Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-14
The Daily
Short Story
swHEN MARY CONES HONEr
BY George Elmer Cobb.

II
pronounced Bruce Warren oracular,y
IAN awakener?" repeated Mr.. Ra,nb
Bayne, owner Of the leading deuarf. {
meht store In Firview.
Exactly. and l am the man u ~
the part. am q stranger to you.
have no credentials, you will have 4 !.
take me on trust. but will guarantee
to double your business in Q month. or
no pay"
You are certainly an original sau.
ius," commented the merchant millioD.
aire, with a whimsical smile. .Hov
did you come to apply for a positicny.
"Oh, just drifted into Fairviev." r.
piled Warren airily. caught the chr
rent business gossip, knew that com
petition was at the boiling point, aud
guessed that you would welcome :
man who could solve the problem"
Very good" said Mr.. Bayns Z
like your nerve and confidence. mi
take you on trial for q month"
Mr.. Bayne had retired from husinels
activity year since, but the store had
been thrown on his hands by debaoe.
There were two department stores II
Fairview and the fight Tor patroaaee
was intense.
Warren appeared at the store early
the next morning. I'm not Q gfadu-
ated efficiency expert" re marked Is
Mr.. Bayne, simply hustler. I'm moi
here to sell the goods. My mission Il
to drive in the customers and So that
the clerks sell them right"
People sat up promptly and took
notice." Warren started an active sd-
vertising campaign and every cross.
roads was decorated with glaring sign
posts, pointing the way to the Bon
Ton Emporium"
He gave band concerts In the store.
He organized bargain day trolley tour
from other towns He had the store
front redecorated and display space
increased.
"It's working" he reported to NJ.
Bayne. You see that, don't your
Il musttadmit 1t as quite manifest"
acknowledged the gratided capitalist.
Summer is coming on" proceeded
Warren, in his breezy, rafting way.
We'll have two tanks Of free ice VA
ter at the main entrance, screen doom
and electric fans. Well give away
hand fans with our advertisement on
it."
Warren had become popular In
business way and socially. There was
much speculation as to his anteced-
ents, but when some inquisitive gossip
strove to pierce tho veil, Warren
would good naturally assume . half
quizzical, half mysterious air and
evade direct disclosures.
when Mary comes home things
will liven up" a young lady told him
and many repeated it, and Warren
heard so much about the daughter Of
his employer that he>Segan to look
forward to the return from q distant
seminary of Mary Bayne.
He was returning from a business
trip to apother town one morning.
when he Came upon a stalled aut0mo-
bile. Hopelessly surveying its mech
anism was young lady. Warren was
sooh at her side.
Are you in trouble?" he asked.
And can help you? All! l see,". SIS
he investigated within the metal hood
a loose ignition wire.
II am SO stupid about the machine
except the wheel and levers, that
am not to be trusted to run the auto
alone" said the young lady.
You will do very nicely now
spoke Warren, after adjusting his
wire at fault, and felt repaid for his
brief efforts as the young lady smiled
sweetly, thanking him for his signal
assistance. When he reached the store
he noticed the same automobile in
front of it.
MY daughter, Mr.. Warren" intro
duced his employer, as Warren en-
tered the office, and his lady Of the
country road mishap brightly recos-.
nized him.
Then came to Warren the pleasant
est period OF his life. Mary Bayne
had graduated and they met often. Il
was one year to a day from that upon
which Warren had assumed the man
agerial duties, when he entered the Of.
flee.
Mr.. Bayne," he spoke in his clear.
definite way. II love your daughter
and I think she likes me. haven't
told her what impart to you. May II
Mr.. Bayne looked troubled. His face
grew serious.
Warren" he said II have feared
this and am sorry for it. have
never more valued a mans services
nor more admired unfaltering Loyalty
and integrity, but there are social dis
tinctions and my wife is stickler for
them"
"oh." interrupted Warren lightly.
"if that is all, the remedy is speedily
at hand. Are you willing to write 70
my father what you have just said 70
meas to my making good in bus
finess way?"
Your father-write? You shall e.
ways have my unqualified indorss-
, ment."
Thanks" nodded Warren, brighten-s
ing up, and he scrawled a name On
card.
James Raleigh" read his en-
ployer. "the bank president Of Spring
held. member Of congress-"
EFT cetera, ct cetera." laughed war.
rem. Il am his son. Bruce Raleigh.
disappointed him, chained down to
desk. and asked year to demonstras
and prove that vas worth sometime:
acting Oh my own initiative. YoaH
certify to that and smooth out anaifl.
won't you?"
Warren. you are irresistible!" e.
claimed Mr.. Bayne. 50