Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-09-20
TED'S ORDEAL
BY LESTER BLOOM.


ms AOOh anu iAOulAlCh liz oA1IDs Ah1AC
was such a prompt response to his
ring that they almost seemed to have
been waiting for him.
Ted waited m%iserably 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 a 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 a 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 car 1 do for you?" he asked
sharply.
II have a book" explained Ted. "It's
a very celebrated book and l thought
you might like to buy a copy"
"A book agentl" Numbered Acker.
man as he reached for the bell.
"See here" pleaded Ted. "Give me
a chance. Here is a book that every
ones been talking about"
'Don't want it," snapped Alderman.
"Have a look, anyway" insisted
Ted. ats 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 it did your"
mo. And I'm not going to now" de-
clared Alderman. "If / thought you
meant that I 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 a laugh, any
way"
He held the book invitinely toward
his victim and almost unconsciously
Ackerman took 1t. He glanced ver
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 a
iaugh?" insisted Ted. Alderman look
ed up with a 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"
"In that CASE make 1t a dollar" sug-
gested Ted. 'Thanks. Good morning.
I 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 a girl came running
down the stairs.
'Mr. Hammond?' she cried. Ted
turned.
Miss Druryl" he gasped. IWhat
brings you herew
"Mr. Alderman is my guardian" she
explained. II thought that perhaps"
She caught herself with a 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 a book"
you are a book agent7" 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. I had to sell a copy of
'The Simple Life"
ITO Uncle Chester?" she cried.
Show did you ever do it,"
ST don't know myself" he admitted
frankly. 'There are three Of the com-
mittee outside now waiting to see me
thrown down the steps. I did not ex-
pect to disappoint them"
~ could call the butler" she sug-
gested.
"No, thanks. If you viii 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 I could propose. I was, and
am. ~conceited enough to think thqt ron
do care for me. May I go In and ASK
his consent to u marriage when I
graduateT
'This is so sudden" she protested
mot a bit of 1t. I've been seven
months getting 1t out. j 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 a
second time Ted won. This time his
pleading was far more eloquent. He
could not go away at once but at last