The Bobolinks carefully covered the machines with the canvas covers and started to go out. At the same time the girls in the loft crept across the floor toward the steps. The boys were not making so much noise as when the Blue Birds went up in the loft, and Meredith stood surprised when he heard something moving over his head.
"Where"s Ike?" he whispered to Ned.
"Just outside the door--why?" replied Ned.
"Don"t you hear those footsteps?"
"What--where? Yes, of course!" exclaimed Ned.
Simon was seen crossing the lawn and Ike stood outside with the boys, so who could be upstairs?
Meantime, Ruth overheard Meredith"s exclamation and hurried the girls down and out, and pushed them inside the garage before any of the boys could persuade Ike that someone was upstairs. Finally he allowed them to drag him to the small carriage room and ascend the steps.
The Blue Birds lay hidden in the bottom of the automobile and almost suffocated trying to keep from laughing outright at the way the Bobolinks were hoodwinked.
Every one of the boys trudged up the steps, but found the loft empty. As soon as they were out of sight in the small room, the girls jumped out of the car and ran madly for the shrubbery which sheltered the kitchen gardens from the lawns. Here, they could creep toward home without being seen from the barns.
Ike looked carefully about the loft but hid a smile when his back was turned.
"There, I told you no one was here!" he said.
"Well, I don"t care, I _heard_ them!" retorted Ned.
"Maybe it was rats!" ventured Ike.
"No, sir, you said that you were never pestered with rats; besides, this noise was just like walking would sound," insisted Ned.
Ike kept the boys upstairs arguing for a sufficient time to permit the Blue Birds to get out of the way, then he started down.
"Well, I"ll keep the door locked and the key in my room," promised Ike, as the boys waited for him to lock up.
"If it was a tramp, Ned, he couldn"t move our machinery, so what"s the use bothering?" said Don.
"He could steal our type and other things, and sell them," grumbled Ned, still una.s.sured.
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.
"Why, no, Mr. White, we intended talking that matter over with the mothers to-night. We are all so inexperienced in this undertaking that I suppose a business man would laugh at our way of putting "the cart before the horse," as the saying is," laughed Mrs. Talmage.
"The fact is, this whole proposition is so sudden and different from anything the children had dreamed of!" added Aunt Selina, in defence of their mistakes.
"I know! When I heard of the daring of the children I certainly admired their s.p.u.n.k, but I couldn"t help shaking my head, too, for it is no joke to start a real business, as they are doing," said Mr. White, seriously.
"Well, we will need the help of all of our friends," smiled Mrs.
Talmage.
"You"ll have it, too. Why, everybody in Oakdale felt the Blue Birds"
work last summer was wonderful; now, this new venture will have the support of all of the townsfolks."
"It is very encouraging to hear you speak so, and if you think of any way to boom our circulation, I wish you would come over some evening and tell us all about it," replied Mrs. Talmage.
Suddenly the manager sat upright and looked toward the book-shelves, which contained rows of business-like looking reference books.
"I believe we have the idea!" exclaimed he, jumping up and going over to the shelves to take down a heavy volume.
"This book contains all the names and addresses of stationery stores in the United States and Canada. It is only a year old, so most of these addresses will be up-to-date. We use it for mailing samples of our paper, but I have an idea that you would get plenty of subscriptions and make willing agents of these storekeepers. If you send a sample of your magazine and give them a liberal commission there is no reason why these firms would refuse to act as agents. Anyway, it would do no harm to try out the suggestion," said Mr. White.
"Why, Mr. White, do you know that you are a direct answer to my prayer!"
cried Aunt Selina.
"I am grateful to be favored," laughed Mr. White, "but it must be your faith that brought the answer."
"Well, to tell the truth," continued Aunt Selina, "I am so very anxious to have this movement of the children a fine success that I have been praying in season and out for the way to open that we might be blessed in this work. All we needed for the next step was a hint for circulation."
"And I"ll confide a secret, too," said Mrs. Talmage, leaning over toward the desk. "The boys have had their fathers meet with them every evening, advising and drilling them in ways and means to succeed, while my girls have had to do the best they can with Aunt Selina and me. This book will boost us far ahead of the Bobolinks and give the men who are advising a fine surprise."
Mr. White laughed as he understood the rivalry between the two factions, and promised to send his wife to the meetings of the mothers to convey any advice or suggestions he might think of.
"Oh, splendid! We expect to hold our first meeting at our house to-night. Do bring her over!" cried Mrs. Talmage.
As the three were going out to the automobile, Mr. White ventured a remark.
"I have been told that the paper for the sample issue was to be sent over when you wished it. Now, I thought of making an advertising proposition to the corporation at their next meeting. If the magazine would mention that all the paper used by them for letters, circulars and magazines was furnished by the Oakdale Mills, it would be a good exchange if the company donated the paper needed for the first year"s work."
The ladies stood amazed at the generous idea.
"Every paper mill in the country will try to place a contract with the children as soon as news of this plan is out. Now, the Oakdale Mills can secure its contract for future years by being wide-awake for the present. It is a strictly business proposition, you see," explained Mr.
White.
"It may seem so to you, but I know that it is a proposition that no other firm would offer, and we are deeply grateful for your interest,"
replied Mrs. Talmage, sagaciously.