Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-28

one more question, the same one, be.
fore it was time to go.
He received the same answer, be-
CauA Honoria knew she was going to
mar1e -Russel Goldman just as soon as
he aa<d her to. Sometimes, when
she we hlOne with Goldman, she would
SILVER with excitement, feeling that
now the time had come-in a moment
the words would flow Economically
from his lips. What the words would
be she didn't know, but they would be
thrilling and extraordinary, not like
the spontaneous appeals Of Max Van
Camp.
She waited excitedly for Russell Cod
mans returS from the West. This
time, unless ls spoke. she would speak
herself. PerhAps he didn't want her.
after all; perhaps there was some one
else. In that fbse she would marry
Max Van Camp and make him miser-
able by letting him see that he was
getting only the remnants of blight.
ed life.
Then Russell Goldman came back to
New York. He reported to her father
that he was going to see her that
night. In her excitement Honoria
found excuses for being near the front
door. The bell rang and a maid
stepped past her and admitted Wis.
itor.
Max" she cried.
He came toward her and she saw
that his face was tired End white.
will you marry mee'' he demand.
ed, without preliminaris&
She sighed.
How many times, Mkx?"
I've lost count" he said cheerfully.
But haven't even begun. Do l UNI
GerStand that YOU refuSe?"
Yes, I'm sorry"
Waiting for Codman?"
That's not your affair"
Where's your father?'
She pointed, not deigning to reply,
Max entered the library, and Mo.
COmas rose to meet him.
"Well?" inquired the older man.
How did you make out?"
How did Goldman make out?" de.
manded Van Camp.
Goldman did we'll. He bought about
eighteen stores-in several, cases the
very stores McTeague was after"
II knew he would" said Van Camp.
Il hope you did the same
No, said Van Camp, unhappiiy.
II failed"
What happened?"
L saw 1t was no use," said Van
Camp. II don't know what sort of
places Goldman picked up in Ohio. but.
If it was anything like Indiana, thew
weren't worth buying. These towns Of
10000 haven't got three good hard
ware stores. They've got one man
VINO won't sell out on account of the
local wholesaler; then there's one man
that McTeague's got, and, after that,
only little places on the corner. Any
thing else you'll have to build I'D YOUR
while" He broke off. How many
places did Goldman buy?"
Eighteen or nineteen"
Il bought three"
McComas looked at him impatiently.
How did you spend your time?" he
asked. Take two weeks apiece to get
them?"
Took me two days" said Van Camp
gloomiy. Then 1 had an idea"
What was that" McComas' voice
was ironical
'Well-McTeague had all the good
stores"
Yes"
$50 I thought the best thing was to
buy McTeague's company over his
head"
WHAT"
Buy his company over his head"
rrelevance, You see, / heard that
ne d had big quarrel with his uncle,
who owned Is per cent of the stock"
''YEs," McComas was leaning for
ward now-the sarcasm gone
from his face.
'McTeague owned only 25 per cent
md the stOrekeepers themselves owned
40. So, if 1 could bring round the
uncle we'd have a majority. First l
convinced the uncle that his money
would be safer with McTeague as
branch manager in our organiZa-
.ion-'
wait minute-wait a minute"
said McComas. You go too fast for
ne. You say the uncle had 10 per
you get the other 40?"
From the owners. l told them the
lncle had lost faith in McTeague and
offered them better terms. l had all
heir proxies on condition that they
would be voted in a majority only"
Yes" said McComas eagerly. But
t didn't work, you say. What was
he matter with it? Not sound?"
"Oh. it was a sound scheme all
light"
Sound schemes always work"
This one didn't"
"Why not?"
THE uncle died"
McComas laughed. Then he stopped
and considered.
80 you tried to buy McTeague's
over his head?"
Yes" said Max, with a shamed
ook. and 1 failed"
The door flew open suddenly and
1Onoria rushed into the room.
Father" she cried. At the sight of
lax she stopped, hesitated and then
ontinued:
"Father-did you ever tell Russell
low you proposed to mother?"
Why, let me see-yes, l think l
i'd"
Honoria groaned.
We'll, he tried to use 1t again on
ne"
What do you mean?"
All these months I've been waiting
she was almost in tears, wait
lg to hear what he'd say. And then
'hen 1t came-it sounded familiar-as
I'd heard it before
Its probably one Of my proposals"
lSgested Van Camp. ~'I've used SO
lany."
She turned on him quickly.
Do you mean 10 say you We ever
roposed to any other girl but me?"
"HonOria-wOuld you mind?"
Mind. OF course. wouldn't mind.
d never speak to you again as long
5 l lived"
You say Goldman proposed to you
the words l used to your mothcr?"
McComas.
Exactly" she walled. "He knew
lem by heart"
That's the trouble with him." said
.cComas thOughtfully. ''He always
as my man and not his own. You'd
etter marry Max, here
"Why-" she looked from one to
lie other, why never knew you
ked Max, father. You never showed
-
,sNNnu thnt,a inst tho difforonna