Part 2 (2/2)

”How I wish I had come to you at first!” I said.

”Yes,” he replied absentmindedly, ”that's the trouble with many so-called business men. They never think of using a lawyer to keep them out of trouble, but come to them only after they have got into it!”

A salesman from Bates & Hotchkin came in the afternoon and said his firm had told him about my wanting an inventory taken and offered to stay with me till it was done.

”What will it cost?” I asked. My $1500.00 began to look very small to me then.

He smiled and shook his head, and said:

”It won't cost you anything. If we can be of service to you, we want to be.”

I had also arranged for an accountant to go over the books. He was a Scotchman, named Jock McTavish, and he was to come the next morning.

Betty urged me to have him install a proper accounting system for me while he was on the job. I shook my head and said:

”There may not be anything worth putting an accounting system in for.

I've ruined my life and I've spoiled my chances of your--”

She put her hand over my mouth and said:

”Don't be silly! Now is the time to see if you have any manhood in you.

Anybody can talk big when everything goes right! No one ever made a success without having some failure. Don't you remember what Lord Beaconsfield said, when he was asked how he attained success?”

I shook my head gloomily.

”He said, 'By using my failures as stepping stones to success!'”

”Well,” said I, ”I've certainly one big stepping stone here.”

”Quite right,” said she, ”then step up it like a man!”

A girl like Betty, I thought, was worth bucking up for! I just set my teeth and decided I would pull through the thing somehow!

I thought the worst had happened, but I found it hadn't. Herson, the salesman from Bates & Hotchkin, completed the inventory, the next day, with the a.s.sistance of the others in the store. I can't say I did much to help, for I was simply consumed with anxiety. All I did was to serve customers while it was going on, and that helped to keep me from worrying too much.

Herson came over to me when he finished the inventory and said:

”I'm afraid you are going to be sadly disappointed at the figures. I have put the goods in at their present valuation, as near as I can figure it, and I find that there are $8,100.00 worth.”

”Then,” said I, ”I have lost over a thousand dollars on that stock--$1,360.00!”

”You surely have,” said he.

”Well,” I thought, ”even so, there's a chance of recovering, and Betty is looking to me to make good and I must!”

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