invited to join Ralph and Louise Zimmerman,” she said. “They recently moved to Philadelphia and live in the same block on Frankford Avenue as the Krantzes. Ralph is big in real estate.”
“I see.”
Philipa took her last sip of tea and smiled at her fiancé. “I’m finished.”
Adam signaled to the waiter, who was delivering a tray of food to a table close by.
“Philipa, you remember that the lawyers’ convention is starting here next Monday, don’t you?”
“How could I forget? Daddy’s been talking about it morning and night.”
“I’ll be tied up all day every day, and on Monday and Tuesday evenings.”
“Yes, but on Wednesday evening they have the big dinner. I’ve been planning on attending it with you ever since you brought it up two months ago.”
“Good. I just didn’t want you to forget. It will be my pleasure to show you off to lawyers from all over the east coast.”
Philipa’s features tinted. “I’m glad you feel that way about me.”
Adam grinned. “How could I feel any different?”
Adam paid the bill, and they left the restaurant. The attendant brought the buggy, and Adam helped Philipa climb in. They took the long way home.
As they moved slowly through the streets, Philipa gazed at the moon and the stars and said, “I’m so glad the top on this buggy folds down. It sure makes a ride like this more pleasurable.”
“It was moonlight rides like this that I had in mind when I bought it.”
She snuggled under his arm and kissed his cheek. “You’re the crafty one, aren’t you?”
Adam chuckled, thinking of the plans he had not yet revealed to her. “I guess you could say that.”
“O H , E DGAR,” D ORIS K RANTZ SAID , “it’s the Masons. See if you can get their attention. I’d like to introduce them to Ralph and Louise.”
Edgar turned and waved and soon had the Masons’ attention. When he pointed to the Zimmermans, Joseph Mason nodded.
“Who are those people, Edgar?” Ralph Zimmerman asked.
“Joseph and Nancy Mason and their daughter, Rachel. They live a few blocks from us … nice people.”
“My, what a pretty girl!” said Louise, fixing her gaze on Rachel.
“Not only that,” Doris said, “she’s very charming.”
When the Masons walked up to the table, Edgar made the introductions, and pointed out that Joseph Mason owned Philadelphia’s most successful brokerage firm.
“Oh, really?” Ralph said. “What’s the name of your company, Mr. Mason?”
Joseph reached into his shirt pocket, took out a business card, and handed it to Ralph. “American Securities Company. The address is here on the card. If I can ever be of service, please come and see me.”
“I do a lot of investing,” Ralph said. “You’ll see me very soon.”
“Well, why don’t you let me take you to lunch whenever you’re free?”
“Well, let’s see. Tomorrow’s Thursday … how about Friday?”
“Friday it is. Why don’t you come to my office just before noon and we’ll walk to a nice restaurant close by.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Daddy, I really think you should be honest with Mr. Zimmerman.” Rachel said.
“Be honest with him about what, honey?”
Rachel had an impish twinkle in her eyes. “Mr. Zimmerman, I hate to tell you this, but my father is the janitor at American Securities. He has these moments when he thinks he’s the head of the company.”
“Well, Miss Mason, I appreciate this information. Who, then, actually is the head of the company?”
Rachel giggled. “Why, me, of course! If you want to make some investments, see me in my office on Friday. My father even had his name painted on the door and had mine taken off. But this is the kind of thing I’ve had to put up with since I was nine and became president of the company.”
“All right, Miss Rachel Mason,” said Ralph, laughing, “I’ll be at your office just before noon on Friday.”
“Oh! I just remembered that I already have a luncheon engagement on Friday.
“I see.”
Philipa took her last sip of tea and smiled at her fiancé. “I’m finished.”
Adam signaled to the waiter, who was delivering a tray of food to a table close by.
“Philipa, you remember that the lawyers’ convention is starting here next Monday, don’t you?”
“How could I forget? Daddy’s been talking about it morning and night.”
“I’ll be tied up all day every day, and on Monday and Tuesday evenings.”
“Yes, but on Wednesday evening they have the big dinner. I’ve been planning on attending it with you ever since you brought it up two months ago.”
“Good. I just didn’t want you to forget. It will be my pleasure to show you off to lawyers from all over the east coast.”
Philipa’s features tinted. “I’m glad you feel that way about me.”
Adam grinned. “How could I feel any different?”
Adam paid the bill, and they left the restaurant. The attendant brought the buggy, and Adam helped Philipa climb in. They took the long way home.
As they moved slowly through the streets, Philipa gazed at the moon and the stars and said, “I’m so glad the top on this buggy folds down. It sure makes a ride like this more pleasurable.”
“It was moonlight rides like this that I had in mind when I bought it.”
She snuggled under his arm and kissed his cheek. “You’re the crafty one, aren’t you?”
Adam chuckled, thinking of the plans he had not yet revealed to her. “I guess you could say that.”
“O H , E DGAR,” D ORIS K RANTZ SAID , “it’s the Masons. See if you can get their attention. I’d like to introduce them to Ralph and Louise.”
Edgar turned and waved and soon had the Masons’ attention. When he pointed to the Zimmermans, Joseph Mason nodded.
“Who are those people, Edgar?” Ralph Zimmerman asked.
“Joseph and Nancy Mason and their daughter, Rachel. They live a few blocks from us … nice people.”
“My, what a pretty girl!” said Louise, fixing her gaze on Rachel.
“Not only that,” Doris said, “she’s very charming.”
When the Masons walked up to the table, Edgar made the introductions, and pointed out that Joseph Mason owned Philadelphia’s most successful brokerage firm.
“Oh, really?” Ralph said. “What’s the name of your company, Mr. Mason?”
Joseph reached into his shirt pocket, took out a business card, and handed it to Ralph. “American Securities Company. The address is here on the card. If I can ever be of service, please come and see me.”
“I do a lot of investing,” Ralph said. “You’ll see me very soon.”
“Well, why don’t you let me take you to lunch whenever you’re free?”
“Well, let’s see. Tomorrow’s Thursday … how about Friday?”
“Friday it is. Why don’t you come to my office just before noon and we’ll walk to a nice restaurant close by.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Daddy, I really think you should be honest with Mr. Zimmerman.” Rachel said.
“Be honest with him about what, honey?”
Rachel had an impish twinkle in her eyes. “Mr. Zimmerman, I hate to tell you this, but my father is the janitor at American Securities. He has these moments when he thinks he’s the head of the company.”
“Well, Miss Mason, I appreciate this information. Who, then, actually is the head of the company?”
Rachel giggled. “Why, me, of course! If you want to make some investments, see me in my office on Friday. My father even had his name painted on the door and had mine taken off. But this is the kind of thing I’ve had to put up with since I was nine and became president of the company.”
“All right, Miss Rachel Mason,” said Ralph, laughing, “I’ll be at your office just before noon on Friday.”
“Oh! I just remembered that I already have a luncheon engagement on Friday.
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