The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-02-28

Two months later found T. A Buck
and his sales manager, both shirt.
sleeved. both smoking nervously, as
they marked, ticketed folded, ar.
ranged. They were getting out the
travellers spring lines Entered Mrs,
McChesney, and stood cycling them,
worriedly. 1t was her dozenth visit
to the stock room that morning, A
strange restlessness seemed to troU-
BILE her. She wandered from office to
show room, from show room to fac
tory
whats the trouble?" inquired T.
A. Buck, squirting up at her through
a cloud of cigar smoke.
ooh, nothing" answered Mrs Nc
Chesney, and stood lingering the piles
of glistening satin garments, a queer,
faraway look in her eyes. Then she
turned and walked listlessly toward
the door. There she encountered
Spalding-Billy Spalding of the COW
eted middle-western territory, Billy
Spalding, the long-headed, quick
thinking; Spalding the persuasive,
Spalding the mixer, Spalding on whom
depended the fate of the T. A. Buck
featherloom knickerbocker and pa
jana.
Morning! When do you start
out?" she asked him.
IN the morning. Cad, that's some
line what? I'm itching to spread it.
You're certainly wonder-child, Mrs,
McChesney. Why, the boys
Emma McChesney sighed, somberly.
That line does sort of-well, tug at
your heart-strings, doesn't it," At
eight the next morning there burst
upon Mrs. McChesney a distracted T.
A. Buck.
Hear about Spalding?" he demand
ed.
"Spalding? No"
His wife 'phoned from st. Lukes
Taken with an appendicitis attack al
midnight. They operated at five this
morning One of those had-it-been
-four-hours-later-etc operations
That settles US"
Poor kid replied Emma McChes
ney. Rough on him and his brand
new wife"
Poor kid! Yes. But how abou
his territory? How about our ney
line? How about
"Oh, that's all right" said Emm
McChesney, cheerfully.
"Td like to know how! We haven
a man equal to the territory. He's on
one best bet"
= "Oh, that's all right" said Mrs M
Chesney again, smoothly.
A little impatient exclamation broh
from T. A. Buck At that Emma Nj
Chesney smiled.
I'm going out with that line. II
going to leave a trail of pajamas an
knickerbockers from Duluth to Cal
ton
You! No, you WON'T" A dull
painful red had swept into T. !
Bucks face. 1t was answered by
flood of scarlet in Mrs. McChesney
countenance.
Il don't get you" she said "I'l
afraid you don't realize what this tri
means It's going to be a figh
They'll have to be coaxed and bullie
end cajoled, and reasoned with. It
going to be a 'show-me' trip"
T A. Buck took quick step fol
ward. That's just why. | won't hav
you fighting with buyers, taking thei
insults, kowtowing to them, salvin
them. lit isn't womans work"
Emma McChesney was sorting tn
contents of her desk with quick, nery
Gus fingers. I'm get the twentieth
century," she said, over her shoulder
Don't argue, please. If it's no worl
for woman then suppose it follow
that I'm unwomanly. For ten year
| travelled this country selling T.
Bucks fcatherloom petticoats. NJ
first trip on the road | was in tn
twenties-and pretty too. I'm won
an of thirty-seven now"
She arose, and shut her desk with
bang, locked 1t, and turned a flushe
and beaming face toward 4. A. Bucl
as he stood frowning before her.
your father believed in me-fror
the ground UP. We understood eac
other, he and l. You've learned a 10
in the last year and a half, T A. il
nior-that-was, but there's one thin
you haven't mastered. When will 20
learn to believe in Emma McChel
ney?"
She was out Of the Office before h
had time to answer, leaving him stant
ing there.
In the dusk of a late winter eve
ming just three weeks later, a ma
paused at the door of the unlighted o
fee marked Mrs. McChesney." H
looked about a moment, as thong
dreading detection. Then he opene
the door, stepped into the dim quie
Of the little room, and closed tn
door gently after him. Everything i
the tiny room was quiet, neat order
ly. 1t seemed to possess somethin
OF the character of its absent owner
The intruder stood there moment
uncertainty, looking about him, The
lie took a step forward and laid on
hand on the back of the empty chat
before the closed desk He shut hi
eyes and ii seemed that he felt he
firm, cool, reassuring grip on his fir
gers as they clutched the woode
chair. The impression was so strOn
that he kept his eyes shut, and the
were still closed when his voice brok
the silence of the dim, quiet littl
room
Emma McChesney,' he was sayin