"I know it," returned Mr. Lowry. "Phil left word at his office that nothing is to be done about that order until he gets back; but this morning, his secretary calls me. First she has to tell me that Mr. Metten has been in golf games with Jay; and they have all met Mrs. Rountree, who is very wonderful. Phil seems to have written a full account to his secretary with instructions to broadcast it. Then the woman tells me that we are to go on supplying Metten Brothers, at the same price, temporarily—a two-week stop order. Mr. Phil Metten will definitely decide on the twelve-month order when he gets back. If you don't want to, I'd like to talk to Jay at Tryston."
Ellen, in her own excitement, was watching Mr. Rountree, whose moods and mannerisms she knew so well that it was like looking into his mind as he opposed and struggled with his contradictions. He would not accept his son as valuable to him; he would not have Jay, by no effort greater than a game of golf, accomplish for him a matter so laborious when undertaken by himself and so important to him at this moment as the retention, even temporarily, of the Metten account. Yet on Monday the Metten business had been lost; to-day it was regained through Phil Metten, whose office boasted that he was the com—panion of Jay Rountree at Tryston.
How much more agreeable for John Rountree to journey upon his first call upon Lew Alban having in hand the Metten business, and let Lew know it; how much more dignified his personal position and how much stronger his business situation. Yet he would not admit that this advantage accrued to him from the efforts of his son.
