Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-06-04
Evening Story.
"MAINs-MADE''
(By lines MacD onald.)

week, oStly MAINS TeaCueu tuo CoA-
ner on Fifth avenue and turned Wash
ington squareward. His punctuality
was SO noticeable that the little maid
in the kitchen Of the great house at
the corner Involuntary glanced over
to see II her clock was right, and quite
often the people Of the great house
Iunched and dined according to the
time set for them by the modest Mr..
Mains.
Mains believed in sunlight and air
as brain stimulanti and he scheduled
his day so as to cater to that belief.
At eleven every morning he stopped
his work, and at two he was usually
before his desk or at his drawing table
ready to begin his afternoons labor.
To look at Mr.. Mains one might
think he was rather well set up
stenographer or shoe clerk, or possibly
a shipping clerk-or just a clerk AS
a matter Of fact he was none OF those
Not single man you might meet from
Washington square to Columbus circle
would be likely to know who you
meant II you mentioned Westly Mains
yet If you asked any reputable ar
chitect in New York. he could tell you
in minute. But Mains wasn't an ar
chitect, either.
In a few Of the houses on upper
Fifth avenue and the drive might be
found room, or an alcove, that con.
tanned some such furniture as could
only be produced by an artist with
constructive genius for the application
Of art to utility. And underneath
somewhere on each table or chair. you
might find burned with close pressed
red-hot iron this simple legend:
Mains Made"
Many an INSCRIPTIONS imitator has
branded his own things in the same
manner, but all to no purpose. Tor IN
each one Of the Mains designs there Is
an Identification key. some trick IN the
design or some piece inlaid in the
making, known only to Mains and re-
corded In the little book that lies In
certain safety deposit vault so the
Mains made things are made on tne
Integrity OF Mains, and are. and viii
be for long time to come the highest
achievement of art in furniture.
At II o'clock on certain morning
the younz mistress of the great house
at the corner banged up the receiver
Of her telephone on it's hook ano
stamped her foot angrily. She had Just
heen in conversation with her archi-
tect. and. as a consequence, she was
disguised and disappointed beyond
measure. It seemed that although her
new summer home out on Long Island
would be completed within the time
specified, there was one thing which
the architect had been unable to DO
She had set her heart on Mains
made music room--and Mains had re-
fused to take the job He had In.
formed the architect that the limited
capacity Of his shop would prevent his
taking any more work for the next
two years.
."Then why doesn't he enlarge the
capacitv of his shopE demanded Irene
wedgewood, savagely.
"simply because he doesn't want
to-" said her architect.
"Offer him double money" she
urged.
II did" said the architect. crisply.
tbut money means nothing to Mains.
Perhaps II see him." she suggest
ed, with visions OF her past success as
persuader of men.
"You might succeed" conceded the
architect YEARLY, 'but I. doubt 1t.
So few minutes later the imper.
ious Miss Wedgewood sailed down the
steps OF the great house. At this mo-
uent, however, the mind of Mr.. Mains
was on other things, and his belated
effort to dodge the young woman who
came charging out of the gate with
head down. was trif1e too late.
'rI-beg your pardon" Irene
we0gewood had the grace to say. II
Il wasn't looking where was going"
sT'm entirely uninjured,' smiled
Mains. amusedly. looking down into
| her anger-cloude ed eyes,, Somebody's
going to catch It." he grinned to him.
self humorously, as he passed on,
| from that spoiled darling Of the
rich"
And Miss wedgewood's temper was
not soothed by the little Jay servant
who informed her that Mains would
not be in until o'clock. 1t was an
outrage. 1t was his business to be in.
However, she was determined to see
| him. and she went back promptly at
2 O'Clock.
It was said Of Mains that nothing
could surprise him. but he was sur
prised when Irene Wedgewood was
ushered into his studio that afternoon.
| "Why-why." she caught herself
saying. you're the man ran down
this morning"
"And you were terribly angry when
you did It," laughed Mains.
Irene Wedgewood smiled up into
Mains eyes. engagingly. i've come
TOTO persuade you, Mr.. Mains, to per
suade you TOTO reconsider, and un
dertake the furniture for my music
room. Tn Irene Wedgewood. and Mr.
Howard Colby is my architect"
"Yes, Colby spoke OF that yester
day" said Mains. "Awfully sorry, yor
know. but don't operate furniture
factofy, Miss Wedgewood-just little
shop down below Eighth avenue.
only employ twenty men, although
! they're the highest paid artisans il
xho world I'm SIRE Won understand