The Southern herald., 1920-03-19

ing for cover, nevertheless. And Dave
had acquiesced in that policy. His
position was extremely difficult.
81 don't think I 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"
"But l have bought" said Mrs
Hardy, and there was triumph rather
than regret in her voice. 81 have paid
my deposit"
ut is the policy Of this firm" Eden
continued, mot to force or take ad-
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 it 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 if 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 it happens, this transaction is not
with Coward & Eden, but with me
personally. / find it necessary to dis
pose of the property which have just
sold to you at such an exceptional
price"-he was looking at Mrs. Hardy
-"and naturally l cannot run chance
of having my plans overturned by any
possible change Of mind on your part"
II 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 slgned?" 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 livid face had become
white, and 1t was with difficulty he
controlled his anger. They are all
printed that way" he explained. II
am going to have them indorsed 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 & Elden will have nothing to do
with that transaction. 1t won't even
indorse it over"
A fire was burning in the crate.
Dave walked to it 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"
81 mean no discourtesy," said Dave.
"If my behavior has seemed abrupt, 1
assure you have only sought TO serve
Doctor Hardy's widow-and his daugh-
ter"
ut is a peculiar SERVICE" Mrs. Har-
dy answered, curtly.
Il can only apologize for my part
ner's behavior" said Coward. at need
not, however, affect the transaction in
the slightest degree. A new agreement
will 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
cOnyerslng in low tones with Irene.
II am sorry l 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
is-yOu don't know how proud-you
don't know how much Of a man you
made me feel you are" She was
flushed and excited. "Perhaps l
shouldn't talk like this. Perhaps"
"It all depends on one thing" Dave
interrupted.
"What is that?"
ut all depends on whether we are
Miss Hardy and Mr.. Eden or whether
we are still Reenie and Dave"
Her bright eyes had fallen to the
floor and he could see the tremor of
her fingers as they rested on the back
of chair. She did not answer him
But in a moment she spoke.
"Mother will buy the house from
Mr.. Coward" she said. "She is like
that. And when we are settled you
will come and see me, won't you
DaveY
When the Hardys had gone Coward
turned to Elden. ave had better try
and find out where we stand" he said, ,,
trying to speak dlspasslonntely, but |
there was tremor in his voice.
II agree" returned Elden, who had
no desire to evade the issue. 'Do YOU
consider 1t fair to select inexperi-