The Glenwood post., 1924-03-27

Just as she was about to vanish
from his office Lewis Beitleman
stopped Miss Conifee. While she had
been sitting beyond the arm extension
of his desk, listening, as usual, with
her gaze concentrated on 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 it
had returned in time for him to bring
her to stop at the door.
Miss Conifee," he said.
She came halfway back, her brow
marked by query in which there was
trace of impatience. "What want
ed to say was" he began; but this
displeased him. 81 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 we're quoted on the
flrst-class material; and we amt right
certain how many Jobs 1t would take
to bring us out"
"Details" he replied, dismissing
them with waved hand. "No. I'm
set on you getting rest. You've been
going 1t too hard at the office again."
A slightly deepened color answered
his solicitude. mo more than usual"
she answered him. II can take a 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 Beitleman grew ex-
cited, angry. 1.-The fact is" he e1-
claimed, shat you ought to have an
interest In this Office. II the world
was run right you would have, too !;
you'd own so per cent Of this business
today. It wouldn't have been anything
without you" She tried to stop his
speech. but 1t swept her remonstrance
aside. you've been with mo fourteen
years in all; and. since swope died,
you and me have been It. You've seen
It come right along from half-dead
carriage repository to a 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. won't have you working your
self to death. II II wasn't for my
family"
Suddenly Lewis Beitleman's energy
suffered a collapse. II want you to
take a holiday" he added impotently.
'Ts that all. Mr. Beitleman3 she de-
manded
He wouldn't answer her nor glance
up, and, after a moment, he heard the
soft impact Of the door. I'll" he
swore silently hdgeting. All that he
had said to Miss Conifee was true !;
1t was, rather than an exaggeration,
an underestimate. She had been In
valuable. As 1t was in the past year.
the worst Of years-he had made four
teen thousand dollars This year, and
It was only May, It was clear that the
profits would be sixteen or
better. Or better! Miss Conifee, that
was the answer.
He wondered how old she was-near
to forty. certainly, not good-looking
woman, nothing like as pretty as Ma
nine. his wife. had BEEN md. %
course. not within sight of E.drpdn
hh daughter. Miss Conifee was TOO