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182 Stet went away forthwith. Frank went Into details with Darry as to the mail order business. It must remain partially inactive until something encouraging developed.

The morning mail was a pretty good one. About ten o'clock Mrs. Ismond came down to the office, and Frank initiated his mother into the business routine.

"Just get the mail each day, and fill what orders you can," said Frank. "When you can't fill an order, return the money. You see, mother, I want to take the bulk of stock on hand with me for quick sales, and I can't order any more until I get some money ahead."

Frank put in two hours about town trying to look up Markham. The result was quite as discouraging as upon the day previous. He closed an arrangement for the hire of a horse and a light wagon, and packed up some goods at the office, ready for his trip into the country.

Mrs. Ismond, with a woman's instinctive capacity for neatness, had the office in attractive order by late afternoon, and all the work attended to.

"Don't get discouraged, Frank," she said, as they were on their way home. "It won't take a great deal of money to keep up the business in a small way. I sent out a hundred circulars this