Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-11-20

thetic pallor of her face. In the end,
Jerrold felt that nothing would come
of 1t. He said so to Prudence, many
times. Prudence said nothing.
She asked If Duane was taking an
interest in the business, If he worked
hard, earned his salary.
"You bet he earns it, staying in the
same town with that daughter of
yours" Jerrold said resentfully; and
added more moderately: well, no,
can't say that he works much-if any.
But he sticks around. And people
come in to look him overland Incl
dentally get a view of the car while
they're in. And the boys seem to like
him.
Jerrold had indeed no ground for feel
ing that Duane, even as prospective,
somewhat poorly prospective, son-in-
law, had any designs upon the ultimate
management of the Harmer Motor. In
spite of his conscientious attendance
in the showroom, his effacement from
the active business of the concern was
complete. But he developed an inor-
dinate interest In the rich, prosy little
Middle Western city and asked end
less questions about 1t, questions of
were having luncheon together as they
often did.
I'm trying to acclimate myself to
the corn belt" he said lightly, in ex-
PLANTATION of this interest in things
about town. But Jerrold, who was
making him the subject of an avid at
tention and study, knew it was some
thing deeper than that.
"Why. do you know" Duane asked
him one day. you can pick up land
along the river, and near the rail-
roads, for a song. absolutely for a
song? Building sites that ought TO De
worth-well, | suppose not quite their
weight in gold-but worth fortune
anyhow in ten to twenty years"
Jerrnld said he supposed so, his
shrewd, always kind eyes, fixed on
Duanes face.
"They haven't half the factories,
the manufacturing plants, they ought
to have here. The town could support
a hundred times the amount of business
it's got. It's towns like this where a
big business really pays, isn't 1t?
Where property is cheap, expenses
low, facilities good? Isn't that the
way they figure?"
"Its the way my father figured
when he started the factory, / should
imagine"
"And besides, for rich farming
state like this, they haven't got half
the elevator business they ought to
have. Have they? If the middle
men have to get fifty per cent of the
farm income, the least they can do Is
to turn the business over to home
middlemen and keep the profits In the
state Shouldn't you say SOL"
st seems no more than reason
able"
There's pile of money here for
any one that goes after it, isn't there?''
whats the matter with you? Are
you trying to sell me the Middle
WestY
NO. just want to find out If l am
sold on it myself" Duane explained,
laughing. II haven't got a whole lot
of capital left. you know, after my
foolish fliers in the last three years.
want to be sure what I'm doing be-
fore go in again. But 1t seems to
me that this town-Well. it's as though
1t were asleep. Somebody's going to
step in here and pick up a few fine
spots for factories, few choice cor
ners for grain elevators, and then after
a while sit back and take his exercise
clipping coupons. And 1t seems TO me
was just born for coupon-clipper."
81 wish you luck, my Toy. l can't
think of pleasanter indoor sport"
And so while Duane was satisfied
to leave the Harmer Motor company
to Jerrold's manipulation, Jerrold was
satisfied that it should be so. for he
knew the young man was keeping a
wary eye on things in general. and
that when the opportunity came for
him to cut loose for himself, this time
at least he would be sure of his
ground. He told Prudence about 1t.
That's nice" she said, warm in her
approval. TITS just like famllies-they
do so much better in separate houses"
You can hardly call him part of
the family" protested Jerrold "The
way that girl acts-it's insulting!"
Duane wrote to Jerry. She did not
trouble to- return the letter by post.
she merely tore the envelope across
a couple of times, unopened, and hand
ed it to her father.
Take it down and give it to him,
will your"
Now, Jerry, have heart" object
ed the badgered father. why do you
insist on dragging me into this thing
Why, 1t will make him feel like
fool to have me pass it across to him.
with the compliments Of the house,
and so forth. Mail It'll Stamps are