The Early Bird: A Business Man's Love Story

GREEK M

nto the narrow, deeply-rutted road, and with a mind fearful of tires the chauffeur wheeled down through the grove quite slowly, a slowness for which Sam was duly grateful, since it allowed him to take a careful appraisement of the walnut trees, interspersed with occasional oaks, which bordered both sides of their pa

is trees, and even his fingers seemed to have the knotty, angular effect of twigs. A fringe of gray beard surrounded his clean-shaven face, which was cr

ugh after forty years of residence in America, there was still a strong trace of British accent

rd," returned the chauff

en, being satisfied that there was no threatening cloud in all the visible blue expanse, he return

open to an offer for your walnut trees,

," admitted the o

nterested if the price were right. Let's get ri

in' or

say sta

h do you

to the other and found enjoyment in

mpt and to the poin

"I been a-holdin' out for five d

lnut announced that morning. Old man Gifford would not be aware of it until the rural free delivery brought his evening paper, of the night

," said Sam confidently. "Now I'm here to talk spot cash. I'll give you, say, a thousand doll

n nodded i

is all righ

you take F. O

all, I reckon that there'd be less damage to my property if I looked after it myself. Of course, I'd have to have

arged Sam shrewdly, "and you couldn't get the pri

d and turned as if to sta

than that," he decla

am compellingly. "You name the very lowest price yo

wed it carefully, spit it out, and named his very, very l

leaned forw

named a figure f

ference with you,"

brought out some queer furniture for that sort of garment-a small fountain pen and an

t carefully with his handkerchief, laid a check upon it and held hi

make out that check just yet. I don't do any busin

" directed Sam, seizing upon the chauffeur's

ford. "I never have rode in one of t

y," and he started anxiously to trudge up the road with Mr. Gifford, leaving Henry to manoeuver painfully in the narrow space. A

I'll ride," s

e door in ex

n one thing at a time; but I was so wrapped up in this deal that- Really," and he sank his voice confidentially, "I ha

e of his eyes was remarkably clear, the irises were remarkably blue,

d stepped lightly to the ground. It had just recurred to her that when he knew Princ

th remarks about the weather, and received full information, but when he attempted to discuss

won't talk about them trees

sponse to old man Gifford's call, and stood regarding the

man Gifford, "wants to buy my waln

tudied Sam Turner from head to foot with the so

pseba studied him

liquid and feminine voice. "I like both of them," an unexpe

skly. "Now, then, you come in the front room and

d the way into the queer-old front room, mu

, Mrs.- What did you say your name is?

rned that gentleman, grinning

e old man by way of apology; "but I do say that Mr.

aughed aloud, so openly and so ingenuously that, so far from the laughter giving offense, it seemed, strangely enough, to put Miss Josephin

to it his painfully precise signature in vertical writing, Miss Stevens adding hers in a pretty round hand. Then Hepseba, to bind the bargain, brought in hot apple p

young man that has to be watched in the beginning of a bargain, because you'll give as little as you can; but that after the barg

ar, but Hepseba called to them to wait, and came puffing ou

d handed it to Miss Josephine. "It's some geranium slips. Ever

elighted; "that ain't his wife. That's Miss Stevens. I m

nd her huge round face turned so painfully red, that Miss Steven

eagerness to set Hepseba at ease. "I am very fond of geraniums, and I shall pla

d away Hepseba turne

them!" she state