LETTY AND MARY LEE SELL LIBERTY BONDS
Mr. Saunders, Letty's father, came home early the following evening.
He had been down to Mexico and had just returned. Permission had been
given by the Mexican Government for the furtherance of their plans.
Tom Marshall, so he reported, was already busily at work and the
prospects were very bright. Mr. Saunders spoke enthusiastically about
the young man, and his ability. And his respect for Jim Lee had
greatly increased from the accounts he had received from Tom Marshall
and one or two of the men who were located in the neighborhood.
Both Letty and Mary Lee were, of course, greatly interested, the
latter for the best of reasons, although she somehow could not grasp
the idea that more wealth was to be hers. She was gratified that
Letty's father--a careful, shrewd and conservative business
man--should have made an exception in behalf of her friends.
Toward the end of the evening the girls suddenly bethought themselves
of a plan they had formulated a few days before the arrival of Letty's
father.
It was Letty who opened the campaign.
"We feel it our patriotic duty to sell you a Liberty Bond--or more
than one," the girl added as the idea suddenly came to her that one
was not very much for her rich father to buy.
"Oh," her father ejaculated in surprise. "And why, young lady?" And
his words sounded so serious and businesslike that neither Letty nor
Mary Lee noticed the humor lurking in his eyes. "Why should you feel
it to be your duty to sell them to me?"
"It is not only our duty to sell bonds, but it is the duty of everyone
in the country." It was Mary Lee who answered and even as she spoke a
sudden idea came to her mind. It was still a little hazy and so she
said nothing more.
"How many do you think I should buy?" Mr. Saunders queried trying hard
to maintain a business-like appearance.
"How many?" Letty repeated. She tried hard to think of a number that
would seem consistent. It was apparent to her father that she was
flustered.
"I think five would be right," and then it occurred to her that five
wasn't enough. "I mean ten--or perhaps eight," the girl finally
concluded, rather lamely.
"Well, my dears, it may interest you to know that I have bought not
ten, nor eight, but two hundred; and I am to buy some more within the
next few days."
"My," said Letty, in awed tones into which there crept a measure of
disappointment. "Then we cannot sell you any? Not even one?" she added
coaxingly, with a sudden renewal of hope.
"You see, Mr. Saunders," Mary Lee turned to the work in hand with the
feeling that her own idea would follow as a matter of course, "we
girls in the Red Cross Group have each volunteered to sell at least
five Liberty Bonds. Letty and I are to sell to some other people, but
we counted on you, too."
"And you don't want your count to be in vain, do you?"
"No, sir," both girls replied.
"All right then, I'll buy ten. Is that satisfactory?"
Letty hugged her father and both girls danced in glee over their first
success. Mr. Saunders looked at them with great pride and
satisfaction.
Mary Lee suddenly sobered and became business-like.
"Mr. Saunders," she spoke diffidently.
"Any other business into which you desire to inveigle me?" he
questioned.
"Yes, sir," the girl replied, while Letty looked at her, a little
uncertain as to what was coming.
The girl continued: "The money that Jim left for my use--I was
wondering; of course, I don't know if it can be done--if it couldn't
buy some Liberty Bonds."
Mr. Saunders laughed. "Of course it could. It wouldn't be so bad an
investment either. We'll begin by buying a hundred shares for you."
"Thank you," Mary Lee replied, proud that Jim's money was to be used
in this way.
"Can we turn the order in?" asked the practical Letty.
"I suppose you can," her father replied.
"That means, Letty," Mary Lee exclaimed in awe, "that we already have
one hundred and ten bonds sold. And we must sell some to the Andersons
and to the Camerons. I shall write to Tom Marshall and ask him to buy
some, too."
"It may be that I shall have a surprise for you by tomorrow, too," Mr.
Saunders added. He was interested in their success but he also felt
that their efforts should not be too easily successful. He decided to
call up the Andersons and also the Camerons who were to return from
Florida within the next few days and tell them not to be too easy in
complying and the reasons for it. The work of getting subscriptions
would be so much more worth-while if it did not bring too easy
returns.
"I suppose you girls know why these bonds are being issued and why
they are called Liberty Bonds."
"It is money for the war, and because Germany is not a democratic
nation the fight against it is called a fight for Liberty, isn't it?"
Mary Lee questioned.
"There's more to it than that. If the hour were not so late I would
give you some of the reasons for issuing these bonds; but Mary Lee
gives the kernel in her explanation. Isn't it time for these young
ladies to go to bed, mother?" he asked as Mrs. Saunders came into the
room.
"That is the reason for my being here at this minute. It is time, my
dears. Ten o'clock has struck long since."
But the girls would not go until they had excitedly explained their
success in selling Liberty Bonds.
"I'm disappointed, my dears," Mrs. Saunders said. "Hurt, too. You
never thought of asking me."
The girls looked at her for the first time in the light of a customer.
"And what is more," Letty's mother added, taking advantage of the
pause on the girls' part due to their surprise, "you can't sell me any
tonight for it is too late."
"But we surely will tomorrow," Letty replied. "So let's be off to bed,
Mary Lee."