The Early Bird: A Business Man's Love Story

INESS O

new eligible to his daughter, a girl of twenty-two, working might and main to reduce a threatened inheritance of embonpoint. Mr. Turner was charmed to meet Miss Westlake, and even more pleased to meet the gentleman who was with her, young Princeman, a brisk paper manufacturer variously quoted at from one to two million. He knew all about young Princeman; in fact, had him upon his mental list as a man presently to mee

ourse, in the end the consumers must pay, but they protest so much

ed to his fate," laughed Mr. Turner; "but in this particular case,

I know you'll want to meet all the young folks, and you'll particul

rily thin young woman, with extraordinarily

hand in his own and wondering what to do with it. He could not clasp it and he could not shake it. She re

lly vivacious, was Miss Hastings, and had a bird-like habit, meant to be very fetching, of cocking her he

"new people" at Meadow Brook, where there was always an aristocracy of the grandchildre

ingly into the depths of his eyes. "It will be our fault if you don't like it he

mer home. It's such a restful place, for one thing. I'm beginning to rest right now, and to put business so

Mr. Princeman was saying to Mr. Westlake. "It is not th

s patent on it, but the fundamental point is this: that the wood-pulp manufacturers within a few years will have to grow their raw material, since wood is becoming so scarce and so high priced. Well, there is any quantity of swamp land available, and we have experimented like mad with reeds and rushes. We've found one particular variety which grows very rapidly, has a strong, woody fiber, and makes the finest pul

n," invited Princeman, some

omas. Here, boy, hunt Mr. McComas a

ves. Half-way across the lawn they looked sadly toward the porch again. That handsome young Mr. Turner, his back toward them, was deep in formulated b

ld have suited Sam better, but the management had made the most of its opportunities, especially in the matter of arranging dozens of pretty little lovers' lanes leading in all directions among the trees and along the sides of the shimmering stream, and the whole prospect was very good to look at, indeed. Taken in conjunction with the fact that one had no business whatever on hand, it gave one a sense of delightful fr

sition; one of precisely the kind of energy which Turner liked to see. McComas, too, with his deep red hair and his tendency to freckles, and his frank smile with all the white teeth behind it, was a corking good fellow; and alive. McComas was in the furnitur

every night for two weeks and then go on to the next place. Well, she had a right to this extravagance. Besides it is good for a man's business to have his wife dre

lake and Miss Hastings

They waylaid hi

bowling tournament to-night," suggested Miss Westlake wit

didn't know there was on

grounds. We have a tournament every week, and a prize cup for

st keep me posted on all these various forms of recreati

the conversation away from Miss Westlake. "We'll constitute

nt that it made her instantly determine to find out something about his fami

ts, but they all wind up at the alleys. I'll show you." A slight young man of the white-trousered faction, as distinguished from the dinner-coat crowd, passed them just then. "Oh, Billy," called Miss Westlake, and introduced the slight you

o please. They groped for human understanding, and suddenly that clammy, discouraged

sn't it?" he observe

into Mr. Westlake's mental workshop and finding i

to bowl," Mr. Turner ventured desperatel

y poor hand at it. I seem to be a poor hand at most everything," and

lankly asked himself: "What in thunder does a man talk about when he has

ul out here in the

. Westlake with alacrity. "The l

bly wondered how any person could possibly be

hough, when it ra

. Turner. Great Scott! The voice of M

Billy?" begged McComas pleasantly. "I want to

apier-Maché Company, an almost viciously ugly man with a twisted nose and a crooked mouth, who controlled practically all the worth-while papier-maché business of the United States, and Mr. Blackrock, an elderly man with a young toupee and particularly gaunt cheek-bones, who was

interested," observed McComas as they sat dawn. "Mr. Blackrock suggests that he don't see why you need wait for

y; "it is not a company anyhow, as I take it, which will depen

tters patent, however, should give my kid brother and mysel

ral statement the others

s across his equator and leaning back in his chair with a placidity which seemed fa

participating preferred stock, at five per cent., and a half-million common, one share of commo

with a diagonal yawing of his mouth which seem

nd to take up the balan

ince, upon his mental list. "My kid brother and myself will take two hundred and fifty thousand of the common stock for our patents and processes, a

ert shook

rved. "I doubt if you will inte

we won't organize at all. We're in no hurry. My kid brother's handling it just now, anyhow. I'm on a vacation,

e edge of the group. Young Westlake stood diffidently for two or three minutes be

-Mr.-" Sam stammered while

ather; and then, a trifle impati

o over with us to th

girls stood expectantly in their fluffy white dresses, and nodding pleasantl

lly," ordered Mr. Westlake. "Mr. Tu

avely upon Billy and the girls as they turn

parlors for a few minutes of music, of which Sam was very fond, a crowd of young people came trooping

rnament!" exclaimed Mr. Turn

ey did not see Mr. Turner at all. He gazed after them in consternation; suddenly there popped into his mind the vision of a slender girl in green, with mis