Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-23

Benny Barr the book agent. 1t may
truthfully be said that what he sold
was not Aunt james Cook Book, but
freshness and nerve. With his energy
and pertness the book did not matter;
he could have sold Essays on
Assyrian Protoplasms to Irish cooks
any time he was allowed five minu-
tes in which to talk.
When Benny was born reverence
for men, women and ghosts had
been left out of his makeup and
flippant sauciness had been put IN
its place He would Josh col
lege president or a society queen with
the same good nature he showed IN
teasing a hotel waitress or village
cabman. Time and experience had,
however given Benny something very
like reverence for just one group OF
men and that group was the Firm.
The Firm was Shilling, Ross & Co.:
the Firm publihed Aunt James COOK
Book and some hundred and fifty
other profitable volumes. AS Benny
said: THE Firm is on the level. the
Firm has tons OF dough; take it from
me, the Firm is All Right"
James Ross of Shilling, Ross &
Co.. was the retired partner, but his
place, since Benny had been selling
Aunt James Cook Book-was well
filled by young Haddon Ross-an
efficient. CHEEKY and twenty-five.
Haddon Ross was in charge of the
Subscription Book Department; he
was Benny's only "boss" and he was
Benny's only hero. He was. In
Bennys estimation. real feller".
He had peddled books himself Tor
six months in order to know better
how to handle the subscription book
end of SHILLING. Ross & Co.'S busi-
ness. He appreciated a good sales
man.
Benny came out of the account
ants office and found Haddon Ross
talking merrily with a young man
of his own age and two charming
girls.
'But, promise. Haddon!' one of
the young girls was saying. Jacks
farewell bachelor dinner was such
an awful scandal. Promise yo"
| won't have any girls at yours!
Ross. mot a fairy! Not a female!"
why. you old sport" said tho
other young man. at can't be done.
You couldn't any more give a bach
could fly. It's contrary to your
record"
laughed Haddon Ross. you think
I'm beyond reform: I've cut the ladies
off my list. I'm going to give
pacnelor oinner thAt you II laiN aoUsS
for years and there will not be liv-
ing dame anywhere near. It's a
promise, May"
That's ali I ask. Your word is
good. Haddon," said the girl he was
soon to marry. The other young
man-Hal Harker. chosen as Had
don's est-man-laughed.
And I'll, bet there'll be a lady at
the bachelor dinner" he said.
Haddon Ross laughingly took the
wager. Benny's admiration for the
son Of the firm increased when the
heard the amount. 1t was worth
while working for men who could
bet such sums without winking an
eye.
you'll lose. Hail." said Haddon's
bride-to-be.
"He has lost already. Might rs
we'll pay me now" said Haddon. and
after laughing farewell he turned
to Benny. He held cigar toward
the book agent
"on my wedding" he said. That
man Harker thinks I'm a hot sport.
I've been looking into that idea of
yours--a Pictorial History of Amer
ica-and 1t Is all right. We've going
to get it out for you"
Benny swelled with pride. 1t had
been his own idea and now the firm
was going to get out the book. He
could sell thousands. Hadden Ross
was certainty n Ilne feHOw.
About a week later Benny Barr
came out of tho door of $40 Dorsey
Lane, westcote. Long Island. shown
to the door by Miss Higgins, to whom
he had just sold n copy of Aunt
James Cook Book.
ANYONE live next door?" he asked
as he lighted cigarette.
That's the old Wentworth place."
said the elderly spinster. who had
enjoyed Benny's talk and considered
it cheap at the price of two dollars
the cook book cost. TT has been
vacant for years, but 1t looks to me
as IL someone might be moving in.
The furniture was never taken out,
and yesterday and today there was a
couple of vans in the yard"
Wont hurt to try 1t. anyway"
said Benny cheerfu1ly.
All the houses in Dorsey Lane
were set far back from the road. 1t
was here the town edged the coun-
try and homes gave place to large
estates. Hero one could have seclu-
sion and anyone living In tho Went
worth place had seclusion in plenty.
On four sides tho property was sur
rounded by hedges which had been
for years untrimmed and now stood
like green walls, reaching high above
the head of any chance observer. The
rank. thick hedges cut off all view
of road and neighbor and. as IL this
were not sufficient, hero and there on
the lawn were masses of shrubbery-
lilacs syringas and similar leafy bushes
and these had also grown rank and
high, go that even from the openings
in the hedge that served as entrances
from the lane the house was entirely
hidden The untrimmed grass grew
knee high and the gravel walks were
overgrown by weeds.
As Benny Barr came swinging out
of the gate of Miss Higgins place a
man came hurriedly out of the old
wentworth place. He turrnd as he
came. for an automobile stood at the
edge of the lane, and jumped to the
seat beside the man at the wheel. The
gears grated, tho car started and all