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Newspaper Page Text
-y I rr -! ftf I UP again. If they want to get new positions in the meantime, all right It's pretty hard,' three young fellows counting on a steady situation being thrown out this way, and I want to be just all around." So thus it was" settled, and the old housekeeper at the Ross home grum bled considerably at having three "big boys" hanging around the house all of the time, as she expressed it Rogers, the bookkeeper, turned out to be quite an exquisite. He dropped Uito the new arrangement as though he was accommodating some one. He lay around smoking and reading in a comfortable hammock most of the time, hut was. always on hand for his heals. The old assistant manager, Mahon, devoted most of his time to hanging around the village billiard hall. Both borrowed money from Mr. Ross, who catered to their necessities 'and stud ied them. ' Young Bert Delancy was restless and' out of sorts the first day he ar rived. He broke out into rebellion the third morning. If it had not been for the engaging presence of Elsa he might have broke through the traces before. "See here, Mr. Ross," he said in hiB independent, off-handed way, "you're a generoUs-hearted old man, but I'm no sponger. I don't see why three husky fellows like us should be de pendent on you." "Don't you want to resume your old position when we start up busi ness again?" inquired Mr. Ross. "Surely, but I'm not "born to be idle." "AIL rightrJTl make a new bargain with aUttlffefryou fellows. There's a big garden to take care of, there's wood to saw and all kinds of odd jobs aboutjjie plaoe. Put in your time about them and m pay a fair price for the service." Rogers regarded his well-manicur-,ed hands and the rough garden tools, shrugged his shoulders ahd. betook himself to his hammock. Mahop tried clearing some brush, gqt a few thorns in his fingers and hied him to the cue and ivories for solace. " -v Bert pitched in forthwith. He mended the broken fences. He made ( ' the straggly garden look as if an ex- 1 pert had gone over it. One morning i Mr. Ross came out to find him with j saw and buck tackling a fqur-cord l pile of Btove wood. j The old man's eyes twinkled se- I cretly. That evening when work was ' suspended, he stole out to the wood pil and put a little clinking bag way under the last log of the heap. lr Bert rather liked the task. The f wood was just behind the kitchen t where the fairy-likeform of pretty winsome Elsa constantly flitted. Sev- i ral times she brought the worker a glass of cool lemonade and then they ! had an enjoyable chat together. ' "See here, Mr. Ross," said Bert,J two days later, "that wood is all saw- ed and I found this-little bag under the laBt log." 1 "Oho! you did?" chuckled the old' man. "What's in it, now?" "A dfajzen gold half eagles." "That so?" chirped the old man. "I reckon the fairies have rewarded you for your industry. ,See here; Mr.. De lancy, I put them there and you're going to keep the"m." "I don't like overpay " began Bert , "There's better than that coming," announced Mr. Ross. "I've been studying you, and that ladylike book keeper, and that shiftless assistant manager. You can have the positibu,. if you want it" -; Bert did not reply. His face grewj so serious and thoughtful that Mr. " Ross stared at him in wonder. "Why!" Be exclaimed, "you don't mean to say you turn down that kind of a chance of a lifetime, da you?" 'It depends," said Bert deliberately ' "On what?" - No on whom," corrected Bert. "I'm a plain, blunt fellow, Mr. Ross. . I'm half in love with Miss Elsa. EH M MMMMMMMAittM.