The Early Bird: A Business Man's Love Story

ERING A D

amid the comfortably gnarled roots of a big tree he lit a cigar and began with violence to snap little pebbles into the brook. If he were promoting a crooked scheme, he reflected savagely, he would have no difficulty whatever in floating it upon almost any terms he wanted. Well, there was one thing certain; at the finish, control would be in his own hands! But how to secure it and still float the company promptly and advantageously?

s walking pensively along the path on the opposite side of the brook, for the third time. Her passing and repassing before his abstracted and unseeing vision had become slightly monotonous,

eady gaze she looked across

e asked with the heartin

she responded

the stream to a narrow place where he made a

is apologies, but in his

. I found myself suddenly confronted with a business proposit

cceeded," she

hat grave problems frequently confronted them, and that such minor things as fern gathering expeditions would necessarily have to step aside and be forgotten. S

in his life he had paused to judge a girl as he would "size up" a man, and he was a little bit sorry that he had done so, for while Miss Hastings was very agree

elight, and delicately to convey the thought of what an agreeable thing it would be for a man always to have this cheerful companionsh

ard Mr. Westlake and the others call you Sam s

Sam's my name. When people call me M

gingly. "It's so much easier," and sure enough she did as soon as

ing in the doorway, "you ha

ion to rescue him from the clutches of that designing young person, and she immediately reminded him that she had an engagement to give him a tennis lesson every day. There was still time for a set before dinner. Also, far be it

hem, a coolness which Sam by no means noticed, however, for at the far end of the porch sat Princeman, already back from Hollis Creek to dress, and with him were Westlake and McComas and Blackrock and Cuthbert, and they were in very close confe

l the young people who were going over to Hollis Creek, and by previous instruction, though wondering at h

n evening costume; a ravishing revelation; one to make a man pause and wonder and stand in awe, and regard himself as a clumsy creature not worthy to touch the hem of the garment which embellished such a divine being. Nevertheless he conquered that wave of diffidence in a jiffy, or something like half th

do I get?" he a

and gave him one on which a list of names had alre

prime companion for any advancing young man with social aspirations; he went dutifully through the next dance with a young lady who was keen on intellectual pursuits, and who would make an excellent helpmate for any young man who wished to advance in culture as he progressed in business, and danced the next one with a young l

arming young lady was on the cards for this dance with both Mr. Tilloughby and Mr. Turner, and Mr. Tilloughby had claimed her first. Would Mr. Turner kindly excuse her? Just behind her came another young lady whom Mr. Tilloughby introduced. This young lady was on Sam's card for the next dance following this one, but it should be for the eighth dance, and would Mr. Turner please change his card accordingly, which Mr. Turner obligingly did, wondering what he should do when it came to the eighth dance and he should find

twinge of impatience what a remarkably unskilled dancer he himself was. Billy and Miss Stevens were talking, too, with the greatest animation, and she was looking up at Billy as brightly, even more brightly he thou

n some way, with his aggressive, white, outstanding beard, as if he ought to

n't it?" observ

imself to turn away from the following of that dazzling

e porch and across the front porch. Sam drew himself awa

. Stevens," he observed. "I think I'll

r. Stevens heartily, "but there is no time li

said Sam; "do you know anyt

w I have some stock in

rned Sam t

not enough to make me a dominant factor by any means, and Princeman, as he made more money, wanted some of it, so I let him

n a business way, aren't you?" Sam

paper stock, both in dividends and in a very comfortable advance when I so

who are going in are his friends. The crowd over at Meadow Brook talks of taking up app

uccumbed to that indefinable personal appeal which caused Sam Turner to be trusted of all men. "I shall b

t which came from a half-hidden window, and now they sat down. Sam fished in the little armpit p

"were samples sent me to

rd and tore them. Then, the light at this window being too weak, he went to one of the broad windows where a stronger stream of light came out, and exa

to judge," he announced. "These are sampl

our new process, which is much cheaper than the wood-pulp p

inners, but I'm not intimately acquainted with

th secret satisfaction. "I just received them this morning." From the same pocket he to

s and brought them back, and he sat down, edging about so that he and Sam sat side

e gay talk and laughter of the young people; and on and on talked Mr. Stevens and Mr. Turner, until

imed, jumping up. "Th

p programs as they did in my young days. I don't remember of many dances where the H

d Sam ruefully. "I had the numbe

closed his e

mitted. "Oh, well, Jo's sensible," he added wit

de for me. Explain to her about it and soften the case as much as you can. Frankl

le pride. "However, I am glad that you have added yourself to the list," and he gazed after Sam with consi

desperately to hurry across to where she was, but he lost her in the crowd. He did not see her again until all of the Meadow Brook folk, including himself, were seated in the carryalls, at which time the Hollis Creek folk were at the edge of the porte-cochère and both parties were excha