The Coolidge examiner., 1932-06-17

tillSS udy always dllSSlAOAdISt AC
joicing in the wonderful time her
daughter was having, but economi-
cal of home news. There wasn't
anything to write about, really. She
had dad were both well; business
was going on just about as usual
Mr.. German hadn't come in yet, but
there were still hopes that he would
on some basis, at any rate. There
wasn't anything she said that made
the girls throat ache with sympa-
thy. 1t was what she didn't say.
All told, when the two weeks were
over, she found herself In a pas
sionate hurry to get home.
Their train got in in the middle
of the morning, and it surprised her
to find dad waiting for her on the
platform. He impressed her as look
ing rather pale, but this was prob
ably because all the people she had
been seeing lately were so brown.
He told her emphatically when she
asked how he was that he'd never
felt better in his life.
He seemed to be watching the
Willards, who had got a little
ahead, to make sure they didn't get
away. That was funny, because, of
course, they'd wait. 1t struck her
as they drove away, leaving the two
men behind, that 1t had really been
to see Mr.. Willard, rather than her
self, that dad had met the train.
There was no doubt, though, for
whom mother was waiting. She
must have been watching for the
car. for she opened the door the
minute they stopped, and came fly
ing out to meet them. There was
something thrilling in the way she
swooped down the steps. Edith was
always forgetting how pretty she
was.
They hugged each other on the
sidewalk, stood with their arms
around each other, thanking Mrs.
Willard while the chauffeur was
carrying In the bags, and when they
got safely inside they embraced
again. The girl felt her eyes get
ting wet but she didn't care.
They went together, rather aim
lessly, into the sitting room, and
now there fell a momentary stiff
ness. There was nothing In particu-
lar to do, yet It seemed silly to sit
down in a couple of chairs. like call
ers. Mother must have felt 1t, too,
for her voice, when she spoke. the
next minute, had sort of company
sound.
You're looking beautifully we'll"
she said. mo need asking If you
had a good time"
I'm feeling great" Edith said
"And / had a gorgeous time. Moth
er, do we have to wait, and lead
up 10 things? | want TO know how
it's going at the office; what's been
happening TO dad"
"Of course you do" mother
agreed, instantly, "and you shall"
All the same, she paused a mo
ment, there, and the next thing she
did was to ask a question. Did
your father get hold of Bert Will
lard? He wanted to have a talk
/ hi,,,
Il guess So" Edith told her. I'VE
left them together at the station" !"
This seemed to be something off
mothers mind, though she didn't
exactly brighten up at the news /;
turned. If anything, a little graver
and more thoughtful. Finally she
said. "Why, the situation is just
about what it was when you, went
away, | guess. | don't think there's
been any real change, as far as the
actual prospects go. There was one
little furry, last week, but | don't
believe it amounts TO anything. A
firm of patent lawyers wrote to say
| Jlldl ClleDlS VI
making something along the lines of
the choke and were interested in
the Mariner patents. Your father
went to see them. They talked in
a vague sort of way about infringe
ments and lawsuits and then they
suggested that they might consider
buying our patents If they could get
them at what they called a reason
able price. Your father asked them
what their notion of a reasonable
price was and they said-about a
hundred and fifty or two hundred
dollars. OF course dad told them
he wouldn't consider it and came
away, but it left him feeling rather
blue"
big bluffs!" Edith said, furious
ly. They're afraid dad will sue
them. That's what's the matter
with them"
"Oh, yes," mother agreed. 1T
wasn't anything-I don't believe
there's anything else" she went on,
except that a man who has been
buying quite lot of chokes appar-
emily isn't going to pay for them. 1t
makes things pretty hard just now.