Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-02-07
Business Must
Come First
BY H. IRVING KING

locks and a will of her own, but of
lands and fine houses and cash in the
bank" Both of her parents were
dead, and Cecilia had inherited from
them her good looks, her strong will,
and her money.
Jack Edgecomb was year or two
older than Cecilia when his father
died, and had been so busy enjoying
himself all his life that, as he said,
he chad not had time to get married"
He had hunted big game in Africa.
yachted and travelled. The death Of
his father now forced Jack, for the
first time in his life, to make an ef-
fort to comprehend that complicated
and somewhat mysterious science
called business, for the investments
and financial interests Of the elder
Edgecomb had been many, various and
extended.
Among his fathers papers Jack
found bundle Of documents relating
to the Trio Verde Copper Mines"
with memorandum, "See SteinitZ &
Co." Unable to make head or tail out
of the papers, Jack looked up Steinitz
4 Co.. in the directory and went to
the address given.
The outer office was q large room
where, beyond little railed-of space,
were several clerks, most of them well
along in years.
please take my card to Mr..
SteinitZ," said Jack, and an angular
typist, rising without a word. took
the card and disappeared.
Presently she returned and motioned
Jack toward the inner office. He en-
tered and, to his surprise, saw that
the room was tenanted only by re-
markably pretty young woman Of be-
tween Is and 80 who said: "Sit down.
won't you, Mr.. Edgecomb?"
T-er-wished--t see Mr.. Stein
tz, If ! might replied Jack.
"Oh, that's all right" laughed the
young lady. "There isn't any Stein
itz. am Steinitz 4 Co. People are
often surprised. You see there was a
business; but he died long before
was born and father kept the old firm
name. And when father died, and
took over the business, / kept it also.
Had to. Imagine trying to carry on
business under the name of Cecilia
Patterson !"
"Are you Cecilia Patterson" cried
Jack. 81 have often heard of you"
''Of course you have" replied Ce
cilia "and 1 of you; and have want
ed to hear at first hand an account
of your elephant shooting. But bust
ness first"
"What wonderful woman" thought
Jack as he left the office And Cecilia
thought, "What a delightful young
man-but how utterly and densely
stupid"
Jack had to see Cecilia many times
after that "on business" and he was
invited to call at her house, too, where
they dropped business and talked Of
other things. In short. they became
very intimate and Jack proposed.
"Oh, jack" she said. II am sure
shall never marry anyone but you.
But think, dear, you are so stupid in
business matters. Your fortune and
mine, combined, would take lot Of
looking after Can't you, won't you,
try and get a grasp of business af-
fairs? l tell you what I'll do. If, at
the end of a year, you can prove to
me that you have mastered the prin-
ciples of business, l will marry you"
Cecilia was crying now, but be-
tween her sobs she managed to say,
about the Rio Verde?"
do as you please with it, re-
turned Jack, 'I'll send you a power
of attorney"
For a year Cecilia did not see Jack.
Some said he was still in the city {;
some that he was hunting in the
Rockies. Cecilia devoted herself to
the Rio Verde. At first everything
went well. And then things began to
happen. The bears got hold of the
stock and clawpd the life out Of 1t ;
the bulls tossed it upon their horns.
only to throw it back again to the
bears. For while it would rank
among the must decidedly inactive
stock, and then suddenly begin strange
and unaccountable gyrations. Cecilia
was in great distress; she was los
ing her own money and Jacks too.
| All her financial acumen seemed to be
of no avail. Then, when things were
at the very worst and a crash seemed
impending, Rio Verde began to steady
itself.
The stock went up and up in calm,
! healthful climb Rio Verde became
standard and unassailable. And the
year of Jacks probation was over He
came into the Office Of SteinitZ & Co.,
looking hearty and brown as berry.
Hello. Cecilia" said he. "The years
up. Just back from six months on the
yacht in Europe. How are you, and
how's Rio Verde?"
ooh, Jack, I'm glad to see YOU
cried Cecilia. Trio Verde came near
running us BOTH
Il suppose Chew & Co. made you
the most trouble, didn't they?" asked
! Taoly