The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-23
TED'S ORDEAL
BY LESTER BLOOM.


Silently the committee followed Ted
Hammond down the street At the
fifth house from the corner they SOL
EMMY 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 off light. What was simulat-
| ing an epileptic fit In a crowded dry
goods store to trying to sell the most
luxurious liver in town copy of 1.-THE
Simple Life?''
| The committee on initiation had
been most ingenious this year. The
tasks they allotted the candidates
were positively fiendish, 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 your" he asked
sharply.
| Il have booh,'' explained Ted. TITS
very celebrated book and thought
you might like to buy copy"
| "a book agent !" Numbered Acker.
man as he reached for the bell.
"See here" pleaded Ted. 'Give me
a chance. Here is book that every
ones been talking about"
Don't want It," snapped Alderman.
| "Have a look. anyway" insisted
Ted. cts The Simple Life; : the book
that the president thought was such
hot stuff. I'll bet you've never read
1T and yet It's been talked about for
the last two years. You never did
read 1t, did your"
mo. And I'm not going to now" de-
clared Alderman. "n thought you
meant that needed to read that
"You do need to-" reiterated Ted.
SHOT the way you mean, but because a
man needs to keep posted. By your
own admission, you're two years be-
hind. You can have q laugh, any
way"
He held the book invitingly toward
his victim and almost unconsciously
Alderman took 1t. He glanced over
the pages with an occasional grunt.
the simple life. and he found much to
deride.
Didn't tell you 1t was good for a
laughY 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 1t 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-
voutly thankful that he had not been
thrown out. He was just opening the
front door when girl came running
down the stairs.
'Mr. HammondY' she cried. Ted
turned.
Miss Druryr' he gasped. ''What
brings you hereY
"Mr. Alderman is my guardian" she
explained. II thought that perhaps"
She caught herself with blush.
NO." said Ted. "That was not 1t.
You and your party left the Point SO
suddenly that could get no trace Of
you. The fact is that was In selling
Mr.. Alderman book"
you are book agentr 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.
| 'How 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
J thrown down the steps. / did not ex-
pect to disappoint them"
Il 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.
'sYou 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 go in and ask
his consent to our marriage when I
graduate?"
'This is SO sudden" she protested.
mot bit of it. I've been seven
months getting it 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 'whis-
pered "yes."
For a second time that morning
Chester Alderman was shocked out of
his accustomed placidity, and for
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.
L. =