| Show ww TEDS ORDEAL I 1 L J by LESTER BLOOM I 1 OM silently the committee followed ted I ammond lammond down the street at the fifth house from the corner they solemnly paused ted gave one appealing look and mounted the steps there was such a prompt response to his ring that they almost seemed to have been waiting for him ted waited miserably in the reception room while the butler went to a announce n no ance hla his important business lie I 1 e rather envied who was getting off light what was simulating an epileptic fit in a crowded dry goods st store oreto to trying to sell the most luxurious liver in town a copy of the simple life the committee on oil initiation had been most ingenious this year the maslig tasks they allotted the candid candidates ate 1 were positively fiendish but to order bl him blanto into to seek to sell a copy of that book to chester seemed seamed to invite him ti to destruction belt nervously he followed the butler butlen dowaine down the long hall and into the library ackerman looked up at his entrance what can I 1 do for you he asked sharply 1 I havo have abood a book explained ted its a very Meb celebrated rated book and I 1 thought thou glit you might like Ilke to buy a copy A book agent thundered ackerman a as he reached fo for r the bell sephere see here pleaded ted give me a chance here is a book that been talking about dont want lt ft lt snapped ackerman have a look anyway anyway insisted ted td its the the book that the president thought was such hot stuff ill bet youve never read jt it and yet its been talked about for i the last two ye years ars you never did readia re adIt did you no and im not going to now declared ackerman if I 1 thought you meant that I 1 neu deLto read that you yon do pc arto relt reiterated rated ted not tawny you mean hut but because a f mart to keep posted by your own admission youre two years behind you can have a laugh anyway waya he held the book invitingly toward his victim and almost unconsciously ackerman Ackerm nn t took 9 ok I 1 it ile he glanced over the pages with nn im occasional grunt he was byno by no means an exponent of the simple life ani he found much to deride I 1 tell you it was good for a laugh insisted ted ackerman look looked up with a smile how much is it he demanded you can satisfy your pride with tile knowledge that youre the first book agent that ever sold me anything in that case make it a dollar su suggested ted thanks good m morning 9 I 1 can find my own way out 11 ite he was gone before ackerman could ring elated over his bis success and devoutly thankful that he had bad not bein been thrown out he was just opening ahe he front door when a girl came running don dowa ya stars 1 mr hammond she cried ted turned miss bliss brur drury il he gasped what brings you here mr ackerman ismy Is my guardian she explained 1 1 11 I thought that perhaps J 1 she caught herself with a blush no said ted that was not it you andybur and your party left the point su sn suddenly that I 1 could get no trace of you the fachs that I 1 was in sellin mr ackerman a book you are a book agent she cried in shocked surprise amateur he explained they want to io make mek me feel properly humble b before fore they admit me to fellowship in A el fraternity ahad to sell a copy of lie die simple life to uncle chester she cried ow did ever do it vont know myself he be admitted A jy cly there are three odthe of the comie outside now iv waiting alting to see me rhian NM down the steps edid idid not ex ut t to disappoint them 1 I could call the butler she sug sted no thanks if you will permit me 1 take another chance with houi your uncle icle how she asked asic d curiously you know what I 1 was trying to ask you last summer lie he said boldly I 1 you left before I 1 could propose 1 I was and am con conceited belted enough to think that you do care for roe me may I 1 go in and ask ills his consent to our ni marriage arrIage when I 1 actuate tills this Is so sudden she protested not a bli bit of it ive deen been s seven even months getting it out I 1 think youve had notice dilce enough ills his eyes pleaded more m ore eloquently than bis tongue cand and hid bid her faa face e on hi his 4 shoulder as she whispered lees yes for a 0 second time that in orning chester ackerman w was is shocked dout out of his accustomed va placidity acidity and for a second time tf ted t won this time lits his pleading was far more eld eloquent quent lie could not go away ni at t lost last I 1 he said good hy by i in the shadow of f the trees frees three huddled figures with chattering teeth him I 1 sorry sorri to keep you waiting ir said ted politely ol tely acrea doll dollar fir I 1 got 1 f fol forthe book 11 tell iii us about it the what detained you eliat quite adoth another ii story explained pla ined teil but tim ro really very nuli obliged to you jor for your amiable efforts to provide we with sudden death 1 I nm am indeed t M bt PIS 1938 by alha ilha tb e 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