Palisadian., 1923-05-18

lOr tIe piuluDeT. We got W IHdhc
success of this opening. l need the
business. That John Jennings down
the street is the stiffest sort of compe-
tition for me. He's been saying
around, too, that I'm too young to
make good. I'm going to show him.
I'll put this opening over big and
show him %
Ed clinched his first as he said this
and grim look of determination came
into his steely blue young eyes. And
as he did this he looked at Lillian. A
glow came into her own eyes-a sweet
friendly glow. Eds heart leaped at
sight of At. Was she finally feeling
bit of affection for him?
I-Lillian," he started. rather
hoarsely.
But at that moment a man from the
shop came into the room and he was
forced to forego the attempt at sentl-
ment which had been in his mind.
Ed was, without doubt, heart and
soul In his efforts to make his opening
a success. 1t meant so much to him,
not only in business but also in love.
Ii his opening went well and he got
a Tot of business he'd be in a position
TO offer marriage to the one girl in
the world. This He couldn't do at the
present time with lot of debts star
ing him In the face and with desperate
efforts needed in order to make ends
meet
But fate was against Ed in this par
ticular.
week before the date scheduled
for the opening there was an accident.
A heavy beam fell on Ed, and just
before consciousness left him the
thought flashed through his mind that
this was the end of all his fine dream
Ing, and he felt an infinite sadness.
When Ed finally came to himself 1t
was to find that he was lying in a bed
In private room in hospital.
nearby calendar told him that he had
been unconscious or only semi-con-
scious for two long weeks. His open.
ing date was past. He'd made fail
ure of it.
Ed shivered dismally at this thought.
What a dismal, gloomy old world it
was.
Then, quite without warning, tha
door to the room opened and Lillian
stepped in. A startled glance came to
her face as she saw that he knew her.
Then she rushed to him impulsively
and caught his hands In hers.
"Oh, I'm so glad!' she cried. and
f1n,r %L4% ,l1n =
The glow In her eyes cheered Ed
immensely. 1t wasn't gloomy world
at all-it was warm, sunny, delight
full world.
II failed on the opening" Ed
murmured slowly. It'll be hard pull
from now on"
But Lillian smiled reassuringly.
"Look at this !" she exclaimed.
She waved bunch of yellow sheets
in front of Ed. Ed looked at them in
astonishment. They were his order
blanks, and on each sheet was an
order-a good order.
"Why, why" gasped Ed, II don't un-
derstand. What does this meanY"
"It means that we put the opening
over on the date you'd scheduled for
It." Lillian explained. "And 1t was
big success. and the orders just poured
In"
But" Ed expostulated, ''how did
you get the men to come? l didn't tell
you my plan for doing that"
Lillian smiled at him affectionately.
IL figured you didn't have quite
the right slant on that" she explained.
"I've felt all along that it's the women
YOU should interest. Women are really
the main factors in the great majority
of plumbing Jobs. So I invited all my
women friends and dolled up the store
with cretonne and served cakes and
tea. And the women came and-and
the orders came. too. and-Im so
glad"
She smiled at him happily. Ed
clasped her hands more tightly, and
then, by mutual consent, he kissed her.
"What / can't understand" said Ed
happily a few moments later. ''is how
Won know so much about the plumbing
business"
Lillian Qlnpieu anu SIulIeu Dlt
shyly.
81 suppose I'll have to tell you" she
said. at fell In love with you when l
used to pass your store on the way to
business college And so when you
called the college and asked for
stenographer got them to send me to
Won. NV family think Pm still going
To business college. They don't know
I've taken this job. And they don't
know I'm working under the name of
Lillian Montgomery. You see, ought
to know lot about the plumbing
business. I'm plumbers daugh-
ter Pm the daughter of your competi-
for the man you wanted to show you
could make good. Pm the daughter of
John Jennings. My real name Is LII
liam Jennings. / didn't tell you before,
because was afraid you wouldn't hire
me if YOU knew, and oh. my dear, ]
did so want to work for you!"
And Ed kissed her again.