Evening star., 1922-12-10

case and toddled off on her high heels.
while l smothered a chuckle. I could
just picture Eff1e walking a few
blocks looking for vacant stores.
peering timid into one or two, spend
courage to tackle a real estate agent.
getting panicky by the minute, and
finally drifting into a candy shop to
brace herself with an ice cream soda
Yet it was three or four hours later
when she called me up.
Found anything?" I asked.
"I believe So" says she. but I wish
you could come right up"
BE with you in twenty minutes"
says I. Now let me be sure I have
the right number. Yes. that's near
116th street, isn't it, Very WELL
And found her sitting on a chair
in front of a hand laundry watching
a gang of movers load a gas mangle
into van.
Doesn't this seem like good
store:" says she. ITS the only avail
able one for five blocks. and it will
be vacant in half an hour. The pro-
prietor is going out of business. He
decided only this morning. when he
got a letter from his brother. who
wants him to move to Oregon and
help run big apple farm that is pay
ing very well. He never did like the
laundry business. anyway: but he has
three-year lease on this place and
several persons have offered him a
bonus to sublet. He hasn't the ad-
dresses. though. and he's In a hurry
to leave, so he said If I'd take it over
before o'clock he'd let it go for just
what he was paying and throw in the
rent for the rest of this month.
made him give me a two-hour option.
Was that right?'
II should say 1t was very nearly
perfect" says I. Yes. this is just
about what we need-good light.
plenty Of floor space and the right
location. Where's your ex-laundry-
man.
Mr.. Blockerr" says she. Hes in
back there. Shall L"
Sure" says I. "Tie it up before
those bonus hounds show up again."
And inside Of an hour the papers
were all signed and we had a home
, for branch No. 1 of the Handy Andy
Shops. Ltd.
Goodness" says Efie, as she lock-
ed the front door and dropped the key
In her vanity box. Il am SO excited.
almost feel that am really a busi-
ness woman"
you're beginning to make a noise
like one" says I. anyway, you've
pulled of one deal that was rather
shifty. Now, let's see how long It
will take you to furnish the shop and
organize a force"
Must do that, too?" she asks.
why notT' says I. I'll lend you
Andy Millish to drum up recruits and
you can advertise for work solicitors.
You know the system. Besides, II
you get stuck, all you have to do is
call me on the phone"
I HAD an idea she would be ringing
i me up about every half hour for
the next few days But she didn't.
Somehow, in her soft way, Eff1e had
the knack of doing things on her own
| hook. At least, when l dropped In
on her a couple of days later she had
the shop all equipped. a neat sign out,
dainty curtains at the front window
and was nearly ready to take orders.
Also, she had shed most of her
frills, including the pearl ear danglers
and her rings. She had costumed
herself in a plain blue serge tailored
suit and squareed-toed walking shoes
and had two lead pencils tucked into
tho blond masses Of her permanent
wave. She was debating to serious
faced young lady stenographer who
wore bone e-rimmed glasses.
"Just few rules and regulations
i for my Handy Andy" she explained
/ "I thought I would have them typed
and posted 30 they would know ex-
actly, what was expected Of them
Twenty or more are 70 report here