Ruth was walking slowly up from the main gates when Ned reached the veranda. She was stooping over a chrysanthemum blossom to note its beautiful coloring when Ned whistled to attract her attention.
“Better hurry in and wash up for dinner—it’s almost seven, and mother doesn’t like dinner delayed, you know,” Ned said, as Ruth skipped up smilingly.
Not a word was said, and the Bobolinks never found out how the Blue Birds watched them practice their future business tactics.
The next morning Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina had Ike drive them to the paper mills.
Mrs. Talmage explained her errand and selected some samples of stationery paper. The manager then showed them over the mills and Aunt Selina whispered aside to Mrs. Talmage: “What an interesting article this work would make.”
“Indeed, yes!” replied Mrs. Talmage, turning to the manager to tell him of the new venture of the Blue Birds and ask him to write up a story about the manufacture of paper.
“That I will! I like to write, and often, when I’m tired or worried, I sit down to write a funny sketch. I have sold a number of them to Sunday papers,” was the surprising reply.
The two ladies were escorted to the manager’s office and chairs were placed for them while a price list was prepared for the convenience of the Blue Birds.
This done, the manager sat back in his office chair.
“Have the children planned any campaign for securing circulation?” he asked.