ut far from discouraged, showed her something
else--many somethings. Concerning each he was enthusiastic, slangy, and
familiar. Mary-'Gusta paid little attention to slang or enthusiasm; the
familiarity she ignored utterly. She selected several of the novelties,
a rather extensive line of Christmas cards, and in the matters of
price and cash discounts was keen and businesslike. Keith watched and
listened, at first with amusement, then with growing admiration for the
girl's simplicity and good sense.

Mr. Kron's admiration was outspoken.

"Say," he said, as he repacked his samples, "you're a mighty clever
buyer, do you know it? That line of stuff you've ordered is the cream,
that's what it is. You made a mistake in not layin' in a dozen or two of
those combination beauty-boxes, but that's all right. Here, have one for
yourself. Take it with my compliments."

Mary-'Gusta declined. "No, thank you," she said.

"Why not? It don't come out of my pocket. The firm expects me to hand
out little keepsakes like that. I've been plantin' 'em with the girls
all the way down."

"No, thank you," she replied.

Mr. Kron, having finished his business as representative of Messrs.
Bernstein, Goldberg and Baun, attempted a stroke of his own.

"Say," he said, "I've got a little spare time on my hands this evenin';
I shan't make the next town until tomorrow. There's a new movie theater
just opened over to Orham. They tell me it's all to the mustard. I can
hire a rig here and you and me might drive over tonight and take it in.
What do you say, Kid?"

"No, thank you," said Mary-'Gusta again.

"But--"

"No, thank you. Good day."

She turned away to enter the order she had just given in a book on
the desk. Mr. Kron tried again, but she did not appear to hear him. He
grinned, observed "Oh, very well!" and, with a wink at Mr. Keith, went
out, a suitcase in each hand.

Keith rose from the chair and, walking over to the counter, requested to
be supplied with the tobacco he had come to buy. Mary-'Gusta gave it
to him. Her cheeks were red and Keith was surprised to notice that she
looked almost as if she would like to cry. He guessed the reason.

"That young man will get himself thoroughly kicked some day," he
observed; "I'm not sure that I oughtn't to have done it myself just now.
He annoyed you, I'm afraid."

Mary-'Gusta answered without looking at him.

"That's all right," she said. "I'm foolish, I guess. He meant to be
nice, perha