Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-08-21
TED'S ORDEAL
BY LEsTER'ABLooM.


Silently the committee followed Ted
Hammond down the street. At the
fifth house from the corner they SOL
emily paused. Ted gave one appeal
Ing look and mounted the steps. There
was such prompt response to his
ring that they almost seemed to have
been waiting for him.
Ted waited miserably In the recep-
ton room while the butler went to an.
nounce his important business. He
rather envied little Silbon who was
getting of light. What was slmulat-
ing an epileptic at in a crowded dry
goods store to trying to sell the most
luxurious liver In town q copy Of ~The
Simple Life?"
The committee on initiation had
been most ingenious this year. The
tasks they allotted the candidates
were positively fendish, but to order
him to seek to sell copy Of that book
to Chester Alderman seemed to invite
him to self-destruction.
Nervously he followed the butler
down the long hall and into the library.
Alderman looked up at his entrance.
"What can I do for you2' he asked
sharply.
II have book" explained Ted. TITS
very celebrated book and I thought
you might like to buy a copy"
"A book agent!" Numbered Acker
man as he reached for the bell.
"See here" pleaded Ted. "Give me
chance. Here is a book that every.
ones been talking about"
"Don't want it." snapped Alderman
"Have look, anyway" insisted
Ted. "It's The Simple Life;' the book
that the president thought was such
hot stuff. I'll bet you've never read
it and yet it's been talked about for
the last two years. You never did
read 1t, did you?"
"No. And I'm not going to now" de-
clared Alderman. IF I thought you
meant that needed to read that"
'You do need TO-" reiterated Ted.
~Not the way you mean, but because
man needs to keep posted. BY your
own admission, you're two years be.
hind. You can have laugh. any
way"
He held the book invitingly toward
his victim and almost unconsciQusly
Alderman took it. He glanced over
the pages with an occasional grunt.
He was by no means an exponent of
the simple life, and he found much to
deride.
didn't I tell you it was good for q
laugh?" insisted Ted. Alderman look.
ed up with smile.
"How much is it?'' he demanded.
"You can satisfy your pride with the
knowledge that you're the first book
agent that ever sold me anything"
I'm that case make it a dollar" sug.
gested Ted. '"Thanks. Good morning.
! can find my own way out"
He was gone before Alderman could
ring, elated over his success and de-
voutIy thankful that he had not been
thrown out. He was just opening the
front door when a girl came running
down the stairs.
"Mr. Hammond?" she cried. Ted
turned.
Miss Drury!' he gasped. "What
brings you here?"
"Mr. Alderman Is my guardian" she
explained. II thought that perhaps"
She caught herself with blush.
NO." said Ted. 'That was not it.
You and your party left the Point SO
suddenly that I could get no trace of
you. The fact is that I was in selling
Mr.. Alderman book"
"You are a book agent?" she cried
in shocked surprise.
Amateur" he explained. "They
want to make me feel properly humble
before they admit me to fellowship In
the fraternity. had to sell a copy of
THE Simple Life"
ITO Uncle Chester?" she cried.
SLOW did you ever do it,"
II don't know myself" he admitted
frankly. "There are three of the COM
mittee outside now waiting to see me
thrown down the steps. l did not ex-
pect to disappoint them"
II could call the butler" she sug.
gested.
mo, thanks. If you will permit me
I'll take another chance with your
uncle" .
'How," she asked curiously.
"You know what I was trying to ask
you last summer" he said boldly. "You
left before could propose. was, and
am, conceited enough to think that you
do care for me. May I 60 in and ask
his consent to our marriage when I
graduate?"
''This Is so sudden" she protested.
mot q bit Of it. I've been seven
months getting 1t out. I think you've
had notice enough"
His eyes pleaded more eloquently
than his tongue, and blushingly she hid
her face on his shoulder as she wills.
pered Eyes,"
For a second time that morning
Chester Alderman was shocked out Of
his accustomed placidity, and for a
second time Ted won. This time his
pleading was far more eloquent. He
could not go away at once but at last
he said good-by.
In the shadow Of the trees three
huddled figures with chattering teeth
greeted him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting" said
Ted politely, "Here'S q dollar I got