Evening star., 1923-06-03
BY


say. a million feet of roofing Is only
One additional year of wear would
more than offset 1t. Our roof will
give you many times that additional
wear. We guarantee It,"
"How?" Mr.. Thatcher asked, curtly.
by replacing, at our own expense.
any material which fails to give per-
feet satisfaction during the guarantee
period Our product is a standard
product, Mr. Thatcher. We stand
back of it."
What would your guarantee be
worth. Mr.. Hull. II your company
should fau?"
John rose and stepped to Mr..
Thatcher's desk. The light Of battle
fiared in his eyes.
Our company isn't going to fall"
he exclaimed. But want this busi-
ness and mean to have 1t. Give me
the order and 1 will have the COM
pany's guarantee backed up by a
surety company's bond"
The twinkle in Mr.. ThatcheTs eyes
deepened. He took up a pen.
Young man, that's a fair PROPOSE
tion." He inserted some words In the
contract, then signed 1t. Have this
confirmed by your home of1ce and
the business is yours"
| y
John thanked him and groped his
- way out His sudden success left
| him dazed, the more so when a glance
at the contract revealed the fact that
it called for million and half feet,
| instead of a million. Mr.. Shelby
would be delighted, whatever Mr.
McIntyre's feelings might be. Con-
| cerning the bond, he felt no doubts.
| The Standard Asbestos Roofing Com
pany never quibbled, when the repu-
tation of its products was at stake.
No need to wire the office now-he
| tyre had instructed.
| He could scarcely wait to tell Miss
| Burnett the good news. She had
given him her number, informing him
| that 1t was not listed in the telephone
directory. A moment later he heard
her cool voice over the wire.
! "oh. Miss Burnett!" he exclaimed.
with a note OF exultation. II got the
order! A millian and a half square
feet! I'm leaving for New York at
9 o'clock tonight. And I simply must
see you before 1 go. Have dinner
with me again. won't you? Please"
| He laughed joyously as she gave her
| consent.
Their dinner together the night be-
fore had been a pleasant one. but
this occasion partook of the nature
of fiesta. John, bubbling over with
happiness, spoke of his plans, his
future, as though he fully expected
her to share them.
'I'll be back in a few days" he ex-
planned over their ices, "and later on,
when the work is under way. I'll have
to make Millersburg my headquarters,
of course. And before / go, there's
something I'd like you to know
he laid his hand over hers-"some
thing I'd like you to think about,
| while I'm away. j don't want to de-
prive Mr.. Austen of your services as
his secretary, butt think I'm going
to need you more than he does.s And
not as a secretary either. You see,
1--we never met a girl I've felt to-
ward the way 1 feel toward you.
ou're-wonderful. So if you could
see your way clear toto"
I'm afraid you couldn't deprive
Mr.. Austen of my services" Miss Bur-
nett laughed. her eyes very gay.
You see, I'm not there any more"
You mean they've discharged you?
Because Of that mistake? The con-
founded"
mo, it isn't that" she interrupted.
"I ought to have told you. I was
only there as IA substitute. The
regular nurse was away for few
days. She comes back tomorrow"
You poor child He pressed her
hand eagerly. Don't let it worry
you a bit. When we are married."
Again she laughed, her eyes gayer
than ever.
"You-you really want to marry a
l-stenographer?"
'I want to marry you-the finest
woman I've ever met. OF course, I
haven't so much to offer right now,
but with this new order my future Is
made. And 1 owe 1t to you. You'll
never realize how much your being
with me last night meant. / felt
when 1 went to see Mr.. Thatcher to-
day that 1 simply couldn't fail. Now
that you're out of job and every
thing. l want you to feel encouraged.
too. Let's face things together. from
now on? Wen have money enough to
. be happy, and that's all anybody can
be, no matter how much money they
| ma az
, now. Wait until l come back. And
; please try to say-yes."
when you come back" Miss Bur-
nett drew away her hand. The mys-
terry of her eyes told John nothing,
except that which we had said had
not displeased her. An astonishing
} woman in every way. She could not
, accompany him to the train, she said
, her people would be expecting her.
Much to his disgust, John was
obliged to make his farewells in the
, unromantic glare of the hotel lobby.
. The long line of sleepers had scarcely
swept out of the station when he re-
. membered that he had omitted to ask
her address. A letter would reach
! her, no doubt, in Mr.. Austen's care.
He Immediately began to compose
one.
NKR. JAMES THATCHER, having
: lN1 finished an excellent dinner, was
sitting in his library reading the
evening papers when Helen Burnett
came in. He glanced up with a quiz
zical smile.
well. Helen" he asked, "what