The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-20
CHAPTER 513 Copyright, 1920, King Features Syndicate


 Syndicate
 Promptly on the stroke of 5 Max Hoadley walked into my office. The bland smile with which he greeted me told me that he was we'll pleased with himself and entirely prepared for me to follow his lead
 Hello, lady, hello!" he cried unct- uously. "All ready for the big con- tract and g. few minor ones as well ? Got the office rented and the assist ants selected an dthe notepaper en- graved an dthe sign on the door?"
 I'm on my way toward all those trifes you mention," I replied with a mental note that I'd have to keep a stiff upper lip and establish a speed record in order to get things running as smoothly and aus quikcly as my eli ent seemed to expect.
 Well, I'm here to turn over a bunch of papers and 8 lot of responsi- bility to you,'' he said, laying his hat carefully on my desk and stopping to rub his hands together with an air of gleeful sulf-appreciation before he drew out a wallet and began extract ing papers and spreading them over all the remaining available space.
 We don't need a lawyer or any contracts" he went on. Its for our mutual benefit to put this thing over
 
 as both of us are satisfied. And if either of us wants to quit, the other wouldn't hold an unwilling party to a contract-even if it could be done"
 NO contract I repeated, a little dazed at entering such a big deal with no guarantee either of salary or of the duration of our operations.
 ''Y ou have my word" said Max Hoadley. And have yours. We're ny, 5ra&& it's mutually agreeable. Shall we say the idea of keeping it up as long as a year as a minimum? Or don't you want to tie yourself up that long?'' Cant we just go along from month to month";" I asked tentatively. "No, ma'am. The magazines don't work that way. nor do I. Under ex- traordinary circumstances might let you off. Otherwise a year. That goes. Pledge of honor-your word and mine, eh?"
 "A11 right" I said uneasily, think ing of Jim-wondering when he'd re- turn and how his Harrison pride would accept a wife in business. Then, under the shrewd fixity of Max Hoad- ley's gaze, repeated firmly: '.AlI right. This arrangement is for a year, unless we find it impossible to keep it up. So that's that
 NOC ne DrOk0 III, the affabI6 grin spreading oNer uliS face again and the croak in his voice sounding triumphantly. I've brought you a lit- tie extra business besides my own. That Derringforth Shoe Co. isn't go ing to have the deciding vote to start you off on your own. I began this and we'll see it through without any help from Booth, won't we" "So that's the way the wind blows, B I though smiling at the seeming child ishness of his wanting to outdo Carl Booth by bringing me a second con- tract to overbalance and cutvote CarPs one contribution to the business of Anne Harrison, Advertising Con- su1tant"
 Alour said:
 "Three clients before I. starti That's fine, isn't it? Thank you for your interest, MT. Hoad1ey. You see, I'm taking it for granted that this third organization of which you speak so securely will be glad to do business with me and that I'll be equally pleas ed to enter into negotiations with them"
 "You're cool hand! Want to know the name of your third client?" he