The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-01-08

She was glad it was dark in there,
because she could tell by his voice
that he was crying. Shed have hated
to see him cry. Somehow or other,
she'd got to so on talking.
II was tired Of the old school, any
how" she said., II think a person
with job is different, and want to
be different"
II wish you had different father
1t isn't fair"
She tried to say, "What isn't fair?"
but her throat was frozen perfectly
numb. She couldn't say anything.
I'm failure, you see," he went on.
"Of course you see it, or you wouldn't
have made plan like that. Your
mother secs it. too. guess; and Ed.
I've been long time seeing it myself.
I went into this business like a fool
like boy. / thought I was too good
for my old job. ! thought I'd show
them that they'd underestimate me.
/ didn't want any advice from your
mother nor Bert Willard nor anybody.
They really knew what l was good for,
just as the people in the office did,"
II can't stand it," she managed to
say, "if you talk like that" 1t was
relief when the sob that was coming
broke away from her.
SIN sorry, Edith" he said. II
shouldn't have done that" He put
his arm around her shoulders and
drew her close. II was taken by sur
prise, you see. I knew you were 60
ing to say something about school. If
I'd had any idea what it would mean
to you to change schools I'd never
have suggested it. That's what I was
ready to say. you see. And when you
spoke Of going to business college and
taking job, it-well. II. stripped me
of my last pretense. somehow"
She was glad he stopped talking
then and just went on holding her
tight. There was something comfort
ing about the steady feel of him. now
that that first outburst was over.
Finally she managed to ask, as It
really hopeless, dad-the business,
mean? Is it sure to fail?"
"No," he said reflectively, grudging-
ly almost. Really 1t isn't. That's the
queer thing about it. It isn't what
thought it was when went into it.
There's nothing mysterious or revolu-
tionary about it. We've got nothing
that will set the world on fire. Lord.
what fool 1 was! But we've got an
article--a novelty, they call 1t in the
trade slang-that people find rather
attractive. It's question of our be-
ing able to hang on while we're de-
veloping our market. Persuading
enough people to buy it is what that
means"
Then he went back to the drift Of
his own thoughts. "We're handicapped
by more than lack Of money. Mari
ner is temperamentally untrustworthy.
He knows good deal but you can't
believe what he says because he can
believe whatever he pleases. And I'm
not much better because I'm almost
totally ignorant. And then, of course,
I'm not salesman. Ed would be worth
twice as much to the business as am.
i suppose we u USltcI Uc olul lAlS OH
home. Mother won't know what's be-
come Of u.s."
She didn't Immediately start the
car. She was thinking about some
thing else. Roger was back in col
lege, too. They might be talking to-
gether now. About her!
"Did Ed know about this plan Of
yoursT'
NO." she said. "Only that I
wouldn't go back to school, I had to
tell him that because he wanted to
pay the money for 1t, himself. l made
him lend me twenty dollars for my tut
ton at business college, not telling
him what it was for. You'll let me do
it, won't you, dad? Let me work for
you, / mean? Because I'm going to
get job with somebody. Don't you
want me. dad?"
She heard long, shakily indrawn
breath. "Oh, yes, my dear, do" he
said. tc
She started the car and drove along
for a while in silence Il bet could
sell lot of those things" she told
him.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)