It was Betty who had suggested the idea. It hadn't occurred to me at all. She was in the kitchen, getting the lunch ready, and I didn't think she was paying any attention to what Mr. Field and I were talking about. Then, as she was placing the lunch of chops and grilled sweet potatoes (grilled as only Betty can grill them) on the table, she had remarked: "If Mr. Field is staying in town to-night, why not ask him to attend your meeting with you?" "That's a dandy idea!" I returned enthusiastically. "Will you come, Mr. Field?" And the big, rosy-faced, jovial secretary chuckled and said: "Very glad to." I had been told a number of times that Mr. Field was one of the best-natured men in the world, which perhaps accounted somewhat for his success. His readiness to comply with my request tended to show that what I had heard about him was true. "And, boy dear," said Betty sweetly, "Mr. Field has several stores of his own. Why not make him an ex-officio member of the company for to-night? Perhaps he could give you some good ideas on selling." "Say, that's bully!" I cried, smacking my knee. "I'll tell the boys this afternoon!" Betty smiled: "Wouldn't it be just as well to ask Mr. Field first, if he would do it?" "Why, yes, of course," I replied, blushing. "How careless of me! You will, won't you, Mr. Field?" "Only too glad to be of service," he returned, "if you think there is anything I can say that will help them." "I'm sure there is," I said impetuously. We then settled down to our lunch. A few minutes later Betty suggested: "Won't it make it pretty late for Mr. Field to get his dinner after the meeting, since it doesn't start until 6:30?" Then a brilliant idea struck me. "Betty," I asked, "will you make us coffee and buy some doughnuts and send them down to the store about quarter past six? That will keep us from starving until the meeting is over." Well, we had our coffee and doughnuts before the meeting started. Mr. Field had a chance to mix with the boys, and got them all into good humor. Then the meeting was called to order, and I announced that, before Mr. Field began to talk, we would clean up any left-over matters. I brought up the matter of the Cincinnati Pencil Sharpener agency. The boys seemed to fight shy of doing any outside selling, and I, in a fit of bravado--caused, I think, by the keen twinkle I saw in Mr. Field's eyes--said: "Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go out myself to-morrow, and see what can be done with it. If I start the ball rolling, you fellows will follow it up all right, won't you?" And this was agreed to--somewhat half-heartedly, I must say.