Part 11 (1/2)

This was Magnis Carter, and he refused to tell what he knew. He merely explained that he was preparing certain announcements for the _Signal_, which would of course include an advertis.e.m.e.nt of the new store. If anybody wanted to know what was going on, let them read the _Signal_. It always contained the news. He was tremendously puffed up. He was inclined to snub the curious. Lord save us! did anybody think he was going to give away his own scoop?

He was also silent about a certain transaction between him and Susan Walton.

Three days before the formal opening of the Cooperative Store, she surprised him at his editorial desk. This was a deal table in a corner of the printing office. It was littered with proof, scratch paper, scissors, mucilage, pencils, inkwells, and a case of ”pie.” He was engaged in sorting this. His collar and cravat hung upon a nail on the wall above the table. He was in his s.h.i.+rt sleeves. His hair was rumpled, his fingers inky.

But the first thing he thought of when he saw the old lady picking her way between bales of paper near the door of the office, was his socks.

The day was very warm, and he thought he remembered pulling them down to cool his legs. It was impossible to make sure. You cannot pull up your socks in the presence of a woman, even an old woman. Besides, she had her mouth primped severely and her eyes fixed with a soap-and-water expression upon him.

He leaped from his chair, showing a purple rim around each ankle and the bare skin above. He cast a despairing glance at his collar, and made a dive for his coat.

”Oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Walton! Excuse me,” he exclaimed, thrusting his arms in the sleeves. ”I was not expecting this honour, as you see!”

She advanced and deliberately seated herself in the chair he had vacated.

”Don't trouble to put on your coat, Mr. Carter. It's very warm in here,”

fanning herself. ”I think we shall have to move the _Signal_ to the Woman's Building on the avenue. There is still the kitchen and pantry we could use--very large pantry--make an excellent private editorial office.”

”I beg pardon, Madam, what did you say?”

He had forgotten his socks. His eyes protruded. She laughed--it was the triumph of mind over matter--that laugh, an old woman's cackle, he being the matter. He did not like it. He stood waiting for an explanation, seeing that she occupied the only chair. He felt that it would take a good deal to explain how and why she thought she could induce him to move the office of the _Signal_ into the kitchen of that female rat trap on the avenue.

She came immediately to the point, a thing you never do in business unless you are sure you have the drop on the other fellow.

”The Co-Citizens' Foundation Fund holds a mortgage on the _Signal_, Mr.

Carter?” She put this affirmative in the form of a question.

”Er--I believe there was a small mortgage held by the Mosely Estate,” he admitted.

”And with the four years' interest due, I believe it covers the value of the property now, doesn't it?” She had taken out another pair of spectacles and adjusted them upon her upturned nose.

”About,” he added, dazed.

”We shall be glad to retain your services. That is what I am here for this afternoon, to make arrangements with you, if possible.”

Carter raised his hand, scratched his chin through his beard, squinted one eye, and took sight along the barrel of his personal interest at Susan.

”We are prepared to bear all the expense of publication and offer you a salary of one hundred dollars a month to conduct the paper; but of course we should expect to control the policy of it absolutely. We purpose to make it the organ of the Woman's Suffrage Movement here. I should myself dictate most of the editorials.”

”You should, Madam?” he exclaimed.

”Yes.”

”And where would I come in?”

”Oh, we should want you to do the work, get up advertis.e.m.e.nts, write special articles along such educational lines for the movement as we should suggest. You would 'come in' a great deal, Mr. Carter. You would be the busiest man in Jordantown.”

”But, good Lord--beg pardon! You want me to become a woman suffragist, Madam--and I'm a man!”

”We should certainly require you to work for it. Suffrage for women is not a matter of s.e.x. It's a question of common justice.”