I JUST A LITTLE BUSINESS II
iiltfiailiif Blf IIMfliliiiP
BY WILL SEAT.
1MES were hard out In
gJlSSijKSSjl Kansas during ihn
HmMMKSh real estate concern of
KHjflBraM itself so bard pressed
wKjti 'hat .Mr Jermy Bix-
SM propiretor and only
rSfflffffiiS representative of said
""SjCM above easiness, ex
perienced a sincere
regret when he came down to his of
fice one morning;, following a night on
which he had mortgaged hla brain to
his heart, that he had proposed mar
riage to MiBE Jessie Carter, the vil
lage schoolmarm. And, worse, he had
been accepted.
Jermy'6 affections for Miss Jessie
wag of the deepest and most genuine
iT sort. He had felt It for years, since
I he had first settled in the place, but
further than showing her little atten
tions and acompanying her to church
each Sabbath evening, he had made
no open profession of his feelings
toward her until under the spell of the
moonlight and that October evening,
the night before, he did the thing he
meant not to do.
All in good time, Jermy had intend
ed to ask Miss Jeesie to become his
bride. But he was awaiting the day
when he could feel himself establish
ed before making an offer of such se
rious character. And that day had
almost arrived.
Out in one of the new additions to
the town that had been plotted only
the preceding summer, Jermy had
erected a house on a couple of lots
that had fallen to him as a part of
the commission due him for promot
ing the new section. For balance on
account with the townslte company,
he had accepted more lots.
80 far as short-sighted mortal can
judge, Jenny considered that he was
on the high road to his heart's de
sire. He took every dollar he had,
1
and borrowed a little besides, to put
into the new house, which he intend
ed as a home for himself and Jessie
Of course he would have to have
some cash to get married on. to buy
household furniture and to pay living
expenses for a month or two, or until
he should be able to get a commis
sion somewhere.
For such exigencies, he had reck
oned on the additional lots. With
things booming in that end of the
town, he figured It would be a mat
ter only of form to go to the local
bank and pledge his property for
whatever small sum he might ask.
And so it would have been, but for
the panic
As hp entered his office the morn
ing after that night when things had
gone riotous in his breast, Jermy
flung the mail he had just taken from
the postoffice on his desk An enve
lope on the top of the package caught
his eye.
He opened it and found a statement
from the local bank, calling attention
to his overdrawn account.
It was this little printed slip that
had caused Jermy to regret his pro
posal as he went about kindling a fire
in the flat rectangular wood stove that
stood in the center of the room.
At first he thought of going to Miss
Jessie and calling off the engagement.
After more deliberate consideration,
he resolved to take his troubles to
Mrs. Bain, the landlady, who had
watched his courtship encouragingly
during the last two years.
That evening he arrived home late
for supper, purposely, and managed
to remain at his meal until after the
other boarders had left the table.
Then he arose to assist Mrs. Bain
with the dishes, in the course of
which he led up the conversation to
Jessie and finally succeeded in tell
ing the kind-hearted matron of his di
lemma. "But, laws, you needn't worry'," ex
claimed Mrs. Bain "Jessie, you
know, has saved up money from her
teaching, and wouldn't hesitate to ad
vance you a little, If you need it,
especially you be going to marry her.''
"But that's Just it, Mrs Bain," he
j remonstrated. "I couldn't think of let
ting her do it."
"Let her She'd just do It anyhow,
if she knowed."
"But she doesn't know, and won 1 1
know, and besides she couldn't draw
more than Just a small amount from
the bank at present, even if 6he had
a million dollars on deposit."
"Don't you Just bo too 6ure," re-
t - til n
I turned the womnn. 'That's a mighty .
smart girl, and If she wanted to do
something, she'd do It somehow, mon
ey or no hank "
Mrs Bain went out to shut up her
chickens for the night, and Jermy took
a chair on the front porch to Bmok.
1 Later, he went inside to caution the I
landlady to say nothing to Jessie; but
he could find her nowhere. She had !
not returned when he retired to his
room near midnight
The next morning Mrs. Bain knock
ed at his door a half hour earlier'
hs on m
than usual. He turned to his watch
and observed the difference in time,
but dressed and went downstairs. He
found Mrs Bain alone.
"Little early this morning, aren't
you?" he asked.
"Yes, I wanted to talk with you
before them others came on." Fold-
MRS. JENNY BIXBY, PRESIDENT, WAS VERY MUCH DEPRESSED.
ing her hands beneath her apron, she
proceeded:
"Mr. Bixby, why don't you sell the
house?"
"Sell It? Why, Mrs. Bain, you
know why I built It, and now you ask
me to dispose of it."
"Yes, I take it to be the best way.
Then you'd have enough money for
you and Jessie to get fixed up on, and
you could come and board with me,
cheap, until times got better, andjthen
you could sell some of your lots and
build another house, when you conld
afford It."
"Why, nobody could buy that house,
now, Mrs. Bain, ,and give me half
what I put into it."
"O, yes, they could."
"Who?"
"0. I know. If you'll only do H."
"Well " he hesitated. As others of
the boarders began to appear, he add
ed hurriedly, "I'll tell you tonight"
That afternoon Jermy was sitting
alone in his office, with his eet
propped up on a desk, debating the
matter to himself, when Mr. Stanley,
president of the bank, appeared. Jer
my brought his feet down with bang,
and arose In confusion.
"I I Mr. Stanley," he faltered, "I
was just thinking of stepping over to
see you about my acount, but "
"No reason for that," returned the
other, cordially, (fl came over to Bee
you about your new house. I have a
client who wants to buy it"
"Well, I hadn't thought about sell
ing," answered Jermy, himself again.
Then calculating, "Of course. I never
had anything I wouldn't sell, If there
were the inducements."
"Well,, how would $2,000 strike
you'"
"Two thousand dollars?" he ex
claimed, but recovered his composure,
and asked. "And who pays your com
mission: Mr. Stanley?"
"That is already provided for by
my client."
"Then I'll sell, Mr. Stanley. Whose
name do you want In the deed " turn
ing to his desk and pulling out a
blank form for conveyance.
"Just leave that space blank for the
present. My client wants to pay down
$600 in cash money in hand, you un
derstand and the balance when the
name is filled In and the deed delta
ered by myself as third party. 1$ ll
that satisfactory?" iH
"That suits, I guess."
Alone in his office again, Jermy ;H
threw his hat into one corner and lari ll
back in his chair, chuckling over hit' ssLsl
good luck. H
"Two thousand dollars!" he ex- iH
claimed. "It's settled we'll marry.!
We'll have plenty for a honeymoon 'H
trip to my folks In Missouri. Then,! iH
if the deed has not been delivered, we !
can stay at Mra Bain's awhile, 'andl
when the balance Is paid, there'll ha IH
enough to settle my debts and build' iH
a new house besides. Glory!"
They were married at high noon 'H
the first Tuesday in November. It
was planned that they should leave
on the 1:25 o'clock afternoon train
for Kansas City, and thence to the iH
home of his parents,
After the dinner had been served iH
and while the party awaited carriages iH
to take them to the depot Mr. Stan
ley stepped up to Jermy and asked
for a moment of his time. s IH
The banker led the way into anoth
er room, followed by Jermy and his
"Just a little business," Mr. Stanley,
said, by way of introduction. He
fumbled with some papers and drew
out a fountain pen.
"Here'es a certificate of deposit to
your credit, Mr. Bixby, for $1,700," ha iH
resumed. "Now you will please fill 'H
out the space left blank."
"What name?" asked Jermy, taking
the pen.
"Mrs uhm," as he cleared his
voice, maintaining a stolid expression
"Mrs. Jessie Bixby."
Jermy was dumfounded. IH
"What!" dropping the pen and turn
ing to his bride. "You you?" he
cried, and grasped her in his arms.1
"You bought the place?"
"Yes," she replied.
"And just to think that the dealt
I alone wasn't half the bargain." il
FINDING AN IDEAL J I
WBm sjshr W fc
BY ELSIE ENDICOTT.
RANCES KENNEDY,
tTSSBtl what prank are you
Bfr' up to now'1
8 Kwsft "Why, Aunt FIop-
H j3ff" eie' don't you re
jjw fl K member my telling
1 BR -ou thls morning
B v"2,.H' that Elmer Bergen
H was going to take his
W$?mEr sister and me tobog
1W&ZLlM ganlng tonight Von
didn't think I would
wear my hair up so it would all come
down the minute we started to 6lide,
did you?"
The heavy braid fell below her
waist and a fluffy wool cap was pull-
ed well down over her ears. Her
ji dress reached her shoe togs, thns
making a charming school girl of the
mature young woman.
"What a child you are, Frances; I
don't believe you ever will grow up.
The idea of a college graduate going
to slide down a country hill with a
small boy and his sister."
"That is just where the fun comes
in I am tired of the conventional
way of doing things. Goodby I am
j certain to have a jolly time."
I "Bless the youngster, I only hope
she keeps the child spirit all her life,"
thought Aunt Flossie as she watched
her niece join Elmer and his sister at
the gate and then pass from sight
down the moonlit road.
It did not take the trio long to
reach the steep hill down which they
were to slide, and when the girls
jo. ai. m 41 a: sk M sift m .jua. a at . jsa n
were safely tucked in front of him
Elmer said warningly before start
ing the toboggan 'You must be pre
pared for a surprise at Ihe foot of
the hill, Frances I shan't tell you
what it is "
Then they were off, going faster and
faster over the crusted snow, Frances
enjoyed the slide immensely, until the
"surprise" came.
This proved to be the shooting out
into the air of the toboggan over the
top of a high stone wall, and alight
ing of the same in the field several
feet lower down with such a hearty
thud that the breath was about
knocked out of all three passengers.
Elmer did not wait for the venge
ance he knew awaited him, but as
soon as he could regain his breath
started away at a run, calling back
with a shout of laughter, "How did
you like my surprise, Frances wasn't
it fine?"
Frances scrambled to her feet and
started in hot pursuit, her long braid
streaming behind "Just wait till I
catch ;ou, you little wretch, and see
how you like having your ears well
boxed," she threatened breathlessly.
Etta Bergen remained in possession
of the toboggan laughing in huge de
light at the exciting chase, until a
warning shout sounded at the stone
wall. She sprang aside Just as an
other toboggan plumped down beside
her brother's
"O. Roy." she cried, as she recog
nized the newcomer. 'You almost
landed on top of me I was too ex
cited to think of moving, It is such
Al.AlAlAlKAlK A7.I x,JkTA -AI. Jlli !i ATA A'
! , , '
fun." In a few words she explained
the cause of the chase going on be
fore them.
Big Roy Singleton watched Frances
with admiration. "My, but she's a
fine runner, " he said shortly, "'Elmer
has met his match this time look at
the young scamp doubling back here
for protection."
"Sae me, Roy," gasped Elmer, as
he neared them. "Don't let me be
scalped before your face and eyes,"
and he darted behind his friend to
drop on the 6now, after his run.
Frances was too taken with her
pursuit to notice anything but her
proposed victim, and as she was al
most within reaching distance when
he swerved" around Roy, she ran
headlong into that young man's open
arms.
"My, but you are a wonder!" he
cried as he held her tight. "I would
never have believed that a mite of a
girl could give Elmer such a hard run
for his life if I hadn't seen it for my
self." Frances struggled to free herself. "I
am not a 'mite of a girl,: " she flared
out wrathfully, "and how dare you
hold me!"
Roy released her instantly, looking
decidedly 6heepish. His first glance
showed him that his escaped captive
was not the child for which he had
taken her.
"I beg your pardon," he began stum
blingly. Frances interrupted with a stamp
of her foot, "O, bother, I forgot my
hair you arp not to blame Come,
I A AT A AT A AT A ATA. AT A AT A. A I A AT A AT A lUlUllll.v
' Elmer, is there any way out of this
horrid field 0 '
She turned her back on Roy and
J marched toward the wall with Etta
! and Elmer and the toboggan trailing
; meekly In her wake.
"We have to go up to the far end
to get out." Elmer informed her, and
1 soon the three were climbing up the
! long hill down which they had come.
"What rot," was Elmer's answer.
"You are the only nice grown up girl 1
I ever knew Most of them are so
stupid and 6low they make me tired."
Frances had a smile at this plain
! expreslsou of opinion. "I am glad
I you like me, but what do you sup-1
' pose that young man will think of a j
I person of my age sliding down hill
I dressed up like a school girl?"
4
"WHAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL WITHOUT A TEMPER?"
It was Elmer who broke a glum si
lence "You aren't mad, arc you.
Frances?" he asked contritely. "You
know I only meant it for a jcke, and
it couldn't hurt you."
"Yes, 1 am angry, Elmer but not
with you. It Is I who should have
my ears boxed for acting like a
goose."
"Pooh," snorted Elmer. "I think!
you heard what his opinion of you
was Roy was 24 last June, but he
likes to have a good time same as he
ever did has all the digging he
wants at the office and is in for some
fun when he can get away "
Thi6 was comforting to Frances'
wounded self-esteem, but she utterly!
at a aTaa1aa&.ATaaTkaTa.aa.aTA.M. MKAiM'
refused to take another ride down the
hill, though Elmer coaxed
"I have had all the tobogganing I
want," she said decidedly. 'You and I
Etta can keep on if you want to, 1 ,
am not afraid to go home alone."
But they would not listen to this, I
and the. three turned their steps home
ward "Just wait till I get a chance at
Roy," grumbled Elmer to his sister
after they parted from Frances, "I'll
give him a piece of my mind. If ho 1
hadn't butted in at the wrong minute
Frances would have stayed out a long !
time."
The evening following the tobog
ganing experience, Frances was read
ing aloud to her aunt when a loud 1
knock sounded 011 the front door and
she answered the summons to find
standing before her, big Roy Single
COn. "I called to ask if I might have the I
pleasure of giving you a ride down the,
long hill," he said at once. "I am l
sure Mrs. Frencham will vouch for
my reliability." Aunt Flossie on hear- j
ing his voice had come forward.
"Why, Roy, you are a sight for sore !
eyes," 6he said heartily. "Come right
in and let me introduce you to my
niece, Frances Kennedy, who is pay-;
Luc mo a visit."
i had the happiness of meeting
Miss Kennedy last evening, and now
I want to induce her to take another
try at tobogganing," explained Roy as
he entered.
Aunt Flossie looked surprised, for
she had heard nothing of the encount-
er. Frances had told her that she Nfi
found coasting uninteresting.
But with Roy on the scene the tM
whole affair was soon made cler to ILl
her, and she laughed unrestrainedly 't
at his account of the fleeing Slmer
and his valiant pursuer.
'I don't see how' you could call such
an incident uninteresting," she told &
Frances. "1 thought you had been
unusually quiet today, you little hum- JK
bug." fir .
Roy's pleading was ably seconded H
by Mrs. Frencham. and the two young 'BBir
people started for the onn hill, which V
was at the opposite sido of the village hm
from their former evening exploit. JR.
Etta and Elmer came rushing up as I
they reached the summit. "O, I Bay, V
isn't this fine?" cried Elmer at sight
of them. "I take it all back, Roy, now
you have made up with Frances and Kg
got her to come out again." g
That evening began a new era for B
Frances and Roy It was not many fi
weeks before the straightforward
young man said to her, "Ever since I
first held you in my arms I have
loved you, Frances. I knew uiion lp
you left me below the stone wall that
1 had found my ideal.''
Frances asked demurely, "Don't you 1ft.
think it was most unworthy to throw
myself at your head, and anything but
an ideal action to lose my temper and
stamp my foot?" K
What would an ideal be like with- Hk
out a temper?" was Roy's counter Bf
question "I fell head over ears in
love with you on iho spot I know
perfection when I se9 It" !Bcv-
LOST-A POODLE 1 I
BY WALTER GREGORY.
AJ. SINGLETON was
Mfaa.fJP an old bachelor, with
v jfe: monej Invested He
ii fiRbSOlft kecn a boarder at
fiSuJafl Mrs Sherman's vil-
t rajsSlJBi years, and they look-
LjBttpgoM we of him.
gfjgjO Thp widow Wash-
s sbpw burne was an in
truder at the villa,
r That is, she was the last comer. She
'e also had money invested. She had to
' L wait for her husband to die before
she could become a widow and have
, noney invested and become a board
at the Sherman villa.
in Maj. Singleton didn't like it that a
widow should be taken into the house.
He didn't like It before seeing her,
nd he liked it less afterward.
8he was not awed. She didn't de-
; fer to him. She sought the opinion
I of the floor-walker boarder as ofjen as
) that of the major.
The major was nettled, but he was
a gentleman He went around the
r corner to swear, but in the hou3e he
was gracious and courteous. He even
1 played cards with the widow and
. turned the music as she played the
1 piano.
Mrs. Sherman was just congratu
; latlng herself that the earthquake
i had Blanted off in some other direc
1 tion, and the other boarders were
drawing long breaths of relief, when
I the blow fell. The widow bought a
i poodle dog She bought it because
I life waB dreary to her She bought
mmm It that her mind might not dwell ou
Ihe late Mr. Washburne too much
a The major was out for a walk in
' fl ' '
the park when the dog arrived He
had always uuderstood that Sherman
Villa barred dogs and babies, and
there was a surprise awaiting him.
His rooms were opposite those of
the widow. In the hall he received a
sudden bite in the leg, and he cant
ered about and 6Wore He swore al
most as hard as he had nt the battle
of Cedar Mountain.
The widow stood in the door of her
room and looked at him, and after he
had calmed down she asked:
'Will you tell me, sir, what sort
of a performance this is?"
"Your dog, there your dog!" he re
plied, pointing to the poodle 'The in
fernal thing bit me in the leg. I'll
have him shot by the police!"
"Major Singleton. I have a dog! It
I Is a poodle dog. I have owned him
j only two hours, and yet I love him. 1
! shall guard him with my life! You
j are no gentleman, sir, to complain of
1 a dog-bite! "
The major called the landlady to
; his room and gave her an ultimatum
1 Either he or the dog must go He
I was a bitten man. and further, the
' owner of the biter had said that he
! was no gentleman.
Mrs. Sherman temporized and flat
tered and ehed tears. It is the land
ladles who can't do that that are
sold out by the sheriff. The dog w as
to be chained up, and the major was
I to be allowed a full hour at dinner
i to tell w ar stories.
I It was this last concession that
1 melted him indeed, after three or
1 four days he brought himself to be
lieve that he owed the widow an
apology. He went to her room to
make St, and that poodle dog bit him
' for the second time
"This this ib too much:'' he shout
ed as he hung to the door and held
up the bitten leg i came In here to
offer you an apology for my words
the other day, and that infernal con
temptible 'Maj. Singleton," interrupted the
i widow, "no true gentleman will swear
I in a lady's presence."
"But that infernal poodle "
"And, sir, I must request you to
I withdraw. A man who will complain
when bitten by a dog should seek an-
other strata of society!"
The major' hopped across the hall
I into his room on one leg and Mrs.
Sherman was sent for. By the time
I she arrived he had his trouser leg
rolled up. and was ready to point to
the two bites and exclaim:
"Behold that poodle dog! Either he
I goes or 1 do."
But neither went. Mrs. Sherman
I wept, and Maj. Singloton melted after
I an hour. He never could bear to see
j a woman weep. Besides. Mrs. Sher
1 man hinted that the poodle was ill
I and would probably die within a few
I weeks. If not, then he might be lost
or stolen.
The major had made use of the
I words "infernal'' and "contemptible."
I On thinking things over as the ex
I pressions he had used in the hot fight
I Ing at Manassas. On that occasion
his men were falling all around him,
I while on this he had simply been blt-
ten by a poodle
True, It was the second time, but
! what are two bites from a small poo
' die In comparison to holding down
! one's dignity?
Maj Singleton rubbed the bites and
1 j reflected and regretted, and inside of
a week he was again ready to apolo
I glze. The widow AVashburne hnr)
risen from the dinner table right In
0
I the midst of one of his best war
I stories, but he could even forgive her
for that. Could any widow be ex
pected to care w hether the Union was
MAJOR SINGLETON.
I saved or no? Yes, he would apolo
; gize. He would apologize and look
out for his legs at the same time.
I Tin- opportunity soon camp. He
was Coming home from his walk when
he met Mrs. Washburne starting out
on hers. She had the dog along on
his leash. The major was hailing and
raising his hat when the poodle made
a half-circuit around a lamp-post to
take him In rear and bit him on that
same leg bite number three!
It was taking a diabolical advan
tage There were pedestrians. There
was a cop across the street. There
was an a6h cart man grinning and
waiting. It was worse than the re
treat from first Bull Run, but tho ma
jor made it in good shape.
"I hope you are not going to com
plain of a little think like that," call
ed the widow after him as he limped
away, but he had no grape-shot to
flro In reply,
Mrs Sherman was called up for the
third time. There were tho bites
one two threei and there was tho
major. His trunk was open and ready
to be packed. He was not excited,
but stern. Ho was not vacllating, but
determined. ,
He pointed to the bites and grimly
said: "Which tho major or the
dog?"
Then Mrs. Sherman sat down and
sobbed and sobbed. If the major de
parted who would there be to toll war
BtorloB to make them shudder. No
one. They must put up with the
common, everyday murders found in
press.
He always had a hard-boiled egg
with his breakfast Who would eat
that egg now.
Twice a week he was out till mid
night at his lodge. When he came
home he would always 6tumble on
the stairs Who would stumble now?
She made an Impression. She melt
ed him for the third time He had
taken tho bite and never uttered a
cuss word. Let htm stay on and hope
for the death of the dog
He was there telllug his war sto
ries at dinner, but a little later ho
1 was sauntering the streets and look
I ing for a boy. He wanted to find a
porculiar boy one who w-as not a
constant attendant at Sunday school.
! He looked long, but found him Then
j there was a quiet confab and money
' passed, and the non-Sunday school
boy went away saying. "I'm on to
I de racket, old man, and don't you lose
I any sleep."
Next day the widow and her dog
I walked out. The major didn't. It was
a fine day, but he had inside busi
ness. He walked to and fro. He ex
pected things. He drew long breaths.
After a while a cab whirled up to
the door. A minute later there was
a scream In the hall. Then there
were shrieks on the stairs
"O, Maj Singleton, she's lost 6he's
lost! Tell the pollce advertise do
everything!"
"My dear Mrs. Washburne. you have
appealed to the right man. Everything
shall he done. She bit me. but I love
her still. Indeed, I was hoping she
I would bite me again today."
The police found no clew. The ad
vertisement brought no poodle. The
major's hours on the street resulted
in nothing. He took the widow's
hand and spoke consoling words. He,
referred to his three dog bites as
nothing compared to the three can
non balla flung at him at Cedar Creek
He apologized 6ome more.
Only a week had passed when one
evening Mrs. Sherman whispered to
the ladies In the parlor
"Just think. Three bites of a dog
did it!" 1
"What
1
And pointing to the ceiling with Eg
her finger she almost winked an eye
and said
"Cooing going on' I just passed
the open door of her sitting room and fc
though she was leaning her head on &v
j the major's shoulder she nevef W)':
jumped!" fei.
0
Why She Knew.
She Mr. Reid is a m-.n of su- p.;1'
perior intelligence.
He How do you know that? pv'
She Because he admitted that I
knew more than he did. ttv
0
How it Happened. fcV
"Say," queried tho ordinary police-"
man, "how did you get next to the JM-.
fact that the chap you arrested was jgw
a counterfeiter?" fc.
"I overheard him making 'queer Jk
I remarks," explained the great de mfc-
! tective. K.
' 0 1&
Higher Education. fcj
Little Willie Say, pa, what la W.
the higher education? p
Pa The higher education, my son, Efe
is one that teacheja young man that, Hfe
he must work in order to earn an Ittfc
honest living. Qgt
1 D
Jumbo Diet. K
"I should be afraid to accept Tom. jsT
my dear," cautioned the fond mother. if
"Why so,Amama?" asked the fat? nl-
cooklng-achoxil graduate in surprise. P
"Why, he is such an athletic young r
man, I heard him telling some friends Bfcr
that he had an appetite like an ale ESf
phant" Bv
"Oh don't let that worry yon, ma- HT
ma If he has an appetite like an ;W-
elephant I'll Just feed hire oa veanut H
4jid baled hay." h.