The Early Bird: A Business Man's Love StoryChester, George Randolph
General
The Early Bird: A Business Man's Love Story
Chester, George Randolph
Businessmen -- Fiction; Love stories
"No, thanks," replied Sam, looking at his watch. "I expect some word
from my kid brother. I have wired him to send some samples of marsh
pulp, and the paper we've had made from it."
"Marsh pulp," repeated Mr. Stevens. "That's a new one on me. What's
it like?"
"Greatest stunt on earth," replied Sam confidently. "It is our scheme
to meet the deforestation danger on the way--coming."
Already he was reaching in his pocket for paper and pencil, and sat
down again at the side of Mr. Stevens, who immediately began stroking
his aggressive beard. Fifteen minutes later Sam briskly got up again
and Mr. Stevens shook hands with him.
"That's a great scheme," he said, and he gazed after Sam's broad
shoulders admiringly as that young man strode down the steps.
On his way Sam passed the tennis court where the one girl and three
young men were engaged in a most dextrous game, a game which all the
other amateurs of Hollis Creek Inn had stopped their own sets to watch.
In the pause of changing sides Miss Josephine saw him and waved her
hand and wafted a gay word to him. A second later she was in the air,
a lithe, graceful figure, meeting a high "serve," and Sam walked on
quite thoughtfully.
When he arrived at Meadow Brook his first care was for his telegram.
It was there, and bore the assurance that the samples would arrive on
the following morning. His next step was to hunt Miss Westlake. That
plump young person forgot her pique of the morning in an instant when
he came up to her with that smiling "been-looking-for-you-everywhere,
mighty-glad-to-see-you" cordiality.
"I want you to teach me tennis," he said immediately.
"I'm afraid I can't teach you much," she replied with becoming
diffidence, "because I'm not a good enough player myself; but I'll do
my best. We'll have a set right after luncheon; shall we?"
"Fine!" said he.
After luncheon Mr. Westlake and Mr. Cuthbert waylaid him, but he merely
thrust his telegram into Mr. Westlake's hands, and hurried off to the
tennis grounds with Miss Westlake and Miss Hastings and lanky Bob
Tilloughby, who stuttered horribly and blushed when he spoke, and was
in deadly seriousness about everything. Never did a man work so hard
at anything as Sam Turner worked at tennis. He had a keen eye and a
dextrous wrist, and he kept the game up to top-notch speed. Of course
he made blunders and became confused in his count and overlooked
opportunities, but he covered acres of ground, as Vivian Hastings
expressed it, and when, at the end of an hour, they sat down, panting,
to rest, young Tilloughby, with painful earnestness, assured him that
he had "the mum-mum-makings of a fine tennis player."
Sam considered that compliment very thoughtfully, but he was a trifle
dubious. Already he perceived that tennis playing was not only an
occupation but a calling.
"Thanks," said he. "It's mighty nice of you to say so, Tilloughby.
What's the next game?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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