Catoctin clarion., 1918-08-08

1OuVe Deen lerP nVe or SIX years
Bell, and l never noticed you particu.
larly before. But you've got tact, do
you know that? OF course, I'd forgot
ten Inez entirely Saturday and your
quickness with that Philadelphia story
saved me bad half hour with cer-
tain young woman who has temper
and clever tongue"
The "Od Man" drew his private
check book toward him and passed
over 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 year."
Bell took the check with thankS-he
was never eifuSive--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, Il short eXplana-
tion and his signature. and sent up
to the office by messenger. Then, with
little sigh. he started slowly uptown
walking with careless feeling of free
dom that he had not known for a
long time. At lnsl Ii, was square
but at the sacrifice of the only oppor-
tunity that had ever come to him.
Well, 1t was the cnly way, he felt. and
there were other jobs! Then, just in
front of him roadster drew mp to the
curb and II girl got out. And as she
turned to shut the door they We're 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 Incz Vrnin.
launching again with father" he
quizZed, with Il 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 nngrily.
ooh, no." he denied.
"Then why did you quit?"
ASK your father" he said grimly.
and was gone.
Thirty minutes later she burst into
her fathers private office. II want
to know why Collin Bell quit his job
this morning" she demanded.
JudSon Vran tudiei his daughter
moment and then handed her Bells
note of resignation and statement of
shortage.
at was decent thing for him to
do" he said gravcly. II probably
never would have found 1t out, and
had Just raised him this morning to
five thousand year"
give thousand dollars year? My
goodness! But then, I suppose we
could live on 1t. Many people do
said Inez Vrain demurely.
For moment Judson stared at his
daughter, and then he grinned n little,
Lots of people live on whole lot
less" he said, "but the day you marry
Collin Bell I'll give him the Philadel-
phia branch at ten thousand dollars a
year, but" he wagged his finger in his
daughters face, hes got to make
good"
"Of course !" she said, as she whirled
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.
"Ths Is Inez Vrain."
"Yes."
81 have just seen my father"
"Yes."
"Would you consider the Phladel-
pha branch at ten thousand?'
Hes hardly authorized YOU"
"WOuld your" she demanded impa-
tiently.
"Of course-but there's a condition,
I suppose?"
"Yes, 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 a
few hours later, although no word had
been said, he turned to her in the
street and smiled into her eyes.
Lets 90 and have 1t over with" he
murmured.
"You mean?" Her eyes few wide
with surprise and then dropped slrly.
81 mean, let's fulfill the condition
right now-this afternoon"
as It," she asked, because of---of
Philadelphia or-or-'
"Philndelphia be hanged" said
Collin Bell.