The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-22
THE LAST FIGURE.
Continued from page .2.)

always funny, but he was funniest of
all on the few occasions when he was
petulant. His cheerful, rosy face with
it's crown of white hair contrasted so
oddly with his cross, old-man tone.
She bent over the page of neat figures.
I've got it all reckoned out" grand
dad told her. defensively 81 done it
by the rules too. Just as I always do.
But drat the thing, Susan; I amt got
it right. Burt Fletcher owes me lot
more'n nine hundred and fourteen dol
lars. know he does. Why, he amt
made but two stable payments, and
that mortgage was for. twenty-four
hundred. And here 1 can't make it
but nine hundred and fourteen.
must've made some mistake"
Susanna interrupted him with a
shout of laughter. 81 should say you
had, granddad. Why, see here
:. The old man peered down at the
page. "Sho,"" he murmured ,.depreca-
tingly. Found it have ye2 Multiplied,
| s,pose, when I'd ought to haze. sub
tracted, or something about like that
Susanna went off into another gale
of laughter. No. she answered as
soon as she caught her breath, "you
didn't make such an intelligent mis-
take as that, granddad. Mother, come
here; it's too good to keep to myself.
He's added all right and multiplied
all right and done everything all right
- -
- well, faint the right answer per-
sisted granddad, stubbornly.
"Of course it isn't. But it's all
right as. farN as you've gone; it's all
right, grandda& only you haven't fin.
ished. You haven't brought down the
last figure! See this one? There!
One thousand nine hundred and four.
teen. Isn't that right?"
"Cricky," commented granddad ex.
plosively, course it's right! Well
well! There it was, all that work
done on it and done right, too. And
there l was complaining about the
answer when hadn't put down the
last figure! Couldn't expect, to get
the answer he went on, plaeidly ig.
noring Susanna and addressing him
self; mo matter how right you was
you couldn't expect to get it until
you'd put down the last figure"
Susanna stared at him.. A flush
crept slowly over her cheeks, and
doubt came into her eyes. Grand.
father" she said sternly.
Granddad looked up and met her
gaze innocently. What is it, Sanna?'
WAS that real example? Or did
you just make it up?"
His eyes widened.> Real enough, ]
guess he chuckled. BET Burt Fletch
er'd be glad enough if was always
such ninny at figuring" His faded
blue eyes never wavered from his
granddaughter's. After a moment he
| put out his hand and patted her arm
Hate to see an example that's ali
done right get stuck cause some one
don't put down the last figure" he
said kindly. Coming, Alberta! NV
it's nice to be company; always cook
les and preserves, amt there, Sauna p
Suddenly Sanna's brief anger faded
He was such a dear, and so kind, ano
such shrewd teacher. She put hel
hand quickly through his arm.
Il do mind, granddad," she whis
pered little brokenly. Il don't wan
mother to know how much it means t.
me, but don't care If you do. l reall,
am as competent now as Rosemary
and there isn't any reason why
shouldn't have her place. I can't thinl
now of any figure / can put down, bu
I'll think it over, granddad--and thanh
you."
His hand closed over hers, Your,
a good sport, Sauna. Its kind of /
Blair trait. You think it over, ant
something,n come to We / guess
You're competent" He paused. "Bu
maybe you haven'trs said So"
! 1t rained all. the next day, drench
ling, flooding sheets of rain. and Su
sauna had the library virtually to her
self. But it was a busy day neverthe
! less.. for she was having debate witt
herself. s
What's the use?' she demanded
They know I'm here, and they know
that know perfectly well how to cata
! logue books, or I'm sure they wouldn'
llet me stay and do it."
= t1sk&4 49, ~