“Why not managing owner?” he retorted.
“I am glad you confirm my promotion so readily,” she returned, with a charming touch of color in her cheeks, “because that, you see, helps me to present what I have to say for the good of the firm.”
“I am listening, Betty Jo.”
“Very well; tell me, first, Brian, just exactly how much do you owe that bank, reward-money and all, and Auntie Sue, interest and everything?”
Brian went to his coat, which lay on a near-by stump, and returned with a small pocket account-book.
“I have it all here,” he said, as he seated himself close beside her again. And, opening the book, he showed her how he had kept a careful record of the various sums he had taken from the bank, with the dates.
“Oh, Brian, Brian!” she said with a little cry of delight, “I am so glad,—so glad you have this! It is exactly what I want for my wedding present. It was so thoughtful of you to fix it for me.”
Thus by a characteristic, Betty Jo turn she made the little book of painful memories a book of joyous promise.
When they again returned to the consideration of business matters, Brian gave her the figures which answered her questions as to his total indebtedness.
Again Betty Jo exclaimed with delight: “Brian, do you see? Take your pencil and figure quick your royalties on the number of books sold as given in the publishers' statement.”