The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-02-11

been spared. Women are 80 unused 10
these business responsibilities. Mr..
Coward. II Is fortunate there are
few reliable firms upon which we can
lean In our inexperienced"
Mother has bought house." Irene
explained to Dave. 1--WE thought this
was safe place to come A look
on Elden's face caused her to pause.
"why, what is wrong?' she said.
Dave looked Mt Coward. at AIRS.
Hardy, and ut Irene. He was Instant
ly aware that Coward had "stung"
them. 1t was common knowledge In
inside circles that the bottom was
going out. The firm of Coward &
Eden had been scurrying for cover. as
quietly and secretly as possible, to
avoid alarming the public. but scurry-
Ing for cover. nevertheless. And Dave
had acquiesced, in that policy. His
position was extremely difficult.
II don't think l would be In hurry
to buy" he said, slowly turning his
eyes on his partner. "You would per-
haps be wiser to rent a home for a
while. Rents are becoming easier"
Pint have bought" said Mrs.
Hardy, and there was triumph rather
than regret In her voice. II have paid
my deposit"
1T is the policy of this firm" Eden
continued, mot TO force or take adj
vantage of hurried decisions. The fact
that you have already made deposit
does not alter that policy. think /
may speak for my partner and the
firm when say that your deposit will
be held to your credit for thirty days.
during which time 1t will constitute an
option on the property which you have
selected. If, at the end of that time,
you are still of your present mind, the
transaction can go through as now
planned; and IL you have changed
your mind your deposit will be re-
turned"
Coward shifted under Dawes direct
eye. He preferred TO look at Mrs
Hardy. "What Mr.. Eden has told
you about the policy of the firm Is
quite true" he managed to say. But
as 1t happens. this transaction is not
with Coward & Eden. but with me
pose of the property which / have just
sold to you at such an exceptional
price"-.he was looking at Mrs. Hardy
-"and naturally cannot run chance
of having my plans overturned by any
possible change of mind ON your part"
81 am entirely satisfied" said Mrs.
Hardy. ''The fact that Mr.. Eden
wants to get The property back makes
me more satisfied" she added, with
the peculiarly irritating laugh of a
woman who thinks she Is extraOrdi-
narily shrewd and is only very silly.
"The agreement Is signed?" said
Dave. He walked to the desk and
picked up the documents. and the
check that lay upon them. His eye
ran down the familiar contract. '.This
agreement Is In the name of Coward
& Eden" he said "This check is
payable to Coward & Eden
Conward's llvid face had become
white. and Il was with difficulty he
controlled his anger. They are all
printed that way" he explained. II
am going to have them Endorsed over
to me-"
"You are not" said Dave. "You are
charging this woman twenty-five thou
sand dollars for q house that won't
bring ten thousand. The firm OF Con-
ward & Eden will have nothing to do
with that transaction. 1t won't even
indorse ii over"
A fire was burning i'm the crate.
Dave walked TO Ii and very slowly and
deliberately thrust the agreement into
the flame.
"Well, If that doesn't beat all :" Mrs.
Hardy calculated. "Are all cow
punchers so discourteous?"
II mean no discourtesy," said Dave.
IF my behavior has seemed abrupt, I
assure you'll have only sought TO serve
Doctor Hardy's widow-and his daugh-
ter"
1T is a peculiar service. Mrs. Har-
dy answered, CURLY.
81 can only apologize for my part
ner's behavior" said Coward. ut need
not, however, affect the transaction in
the slightest degree. A new agreement
viii be drawn at once-an agreement
In which the firm Of Coward & Eden
will not be concerned"
THAT will be more satisfactory"
said Mrs. Hardy. She intended the re-
mark for Dawes ears, but he had
moved to corner of the room and was
conversing in low tones with Irene.
81 am sorry | had to make your
mothers acquaintance under circum-
stances which. fear, she will not even
try to understand" he had said to
Irene.
"Oh, Dave-Mr. Eden, / mean-that