Owen Oliver

“ Nevertheless, he passed Betty's kindness on to Harris, when he called later in the morning, a nervous and dejected man.
"It isn't only the consequences which will follow to myself," he pleaded, "if you press me. Others will be seriously affected—Lee, for example. He has been with me for six-and-twenty years, and no one ever had a better man. ”

“ He knows we're overstocked, and in want of ready cash, and he's taken the opportunity to beat us down. Harris is more or less in his power. I don't know what will happen, Bet—I haven't told your mother yet; she's harped so on my getting a rise—but, unless they come to some satisfactory arrangement to-day, I don't know that Harris will be able to afford to keep me at all. That's where there's a job for a fairy. ”

“ Still, it was hard lines on a girl who had been well off till her father's death to have to work in a lawyer's office.
"They were all so nice to me in the 'bus," she decided, "and I've got to pass it on, haven't I? It's the only way to do without fairies."
So she sat down and typed at the deed which Annie should have done.
At ten Annie had not arrived, so Betty gave the boy the typing to take in to Mr. Grice. At half-past ten he demanded Miss French, and found out who had done the work. ”

“ It's Christmas time, Jones, Christmas time."
"Er—yes," Jones admitted. "I don't see that has much to do with it. The better the day the better the deed. If you're thinking of keeping Harris going on the present terms, I'd say that you can't. You'd have to go easier, or he'd break. I thought that was what you expected?"
"Yes," Manners owned. He played with his paper-knife. "But something has happened——" He paused. What had happened? A fairy had passed him a kindness to be passed on! Not too much time left for passing on kindnesses. He was growing an old man. Of course, business is business ”

“ You don't think—you surely don't think——"
"S-sh! Mother will wonder what we're talking about. Run along. I'm late. Since we have to do without fairies, we must make the best of what good things we have, little Bets, eh? ”

“ Harris owned. "Of course it isn't. It's just taking advantage of the fact that a man of his age doesn't find another managing berth easily, and it would be a wrench to part company—a wrench to both. He asked me yesterday for a rise. I told him that he fully deserved it, but that I hadn't the money. 'What's the use of high prices,' I said, 'if the things don't sell, Lee ”