Evening star., 1938-12-25
by Joseph Harrington

d
chine while he was toying with the brilliant
thought of adding little lemon to improve
the flavor She became Mrs. W. COrtelyou
Blon after Juice-o-fruit acquired an Inc,
though MIR. Blon continued signing his name
simply Wilbur G. Blon, because he was always
a little ashamed of the Cortelyou. 1t wasn't
family name or anything; his mother just
thought it sounded nice and gave it to him.
While Juice-o-fruit, Inc, was blossoming
into coast-to-coast chain. complete with
board of directors. distribution depots. and
manufacturing plants, Mrs. W. Cortelyou
Blon travelled extensively and acquired things
at prodigious rate She acquired an accent,
first Southern, then British. houses, country
estates. French governess for Annette.
astounding wardrobes culture. automobiles,
and, finally, Sir Buckley Hardenbrook.
Mr. Blon rocked mentally when he heard
about the last acquisition. First. he felt he
should get very mad and do something vio
lent But now he was Wilbur G. Blon. who
saw himself referred to in the press as the
soft drink magnate," and fruit juice
tycoon" So, on second thought he decided
to be very worldly, hide his hurt and just be
stiff with her He was little confused, because
he found he couldn't hate her He succeeded
in hating Sir Buckley for while after getting
his wife's letter. explaining things. But, upon
meeting him. Mr. Blon couldn't even go on
hating Sir Buckley. The Hardenbrook turned
out to be big, drawly, harmless Britisher.
and obviously as bewildered as Mr.. Blon by
Mrs. W. Cortelyou Blon.
Betty arranged everything neatly and
adequately - the divorce, the property settle
ment the new marriage. Then she went off
to England and, with several hundred thou
sand Juce-o-frut dollars, lifted the oppres-
sive mortgage and transformed Hardenbrook
House from dank unsantary pile into a
steam-heated castle with copious baths.
She had never forgotten to send Mr. Blon a
friendly cable on Christmas.
Mr.. Blon put down the cable.
Send an answer" he directed Miss Tate.
Say ah - say something appropriate"
Yes, Mr.. Blon."
The cablegram and the telegram were
whisked away. In moment Miss Tate was
back with heap of business mail, inter office
communications. memoranda proofs and
financial statements.
Mr. Blon ploughed into his job. He scanned
letters. dictated letters, read memoranda.
dictated counter memoranda. He sCoWled
through the proofs of the new advertising
campaign. The advertising agency had a
bright idea for ads in humorous verse. The
verses were funny. MIR. Blon conceded that.
Trouble was they had practically nothing
to do with Juice fruit. And Mr.. Blon didn't
propose to spend hundred thousand dollars
Just to make people giggle.
He rang for Miss Tate. Get Chaton at the
advertising agency on the wire
Miss Tate came back in few moments.
Mr. Chalton it developed, was not avail
able
We'll. where is he?" Mr.. Blon snapped.
Doing some Christmas shopping.
That reminded Mr.. Blon that it was Christ
mas Eve. and he became depressed again
For nearly three hours he had succeeded in
losing himself happily in work
We'll, get Wilson" he said. Wilson was
the Office contact with the advertising firm.
Miss Tate disappeared, reappeared. He's
gone, Mr.. Blon.'
Mr. Blon looked at his watch One O'Clock
Juice fruits Office crew worked only half
day Christmas Eve
> 10 o,.l oc 1,,,,