The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-31

balance 50 that he could mako the
first payment on a pretty celiaso
ana set married. Hc approached the
hugc building belonging to the Better
company much AS In olden unc'
rerSeus approached the Gorgon. he
trcmhled when he was shown into
the prfVato sanetum OF old Better
he CLEARED his throat several times
before ne could explain that he want
Cd 10 ,ta advertisements for the flfm'
As he displayed samples Of his work
he was unconscious that he had come
al "A psychological time IN old liel.
tcr's lie a moment when the white
haired merchant was longins for an
artist.
u DO want some advertising,
eAid old Better. And j want X IN
the biggest hurry, haven't an
artist in my employ whose time ISM
full az present"
Il am completely at Your service,
Stammerod osgood his heart warm
ing as he thought Of Marion,
.'The roof OF this building Is about
four acres in extent said Boiler
.,yes. SIR" answered oSgood, Won
dertns what that had 90 do With
drawings.
III has some protuherancea In the
shane OF skyllghts, chimncys. and 30
forth" continued Better.
Most rooves have murmured
osgood. comfortably.
II want the name Better painted
ON that roof in the largest possible
white letters compatible with the
amount 81 space" said the old man
eagerly. II want Il mapped ont and
ali protuberances which come inside
the letters 10 be disguised. 80 tina,
the word will show an unbroken SUR
face 10 an aeroplane overhead.
Eyes. sirs' gasped ossood. What
fors''
'.To advertise" rc,orted Better.
..T,c lettering must be done IN TWO
weeks. Can you fill the billf''
..Of course faltcred o~good,
there aren't any aeroplanes pssSins
over the city"
.sThcre will b. some day. snapped
Better. THAT doesn't matter. What
j want l Intend to have. II you do
the work in the time scheduled.
Young fellow. viii not only p,ry sou
five hundred dollars for the job. mo
furnishing the paint. but I viii add
personal bonus OF two hundred and
my
osgood opened his mouth and his
eyes and simply ceased TO breathe
seven hundred and my dollars FOR
Two week. works. He could make
the payment on the cottage. He and
Marion could
.'But why ON earth" lie began
fcebIy.
None OF your business. retoricd
Better. DO you want the job
II want H." cried osgood. You
bet ! want il. And I'll do It, sir. on
time.
The next two weeks were frenzied
ones for osgood. The splasing on
Of the paint was the least OF his DIFF
aculties. Surveying the root, sketch.
ing III the huge letters. arranging
white canvas over chimneys and gap.
ing skyfights-all took endless care
and time. But Osg0od worked from
dawn until dark and in a week was
ready TO apply his paint. As he dash.
cd 1t on with big brush he won,
derod IL he were not In the employ
OF q man who was losing hts mind.
What object could old Better have
for wanting his roof painted with an
advertisement in white? Two weeks
would make Il black with social.
ready the tiny particles we're settling
on the paint. And at night when he
went to see Marion the mystery be.
came their conversation.
Marion was more conscientious
than Billy She was a saint 10 whom
nothing matters hut right She wor.
ricd about old Better and this i'm.
possible job.
''Sheer idiocy to pay seven hun.
drcd and fifty dollars for a sign upon
his roof declared Marion's father.
And at last Marion. after many pray.
ers for light. told LILLY he must not
take the money.
But. Marion darling, then we
can't get married.
I'VE can't be married on money
that isn't honestly earned" said the
girl firmly.
but I'm earning it honestly
You are not. You ought TO have
refused the work You are taking IL
from lunatic--''
A rich lunatic. dear
That makes no difference ex.
planned the girl.
Billy thought this over while he
completed the huge letters. White
and shining they decorated the roof
OF Bclter's. The city passed by be.
low unheedlng. Not an aeroplane
had passed above. Better was away.
but his head bookkeeper suspected
The job and paid Billy seven hundred
and fifty dollars for Il. What is il
for2'' asked Billy anxiously.
Lord knows" replied the book.
keeper. and touched his forehead sig.
nificantiy. Even Belter's employees
thought he was crazy.
Billy deposited the check to his
credit. transferred his modest savings
to the same account and 10, there
Ha8 Attt iHol BistHtih VII AHs liOihF4
In his new check book tho first check
was numbered ono hundred and ono.
but he did not make II out. Again
he and Mary argued ont the matter
bat the girl was mistaken in her con
yiction. You have no right TO the
money" she insisted. ''Belters
heirs ought TO be warned"
Three months OF agony and then
Billy walked into Marion's parlor
one morning with his head lifted o..
II Ia burden had rolled from his shoul.
dcrs.
rive sent back the money TO old
Better" he announced. Just mail.
ed my check number one hundred
and one on my way here
s-nrion jumped up and clasped him
about the neck. She kissed him
again and again and cried fervently,
oh, Billy, am 40 gladi ia rather
wait years for you than marry the
richest man on EARTH
At this moment Marlon'g father
- ~.