Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-05-20

D NOulA AAo
/ the man. You'll admit that. Now
how much more careful should be
/ Of a daughter? Now, don't infer that
/ have anything against you. | think
I have the right OF investigation. |
] have set these two weeks for the
three of us to consider if this marriage
is the best thing. Meet he here two
weeks from tonight and you shall
have my answer"
He picked up his paper as signal
| that the interview was ended; and
James. withdrawing, rejoined Annie
in the parlor, where he reported the
result
Three days later man came to the
railing near HarveY's desk. He recog-
nized him as John Clawson, we'll
known business man OF the city who
had formerly been numbered among
/ the conservative, but whose recent
actions showed drifting toward the
more progressive methods Of the
| times.
Mr.. Harvey he said, Il have
never had the pleasure Of knowing
| you, but | wish to have a private in
terview with you. When can you
arrange it?'
81 hardly know" the book keeper
replied, putting down his pen, unless
we say during the noon hour at Little
. Corner restaurant.
THAT will suit lie very we'll"
Arriving at the restaurant, Harvey
saw Clawson beckoning 10 him from
a table which was secluded in a far
corner. After ordering lunch, the
merchant began:
You are surprised, no doubt, so III
relieve your natural curiosity at once.
To be brief, you have been recon-
mended to me as the very one for a
| dislike the word scheme, but il has
come into common business use, so |
use it. There il 10 be a new company
| formed for somewhat new line OF
business. Briefly, the object is to
| find out business concerns here i'll the
city which are in danger of bank
ruptcy. The company will take
! charge of them, upon certain condi-
tions, put money into them, and
place them upon their feet again.
Some OF the conditions, OF course,
will be 1t good rate Of interest on
| loans, and after the concern is out OF
distress, an interest in the business
:or u given number Of years. All
these details have not been decided,
but they soon will be. Now, of
course, keen judgment is required to
decide what firms, now in trouble, are
likely to succeed when relieved, and,
also, superior tact in approaching the
parties and making the agreements.
In short, Mr. Harvey, you have been
recommended a. possessing the neces-
sary judgment and tact
"Who are in it ~ Harvey asked.
"WelI, myself, Smart, on Twelfth
street; Trolley, Of Grand street, and
several others, all capitalists
Very good names, I'm sure said
the book-keeper. is Mr.. Kirland in
it?'
Clawson shrugged his shoulders
critically, and replied
ooh! no. He wouldn't 20 into
such a scheme; he's one Of the old
fogies, you know with all due re
spect to you as one OF his employees
Too conservative entirely. He'll go
on plodding in the same old rut till
he dies-away behind the times
"Mr. Clawson," said Harvey, with
some spirit, "he may be slow and
fogy, but he is making money.
"Oh, certainly he is. didn't expect
the new company will ever take old
Kirland in hand for repairs; but you
see. he might be making more by
I lIOl = llAON'A "a iN'i'SNS'
"Yes, or losing what he has
Clawson smiled az he replied:
True, there's always some risk,
and / see, without fiattering you, Mr..
Harvey, that you have the foresight
and cautious shrewdness you were
recommended for. Now, something
about the offer. 1t is the intention
to make you general manager at Il
| salary far above what you get over in
that old rut, and in a year or two
/ you'll be made one Of the company.
But our times up. Think over it;
but / can't help saying it i. a rare
chance for young man to feather
his nest
They parted and Harvey was left
to question OF judgment. Sudden
promises Of advancement, however
/ dazzling. unsettle one, and the book
keeper half wished he did not have it
to decide. But it was hattering. 1t
was no small affair for young man
to be sought by such men as ClLwson
and Smart and Trolley. Perhaps
this was the chance of his life. But
what would Mr. Kirlsnd say TO his
leaving? He felt sure, however, that
the old merchant was too sensible 10
stand in the way Of young man's
advancement.
Then. too, his being proTered such
a place might increase his Importance
/ in the old fathers eyes and make
him more willing TO give him the
daughter. Prominence waI as at
traetive 10 Kirland as to any one. He
never forgot his own elevation, and
allowed none Of his employees to for
get it. Harvey had often felt that
the old gentleman believed that he