Three Little Women Part 23

"Mammy is coming over with me early Sat.u.r.day morning. Just think we have already made over twenty-five pounds of candy. I want to have fifty on hand to start with. Do you think I'll _ever_ sell it?" and the pretty girlish face was raised to Mr. Porter's with the most winning of smiles.

"Little flirt! I wonder if she knows he has daughters as old as _she_ is," muttered the girl at the 'phone. Constance was quite unconscious of either look or comment.

"Of course you'll sell it. Mark my word it will go like hot cakes,"

was the encouraging answer.

"I hope so. And thank you again and again for _all_ you have done.

Good-bye. Please tell your daughters what a proud girl you have made me," and the little gloved hand was held toward him. He shook it warmly and walked with her to the front door. As he turned to go back a man who occupied a cigar stand near the door nodded and said with a laugh:

"Got a new tenant, Mr. Porter? Goin' to let us have another pretty girl to talk to?"

"I've got a new tenant, yes, Breckel, but, unless I am very much mistaken, you will not talk to her a great deal, and when you _do_ you'll take your hat off, and toss away your cigar. It's a pity we can't have a few more such girls in our business world. It would raise the standard considerably. Men would find a better occupation than making fool speeches to them then. Mark my word that little woman will succeed."

"I'm sure I hope she will if she's the right stuff," answered Breckel, the laugh giving place to a more earnest expression and tone of voice, which proved that the man, like most of his stamp, had something good in him to be appealed to.

CHAPTER XXIII

Opening Day

At last the eventful morning arrived. Constance and Mammy were astir long before the clock struck six, and the candy kettles were bubbling merrily. Constance was pulling her big lump of mola.s.ses candy when Jean came bounding into the kitchen arrayed in her little night toga.

"Bress my soul!" cried Mammy. "Wha' yo' doin' down hyer? Kite long back dis minit. Does yer want ter kitch yo' deaf cold?"

"But Connie didn't call me, and I said I'd help," protested Jean.

"He'p! He'p! Yo' look lak yo' could he'p, don't yo'? stannin' dar dressed in nuffin in de worl' but yo' nightie an' yo' _skin_. Clar out dis minit befo' I smack yo' wid dis hyer gre't spoon," and Mammy made a dive for the culprit as she darted away.

A few hours later the candy boxes were in the bottom of the phaeton, Constance mounting guard over them while Mammy acted as Jehu.

When the Arcade was reached Mammy descended from the phaeton, blanketed Baltie, and then taking one of the large boxes in which the smaller ones were packed, said:

"Now honey, yo' tek anodder--_No, not two_ of 'em--dey's too heavy fo'

you; I'll come back fo' dose. Now walk 'long head ob me, kase I want dese hyer folks what's a-starin' at us lak dey aint neber _is_ seen anybody befo', ter unnerstan' dat I'se _yo' sarvint_, an' here fer ter pertec' yo'. _An' I ain' gwine stan' no nonsense needer._"

"You need not be afraid Mammy. Everybody is just as kind and lovely as possible."

"Huh! Dey'd _better_ be," retorted Mammy, with a warning snort.

In a short time the little booth made a brave showing with its quarter-pound, half-pound, and pound boxes of candy, each tied with pretty ribbon, and each bearing upon its cover the smiling face of its young maker.

When Miss Willing found a chance to take a sly peep at them she turned her head and sneered as she murmured: "Well, of all the conceit. My!

Ain't she just stuck on that face of hers though."

Scarcely was all arranged, when Mr. Porter appeared upon the scene.

"Just in time to be the first customer," he cried gayly. "How are you this morning? How-de-do, Auntie? Ah, you see I know your partner now.

What all have you got here anyhow?" he continued as he peered into the cases. "Pralines, plain fudge, nut fudge, mola.s.ses candy, cream walnuts, caramels, b.u.t.ter-scotch. I say! You've been working, little girl, haven't you?"

"Lak ter wo'k her finges mos' off," a.s.serted Mammy.

"They're none of them missing, though," laughed Constance, holding up the pretty tapering fingers to prove her words.

"Then give me my candies, quick! I can't wait another minute. You can almost see my mouth water like my old hunting dog's."

"Which kind will you have Mr. Porter?"

"_All_ kinds of course!"

"Not really?"

"Yes, _really_. Do you think I'm going to miss any of the treat?

Biggest boxes, please."

Constance lifted from the case a pound box of each variety.

"How much?" asked Mr. Porter.

"Why nothing to _you_? How _could_ I?" she asked, coloring at the thought of accepting more from him.

"Now see here, young lady, that won't do. You can't begin _that_ way.

Your business has got to be spot cash. Don't forget that, or you'll get into difficulties," said her customer with a warning nod of his head.

"As near as I can make out Mr. Porter, it's just the other way about; I'm getting my cash in advance. Now please listen to me," said Constance very seriously, an appealing look in her expressive eyes.

"You have done a great deal for me in arranging this booth so attractively, and encouraging me in every way. In addition to that you have 'taken stock,' as you call it, in the venture. Very well, _I_ call it simply advancing capital. Now I shall never feel at ease until that sum is paid off, and one way for me to do it is to let you have all the candy you want. No--wait a minute; I haven't finished," as Mr.

Porter raised his hand in protest. "If you will promise to come to the booth for all the candy you want, I will charge you just the same for it as I charge the others, but it must go toward canceling my obligation _so far as money_ can cancel it. Now, _please_, say yes, and make my opening day a very happy one for me. Otherwise I shall have to refuse to let you have _any_ candy until I have paid back the hundred dollars. Isn't that right and fair, Mammy?" she asked, turning to look into the kind old face beside her.

"Hits jist de fa'r an' squar' livin' truf. Hit suah is, Ma.s.sa Potah.

Ain' no gittin' roun' dat. We-all cyant tek no mo' 'vestments 'dout we gibs somepin fer ter mak hit right. Miss Constance, know what she a-sayin'."

The gay bandanna nodded vigorously to emphasize this statement.

Mr. Porter looked at them for a moment, and then broke into a hearty laugh.

"I give it up!" he cried. "Have it your own way, but if I eat sweets until I lose all my teeth, upon your heads be the blame. It isn't every man who has a hundred dollars worth to pick from as he chooses."

"_You_ won't have very long, because I expect to pay back in more ways than just candies," cried Constance, merrily.

"But you surely don't want _all_ that?" she added, laying her hands upon the seven boxes lying upon the counter.

"Yes, I do! My soul, if she isn't trying to do me out of my own purchases. Here, young lady, give me those boxes. I want them right in my own hands before you have some new protest to put forth," and hastily piling his seven pounds of candy upon his arm, Mr. Porter fled for the elevator, leaving Mammy and Constance to laugh at his speedy departure.

At length all was arranged, the booth with its array of dainty boxes making a brave display.

Constance and Mammy stood for a moment looking at it before taking their departure, well pleased with the result of their undertaking.

Then with a pleasant good morning to Miss Willing, whose eyes and ears had been more than busy during the past hour, they departed, leaving the little candy booth, its cash box, and its very unusual announcement upon the sign which swung above it, to prove or disprove the faith which one young girl felt in her fellow beings.