I The Quick 1
I Asset I
Bn
MAY DALLARMAND
I
Z:
uyyngiu, me, oy w. o. Chapman.)
"Sorry, Mr. Walters, but my orders
are definite you must pay the bill
within 48 hours or I shall have to
close you up."
"You are subjecting me to a severe
hardship, sir." J
Mr. Thomas Biggs, senior partner
of Biggs, Bluett & Co., opened eyes
and palms expansively, shrugged his
shoulders, arose from his seat and
took up his hat.
"You are asking of me impossibili
ties," spoke Sidney Walters. "Every
dollar I have in the world is invested
in this business. Actual orders far
overplus my liabilities. In another
month we will have not only a free
deck, but a surplus. I beg of you to
alter your hard decision."
"Business is business," spoke the
other blandly. "The house went all
over your case before I left the city.
You owe us $2,000. It is 30 days past
due. Our rules are invariable. I
came down here to look Into affairs.
I find that your quick assets are shy
over 40 per cent, where In every
healthy business they should stand
in the proportion df two to one as to
active debts, I find almost the re
verse. What in the world ever made
you bulk all your capital in fixed
assets? It is ruinous. It means slow
liquidation in case of a failure. Com
mercially your business proposition is
not Bolvent. We shall have to have
our money by Saturday morning or
me a bill for an accounting."
Which means ruin for me," said
Walters drearily. "If you would give
me time to go to the city and apply
to some of the banks"
impossible. You would have to
delay me here for several days, and
my time Is precious. Can you not get
your friends here to assist you?"
i am practically a stranger," re.
plied Sidney In a low. strained tnnA
"and the community, as you know, Is
a poor one."
Sidney, Indeed, spoke the truth.
When he determined to start in hunt.
neBS the manufacturing of fine con
tact metal tolnts for Intricate vnhlflA
equipment he had discounted the ele
ments of bulk as to shipments. An
abandoned plant at Acton was offered
"Impossible."
for a mere song. He purchased It
He paid cash for his machinery out
fit and overbought as to raw mnte
rial.
It was wllh a great sense of com
fort that ho Anally opened the lltllo
factory, giving employment to bohio
20 men. Expenses and wages were
low. It was true that Acton was 20
miles from a railroad. It did not even
boast an automobile, Tho town wa
Isolnted shut In to Itself but onco
a week a slow lumbering side-wheel
steamer enmo up from the cltv with
passengers and freight and took buck
the product of tho nlant. narked in
neat boxes, not ninny of them, for the
points brought a high price, wcro man
ufnetured under an exclusive patent
and sold readily.
Sidney had settled down to n hum
drum routine, ;Iud to be apart from
tho Jnr nnd bustla of tl;o city. He
figured out a growing business bused
UJion light overhead expense. His
help was not overworked: ho was
modest In lila stylo of living. He
brought work and romfort to many a
poor workman. Ills ambition was
satisfied.
And now, suddenly, terrifically
alarming, came the advent of Biggs,
Many a time Sidney hnd realized that
he was straining his credit, but tho
ordora ahead were sure future In
come. The plnnt and equipment rep
resented solid values. He had not
been business man enough to compre
hend that the Ironclad rules of busi
ness demanded quick assets that could
b swiftly reallwd on In case of
exigency.
Mr, Illggi left for his hotel. Sid
ney sank Into a rhalr dejectedly. He
caught th echo of a sob In the next
room and went to its open doorway
and peered In. His office girl tat
leaning over her typewriter, a hand
kerchief applied to her eyes.
"Will you please let me go homo,
Mr. Walters?" pleaded Arline Tracey.
"I I have a dreadful headache."
"Surely," acquiesced Sidney. "Some
thing has come up where we will sus
pend business for a day or two."
He watched her dainty form and
colorless face sadly as Arline left the
office. It was of her and the work
men he was thinking. If he had to
give up business what would they all
do. For the girl he had always felt
a great interest. She was an orphan,
living with some relatives In the vil
lage and had come to him asking for
employment the day the plant had
opened.
He had told her kindly that there
was little bookkeeping to do, he could
run a typewriter himself and had
planned to start out on an economical
basis. Arline had told him that she
required a very small salary, as her
father had left her an Investment In
the city wtych brought her a cash
return each six months. She would
"grow up with the business;" she could
surely be of some service to him, and
Sidney hired her.
Since then he had been glad of It.
Arline proved a treasure. She took an
Interest in every detail of the busi
ness. She seemed happiest when the
work was hardest and most pressing.
The man from whom Sidney had
purchased the plant was wealthy. Sid
ney wondered if he could not get him
to help him out. Be went late that
afternoon to his home, to find that
he had gone to visit a farm he owned
at some distance and would not re
turn until the following evening.
Was It fate, or did a sense of re
gard for Arline, the longing of a lone
ly, troubled man influence Sidney to
lessen his pace as he neared the
house whore Arline lived? She hap
pened to be at the gate. He was glad
to be Invited Into a cozy parlor. Ar
line was cheerful, anxious tn enter.
tain him. A little elf of a fellow her
cousin prattled about Arline's pet
carrier pigeon,
"She sent it away today," he con
fided to Sidney, and Arline flushed
hotly and had to explain that it was
through this medium that she regu
larly corresponded with a very dear
girl friond in the distant city.
Sidney met with a severe disappoint
ment the next evening when he called
on the man from whom he hoped to
secure a loan. The latter had no
ready funds. Sidney longed to stop
for another pleasant evening at the
home of Arline, but It was late as he
reached the house. He passed rest
loss hours alone at home and conse
quently overslept himself the next
morning.
"What Is this?" he voluntarily ex
claimed, as entering the office the
first thing that attracted his eye was
a signed receipt in full from the Biggs
firm.
'Mr. Biggs left it. explained Ar
line, and flushed and paled, and began
to tremble.
"Why, I don't understand this!"
"I paid It," confessed Arline. al.
most pleadingly. "Oh. Mr. Walters
dont be cross about It, please! ,1
overheard you talking about auick as
sets. I sent a auick message to mv
friend In the city and got mv invest
ment changed Into a certified check,
and the carrior dove brought It safe
ly here, and I paid Mr. Biggs," and
Arline broke down there under the
Intense strain of the moment. Th
astonished Sidney stared at her. spell
bound.
Arline had saved the day. Arlln
had won the heart of a true man. And
the outcome of the episode was life's
noblest, most treasured BBsnt mutual
love.
Appareled for, the Boudoir
- 1 p . i
Hyonotizlna Animals.
Hypnotizing a hen Is a trick known to
most country boys. It is an old exDerl
ment, first described by the Jesuit fa
ther, Athanaslus Kircher. who laid
hen on a table, held it firmly for a lit
tlo whllo, nnd drow a chalk line
front of its eyes, with the result that
It remained as If lu catalepsy
In India it Is known that a cobra
caught by tho neck nnd gently pressed
will soon becomo stiff and remain sc
for a consldorablo time. A frog fns
toned to a board nnd turned suddenly
upside down goes Into a trance.
If you pick up a crab and wave It In
the air It becomes Immobile, a female
bending her legs over her abdomen
male sticking them out strnlKht.
snmo Is truo of tho freshwater craw
fish.
Among the Insects "death feigning
Is common, and is often n means ot
saving tho lifo of tho insect.
Tho hypnotic condition Is Induced
In man by suggestion ot physical In
hibition, but In both cases sensatory
ptimull may nssir.t. Those stimuli may
lio optic illxing the ru.U' on some ob-
J' ft) or tuitilo UlruMiig the atm) or
otlicrwlso.
Tho
Arclicr'g Advantages.
Tho eye cannot, ot course, follow
tho progress of n bullet, and the rifle
man may miss his game by tho meas
ure of one foot or five, yet never know
the amount of Ills error. Hut the flight
of tho most swiftly sent arrow may bo
easily followed, nnd a "closo" miss
gives tho shooter a Bolf congratulatory
thrill almost equaling the happiness
of a center hit. There is a trntiflea-
lion In watching a shaft flash tiast
tho head of a Justly indignant, much
astonished squirrel. And there Is real
excitement, too. In watching a steel-
pointed arrow leap into tho blue, there
narrowly falling to Intercept that ro
gue of the woods, the heavily flying
crow. The archers great advantage
rests in the comparative silence with
which his hunting may be carried on.
A shot means the soft twain of a how.
string and the low whisper of an arrow
and these sounds seldom greatly
frighten game. Outing
Feminine daintiness and lov for
beautiful color may be indulged with
out restraint within the walls of the
boudoir. There is no excuse for any
sort of ugliness there. Lingerie grows
more and more airy and dainty, and in
negligees the prettiest fancies of de
signs are Interpreted In any extreme
of style. Satin and chiffon, thin crepe
and fine laces, are the alluring medi
ums with which the artist works out
her dreams. Ribbons and little made
flowers add touches that betray her
delight In the work she undertakes.
Color is such an Important factor In
apparel for the boudoir that the less
expensive sheer fabrics, in the same
colors as silk stuffs, are used with as
good results. Voiles, mull, lawn and
thin mercerized cottons are made up
with laces and trimmed with ribbons
to make negligees that are as cariti-
vatlngly colorful and dainty as any
others. But they cost a fraction nf
the price of sheer silk materials.
A negligee worn over a combination
with pantalettes, is shown in the pic
ture. The pantalettes are substituted
for petticoats and worn under dance
frocks or under negligees. They are
of satin, Joined to an under bodice of
satin and lace. Wide val lace is cas
caded down the sides In ruffles that
widen toward the bottom. ; JuBt above
the ankle the fullness is gathered on
an elastic cord, forming a narrow frill.
This combination is supported by rib
bons tied at the shoulders.
Chiffon and Uruguay lace make the
lovely empire coat worn over this
combination. It is banded with rib
bon in three widths, the widest form
ing a border about the bottom. Wide
lace flouncing is draped in the effect
of a mantle, falling over the sleeves
and covering the upper .half of the
coat. It fastens at the waist line un
der two little bouquets of chiffon flow
ers made of tiny roses and ribbon
collage.
Recently Launched Summer Styles
ffff n w i
It makes one long for midsummer.
for the glory of Juno weddings, or
oven for graduation days, to view thn
now thin white dresses which have
recently been launched upon tho sea of
summer fashions. They are a froth of
frills and flounces and look as cool and
unsubstantial as whito clouds in the
spring sky. These models ot the ut
terly feminine In summer clothes are
repeated in palo tints that are mere re
flections of Dink or green or blue. Ois
caslonally illusive figures amiear on
them, usually In the form of lace ap
plique In motifs that are applied to an
under petticoat or to tho undersldo of
tho skirt.
Organdie and other sheer crlsn mate
rials are bettor adapted to dresses nf
this kind than softer fabrics. Lawns
and voiles are used for them, and It
almost goes without saying that the
flounces and frills are made very full
always but fullest In tho softer goods.
A frock of white oreandle Is shown
In tho illustration given here. It re-
teals the cleverest sort of management
of style and material, each helping out
tho other. The skirt and bodice are In
one, set together with a plain belt of
white moire. There Is a panel down
the front made of a series of frills
graduated In width. They are plaited
In the narrowest of plaits and extend
from tho square nock to the bottom of
the skirt. Two wide and very full
flounces cover the remainder of the
skirt. The hem of these flounces Is
trimmed Into scallops and hemstitched
at the edges.
The elbow sleeves are covered with
four plaited frills and widen at the
elbow. There Is a oualnt littio t.m
about the shoulders, edged with a frill,
ana it rails over the shoulders to the
topmost frill on the sleeves. The bod
ice Is plain and is hemmed at tho sides"
in a scalloped hem that falls over the
panel at the front. It fastens at the
fclde with Invisible fastening of small
Bat buttons and loops.
Back Yards Show Character
By SAMUEL G. DIXON. M. D.
Commissioner of Health of Pennsylvania
Bret Harte once wrote a story in
which he pointed out that for an in
sight into the occu
pant's true charac
ter one must look
at the back and
not at the front of
a man's house.
Here was knowl
edge of human na
ture. If we want
to estimate char
acter accurately we
must have an all
around view and
not accent face
values.
This brings us again to the question
of back yards. Is yours as clean and
well kept ns you can make it, or is it
Uttered with trash, cans, kindling and
other rubbish? Is the garbage and
waste properly covered and free from
flies? Is the srnhle nn,l n,.n,,o
fly-breeding center for the neighbor-
hood? You have work ahead for you
for your health's sake and for the
sake of decency if any of these condi
tions exist.
It is a privilege to have a back yard,
even a small one. There are thousands
of dwellers in cities where land is sold
by the square foot, who yearn for a
little space to call their own. Those
who are so fortunate as to have back
yards should care for them and make
use of them.
If there are children In the family
the back yard should be their play
ground. A doll house, turning pole, a
swing or a tent will provide almost
unlimited entertainment and help to
keep children off the streets.
If there are no children in the fam
ily, a shovel, a rnke, a hoe and a moderate-sized
backward garden should
afford a reasonable amount of health
ful exercise combined with pleasure
ana profit.
f-4rl.4.4.4..J.J..J.J.J.J.J.J..I..I..i. t .
lllTTTTTTTTTTTK
Under the Country Sky.
. ... .T. .T. ...... . . .. .. . . . . . . . .
t I TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTtttv
Tenderly sweet the days go by, .
Lovingly still are the nights that
flow
Under the spell of the country sky
Far in? a lund of Long Ago.
Stars and moon and the silver lake,
Hills and vales and the sparkling
sun
Under the country sky, oh make
Heart and the soul of us one and
one!
Noise and hatred and all things vile
Sink and fade as the hours go by;
Dreams at the gates of the valley
smile
Under the spell of the country sky.
Whistle' of quail where the young
wheat swings,
A hermit thrush In the western
wood
Love In the gates of the valley sings,
And the spell of the country sky is
good.
Wandering winds from the balmy
south,
Fairy feet on the hills so bv:
Love with a red rose in her mouth,
Under the spell of the country sky.
Keep me tight in your arms of rest,
Oh quiet lnnd of the dreams of men
The grassy hill and the valley's breast,
And the spell of the country sky
again.
Folger McKinsey In Baltimore Sun.
STAR OF FILM DOM
& J
SCIENTISTS MAY TALK TO
OTHER PLANETS IN FUTURE
Interstellar Wireless Communication
Not an Impossibility, in the
Opinion of Astronomers.
That interstellar wireless communi
cation may be a possibility of the fu
ture is a belief now held by not a
few scientists.
M. Guzman has promised to pay $20,
000 to the astronomer who first estab
lishes communication with anv nlnnet
or star other than Mars.
M. Guzman's elimination of Mars ns
a wireless station in the competition
he is promoting is based upon his be
lief that experiments made bv Amerl.
can astronomers in Arizona prove that
a wireless expert who talked with th
Martians would be overpaid If he re
ceived 11)0,000 francs. This nerfnrm.
nnce, to his mind, is too easv. too lack
ing in romantic and sensational fea
tures to be worthy of the modest for
tune he has dedicated to science.
But, If the 'Martians have learned
how to build canals without inviting
landslides, have made of Irrigation
processes an exact science, and have,
as various authorities contend, learned
how to fly by their own motive power,
there are numberless specialists in
this country who would be pleased to
call them up by long distance at once.
Lillian Gish.
Populur actress who hns reached
high place In the movie world.
War Brings Inventions.
The perils of scouting and recon
noltering during the present war hnve
caused the Germans to devise a pocket
flashlight which Is less dangerous to
use than tho type employed early In
the war, which shed Its rays straight
ahead and so attracted the enemy's
fire. This new lamp has a hood so de
signed that the Incandescent bulb, the
lens and the reflector all move In uni
son when the hood Is raised or low
ered. It can be hung from the belt or
held on the breast by a loop on the
coat
Another type of light, for officers'
use, Includes a compass in a recess be
low the bulb nnd also dividers, fire
making equipment, nmps and dispatch
tablets, for all of which a special com
partment Is provided. By dropping
the compass from the recess Into a
horizontal position it Is clearly light
ed by the lump. The cover of the
compnrtment holding the maps, etc.,
when thrown back, partly shields the
bull's-eye. .
Famous War Horses of Old ,
Replaced by Automobiles
One probable, result of the Introduc
tion of mechanical vehicles into war
fare will- be the nbolltlon of the old
custom of cherishing the memory of
famous war horses. When generals
conducted campaigns on horseback,
before the advent of the field motor
car, their favorite chargers used to re
ceive many honors.
Wellington's famous charger, Copen
hagen, when he died was burled with
full military honors. The Iron Duke's
horse was a magnificent chestnut, and
he carried his master many hundreds
of miles In Spain, and at the battle of
Toulouse.
The remains of Napoleon's white
stallion, Marengo, are preserved at the
Royal United Service institution, while
another of Bonaparte's steeds, which
he purchased at St. Helena, and bore
the name of King George, figures in
ninny famous paintings.
The horse which Lord Ronald rode
In the Bnlaklava charge was cherished
by his family until its death, when a
tombstone was erected over Its grave.
Traveler, which gained fame in the
Civil war as the favorite charger of
Gen. Robert E. Lee, Is now a popular
exhibit in a museum at Virginia, Us
skeleton having been carefully pre
served in a glass case.
Some Things That Are New.
To facilitate night photographv o
flashlight gun has been invented thnt
operates n camera shutter nt th in
stant the light Is at Its brightest.
According to n Vienna thront special
ist yawning is a hencftVini
It brings all the respiratory muscles
of the thront nnd chest Into action.
lolarizlng apparatus hns hrwm In.
vented In Germany for examining
glnss Intended for scientific purposes
for defects due to improper or Irregu
lar cooling.
The principle of tho cnrin ,...i
roller has been employed In a device
that almost autnnintimiiv
Idle neckties clenu nnd smooth.
Most ot the carpets made In India
are woven by boys, who are told by
men watching them how many knots
of each color to tie to the warp, a
single row at a time.
Individual fenders for each front
wheel of a motorbus, so mounted as to
always be In position for use, hnve
been Invented by a resident of Lon
don, Sleeping car berths have been In
vented with end sections that can be
lifted to give occupants room enough
to stand erect when undressing or
dressing.
To enable a man to work In smoko
or pis for a rhort time there has been
Invented a combination mask and hnt,
the latter acting AS ft frnah.att
voir.