" he said grimly,
and was gone.
Thirty minutes later she burst into
! 70
to know why Collin Bell quit his job
this morning" she demanded.
Judson Vrain studied his daughter
a moment and then handed her Bells
note Of resignation and statement Of
shortage.
at was a decent thing for him to
do" he said gravely. 81 probably
never would have found 1t out, and I
had just raised him this morning to
five thousand a year"
give thousand dollars year? My
goodness! But then, I suppose we
could live on it. Many people do"
said Inez Vrain demurely.
For a moment Judson stared at his
Lots of people live on whole lot
less" he said, "but the day you marry
Collin Bell I'll give him the Phladel-
phia branch at ten thousand dollars
year, but" he wagged his finger in his
daughters face, hes got to make
good"
"Of COURSE" she said, as she whlrled
out Of the door, "but l haven't got
him-yet." And Judson Vrain laughed.
A few moments later Bell was called
to the phone by his landlady.
"This Is Inez Vrain."
Eyes"
II have just seen my father"
Eyes"
"Would you consider the Phladel-
phia branch at ten thousand"
Hes hardly authorized you-"
"Would your" she demanded Impa-
tlently.
"Of course-but there's a condition,
I suppose?"
Eyes, there's condition"
"What Is it?"
Meet me at the Delange for lunch
con and-and maybe you'll find out"
she laughed uneasily.
And when they left the Delange
few hours later, although no word had
been said, he turned to her in the
street and smiled into her eyes.
Lets go and have it over WITH" he
murmured.
you mean" Her eyes flew wide
with surprise and then dropped shyly.
II mean, let's fulfill the condition
right now-thls afternoon"
"Is It," she asked, because of-of
Philadelphia, or-or-"
philadelphia be hanged" said
Collin Bell.