The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-11-05
By Frank p. StOcbridge

house full Of the beasts. I wish I could
poison 'em all!'
Emily Ann O'Donoghue never argued
with her employer when he was in one of
his explosive moods. But as he seemed to
expect some reply, she Yentured what
Danny O'Day would have called a "cOn-
"Why don't you see her yourself?"
Instead of notifying Peter Van Dam, the
suggestion had precisely the opposite effect.
He exploded again.
'sMe see her? / wouldn't get as far as the
front stOOp! She'd sic her whole pack of
cats on me! She'd rather see anybody than
me-"
from a slim young man Who had entered
while Mr.. Van Dam was suffering.
Miss O'DOnOghue turned her Irish eyes
upon the newcomer with a glance which
was bewildering, alluring, and altogether
tantalizing and which appeared to satisfy
him that nothing had occurred to upset the
more or less secure footing upon which he
stood with respect to Emily Ann.
who's the lady?" he asked, ~flippantly.
"Ive a way with EN-, you know"
did you get Mrs. Ostermayer's sigma
tUre to that quit claim deed? p inquired the
head of Van Dam Co. irrelevantly.
Don't ! always deliver the goods ?"
~countered the younger man, in an aggrieved
tone. Here's the paper, and here's the
change. Got it for fifty dollars instead Of
the hundred you gave me. Tried a new
approach on her, and it worked. Got the
idea out of Psychological Craftsmanship.
It's in chapter seven. widows, especially
of middle age, are usually susceptible to
flattery from young men, 1t says. She
Tapped it unP'
He glanced at Miss O'Donoghue for ap-
prOval. What he saw in the eyes of Emily
Ann seemed to warn him that his f%lippancy
was i'll timed. Somewhat chilled, he turned
again to the head Of the firm, who was
regarding him with a puzzled air.
Il wonder" remarked Peter Van Dam,
reflectively.
No comment seemed to be required. The
Younger man seated himself on the corner
of a table, lighted a cigaret, and waited.
81 WONDER" Peter Van Dam repeated.
You're an ingenious chap. Danny; 1 won
der If you could frame up some scheme to
get her to SELL"
mot knowing who she is, I'm sure I
don't know" the other responded.
Its Miss Defrees," Mr.. Van Dam ex-
planned. You know the old Defrees house
on the avenue? Four story brown stone
with a Mansard roof, and it's full Of cats
81 know the house, but l never heard
Of the cats. Got a customer for it?"
"Full of cats!" snapped MI. Van Dam.
Regular cat asylum. It's the one piece !
need to complete the only plat in town that
will do for the new Amalgated hotel. Got
everything sewed up but that. There 1t
stands, running the best hotel site in Amer
lea. Worst of it is, she knows / want it.
WillOwsby spilled the beans. Some one else
might stand a chance, but the best l get is
that it's not for sale at any price"
RdLuGIs EeLldEkGu OduuYs LudL Tie
lady has it in for you. In that case I'll have
to dissemble, as it were. There's an article
on The Art of Descending in the last
number of High Pressure Merchandising
I'll have to bone up on it; it's contrary to
my frank, open nature"
sometimes 1 think you haven't got 9
brain in your head" responded Peter Van
Dam. "but you can't make a worse mess
Of this business than the rest have done
"YOur candOr appeals to me-, boss" re
Joined Danny, cheerily. whats there II
it for me if 1 get Miss Defrees' signature OF
the dotted line? Do l get that raise we've
more or less been talking abOut2"
We've been talking abOut?" echoed MI
Van Dam. 81 hadn't heard anybody men
ton it but you. Yes; I'll give you a rais'
if you land her, on One-cOnditiOn."
81 accept YOU terms, boss. What ar
: "That you never mention the subject o
a raise again until we've got an option il
r the office on the Defrees piece"
you're on, boss. That gOes?"
"That goes as it lays"
. Peter Van Dam looked at his watch, too
: his hat and gloves from the top OF hi
desk, pulled down the roll top with a bang
: picked up his walking stick, and pause
y on his way out only long enough to tel
Miss O'DOnOghue he would not be back.
"Sign that letter to the veterans societ
and mail it, he said as he departed.
The door had hardly closed before Damn
faced Miss O'Donoghue, his cOuntenanc
beaming.
- EMILY Ann he exclaimed. "Isn't this
great?"
Miss ODonoghue's face reflected no an
swering enthusiasm. Observing this, tn
II young mans expression changed to one {
n panied surprise, as of a child unexpected
rebuked.
a. exclaimed. Don't look as though you wei
u going to burst into tears, either! Can't 70
/ see what you've let yourself in for?"
u The young man shook his head solemn,
Dr 81 suppose you're right. You usual
re | orn - no pnnpndn0 ahut don't see IT"
d. "Only that you've tied yourself to yOJ
- present salary from now on" she reptile
biting off the syllables so sharply that the
seemed to hit Danny like bullets.
"If you want my advice" she continue
in the same tone, you'll get out and fin
yourself another job. Otherwise that th1I
we were talking about last night is all off
Getting married, you mean Danny
voice was implOring. Jaw, you wOuldn
turn me down lii that, would you, Emil
Ann?"
l"That is, don't be any sillier than you"
been already today. If you had kept yo'
foolish mouth shut you could nave got
raise on the strength Of getting that gu
claim deed from Mrs. Ostermayer. All y
1T, needed to do was to wait until he cool
down over this Defrees business. But "
had to butt in on that, and now you
sewed up. I can tell you when you'll get
option from Miss Defrees. Never!'
cav, Emily I'M How can you say tina
You haven't lost faith in me, have your
Danny's tone was intended to express
jured pride, but it achieved only a pleadil
leffect.
"Tve pretty nearly lost patience with 20
Mr. Daniel O'Day," she replied with ace
bity. "Just because you wheedled Nj
lOstermayer into signing, I suppose y
think every other woman is going to 4
into your arms as soon as you open 70
- mouth
AP- 'Then, as if struck by a sudden though
in she whirled her chair around and fac
not him.
'Tell me the truth, now, Danny" she {
manded. "You made love to Mrs. ost'
= mayer, didn't your"
made love to herr" the startled Dan
repeated. "Why, of course, I didn't ma
the love to her. Aw, Emily Ann, don't go 9.
IA ting jealous, now. l only 1lattered ner, II
fly it said in the book"