Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-08-16

MARY STEWART CUTTING, JR.
'..~s-s"s
Just as she was about to vanish
from his office Lewis Betleman
stopped Miss Conifee. While she had
been sitting beyond the arm extension
of his desk, listening, as usual, with
her gaze concentrated on a pencil turn
Ing in her thin fingers, he had been
half conscious of something disturbing
in her appearance This impression
had left him, been absorbed in the i'm
mediate subject of his address. but 1t
had returned in time for him to bring
her to stop at the door.
Miss COnlfee," he said.
She came halfway back, her brow
marked by query in which there was
trace of Impotence. "What want
ed to say was" he began, but this
diSpleaSed him. II was thinking
lately" he went ahead more directly,
that you've had too much to do. Now
this last matter is disposed of you
might as well take rest. The shores
nice late in May: you'd better run
down for a week or So"
"But this last isn't done" she re.
piled, sharply; 1--WE don't know as we
can get leather that will suit our
purpose; the prices'll have to be
lower than any were quoted on the
first-class material and we a1nt right
certain how many Jobs 1t would take
to bring us out"
"Details" he replied, dsmissing
them with waved hand. mo, I'm
set on you getting rest. You've been
going 1t too hard at the office again"
A slightly deepened color answered
his sollcitude mo more than usual"
she answered him ~ can take day
or two later, when things are fixed"
In reply he asked how her mother was
"Well enough" she replied almost
defiantly.
"You work yourself to death for me
here. and the same at home for your
mother" Lewis Beltleman grew ex-
cited, angry "The fact is" he ex
claimed, that you ought to have an
interest in this office. IF the world
was run right you would have, too +:
you'd own 30 per cent of this business
today. 1t wouldn't have been ANYTHING
without you" She tried to ston his
speech, but 1t swept her remonstrance
aside. you've been with me fourteen
years In all; ana. since Swope died
m
1t come right along from a half-dead
carriage repository to pretty lively
little automobile accessory concern.
You brought 1t up as much as anyone
that's what you did yes. sir, and more
You gave 1t taste, you gave our Jobs
tone; and that's what sold them. And
now, I won't have you working YOUR
self to death. If 1t wasn't for my
family"
Suddenly Lewis BeItleman's energy
suffered a collapse 81 want YOU to
take holiday" he added impotently.
SIS that all, Mr. Beitlemanr" she de-
manded
lie wouldn't answer her nor glance
up and, after moment, he heard the
soft impact Of the door. HI" he
swore silently fdgeting. All that he
had said to Miss Conlfee was true
1t was, rather than an exaggeration.
an underestimate She had been In
valuable. AS II was in the past wear
the worst of years-he had made four.
teen thousand dollars. This wear and
1t was only May. 1t was clear that the
profits would be sixteen or
better Or better. Miss Conifee. that
was the answer.
He wondered how old she wes-noor
TO forty. certainly, not a goodlooIing
woman, nothing like as pretty as No.
nine. his wife, had been. and. a.
course. not within sight of F,dreda
his daughter Miss Coplfee wsS too
thin, too small; and then her hair WINS
no particular color She wore plssses
of an unbecOming pattern, that little
magnified her very earnest onyx-brown
eyes; and her clothes to save
his life, after being with her dav and
day for fourteen years, he couldn't
remember a detail Of her dress; mex.
pensive. it would be that. The care
of her mother must absorb most Of her
salary.
! He had spoken Of her good taste,
exercised In the direction Of special.
ties for automobiles; that was SPLEEN
did. but 1t wasn't her best quality; she
was principally remarkable for the