The Van Buren press., 1898-05-14

Ill fiil out all right be f9lkS al nome
tell me In the Twin image Of uncle as
he was Ut my age, and he's bout as
han some nov as you see en- THIS
was rather a bitter sweet dose for the
lady and gave all the resi- an excuse for
the laugh which fhey had been Loyalty
trying TO suppress.
That night the uncle and aunt had
an executive session at which il was
finally agreed that Ross had too much
raw material TO break into city ways
all at once. and the next morning be
received a direct proposition from the
uncle. 4 am largely interested IN the
express company" be aaid. They
need be. 70 help the agent al little
town up the road. You will practically
be an cfflee boy there as ! viii want
you to be for me In time. ] know that
you have the right kind Of stun in you
and IN keep the way open so long as
you show d disposition TO make the
most Of your opportunities and ad-
vance"
This was not precisely what Ross
had counted on, but he simply declared
himself ready for anything that would
give him an honest start. and accepted
the job Inside Of month the diree-
tors had the boy under discussion at
one Of their MEETINGS. All ne needs
is tanning laughed the president Of
the company. who had himself made
! his own way in the world. gu
+ 4 s.s.a.afu4 -
when he came in and reported his ex-
perienee. lie had a puff bail under
one eve and walked with d very per
eeptible limp. He was IN towering
rage and insisted that young Blaigh be
dismissed b. telegraph. ] let him tell
his own story and then convinced him
+ that the express company bad no right
fo lose a boy Of that stamp. He would
in time be fit for any place we had 10
offer"
Just what did oecur?s asked the
uncle, who could not help showing that
he was little proud over the affair.
The home agent was called away
for an hour Oh important business. He
told your nephew not 10 admit anyone
+ inside the railing under any eireum-
stances You know how il is with a
special agent. He drops in al any
time without warning. just like bank
examiner. lie is getting so he can
grin little now when be tells what
happened.
Open that gate, boy. were his first
words
!" NO admiftance.' answered the boy.
as he pushed the snap dbwn on he
spring lock
Here ton impudent young rascal,
unlock that gate and do If quick, or
you'll lose your job
30, reckon not. Boys don't lose
their jobs fur doin' what they's ordered
TO do
{" See here. you impudent little fool,
I'm here TO audi. those books and ]
have no time TO lose. I'm the special
agent
"'And I'm here to see that no one
teches them books; and you kin quit
losing time by gettin' away from here.
I'm show you as he made spring
/ TO vault the gate,
'But rs he was in the midst Of the
/ flying leap the boy caught him with a
swing on the eye. used bis head as a
4 batering ram and our special landed
/ in heap outside of the breastworks,
as il were. Now he was mad enough
TO tear the depot Gown, but as he started
20 repeat the assault he faced a reyol-
yer that the boy had grabbed from the
agents drawer. The little cuss would
have shot, sure the special fumed in
telling il TO me. 4 could see ii in his
eyes. and be had the impudence TO tell
Inc that if didn't stop swearing he'd
put me out Of the depot
II don't believe in Furnishing the hoy
Cor obeying orders" continued the
president, "eyen If he does make a mis-
take On the safe side"
"Chip off the old block" said the
uncle, as he rubbed his hands and sci
up a chuekle that broke out al inter
walls through the rest of the meeting.
II was only a little later that Ross
was brought TO the attention OF the
directory again. Once more he had
been in temporary charge during the
absence of the agent, and an Italian
scissors grinder who had his machine
| shipped from the city attempted 10
carry il off without paying charges.
He was savage specimen Of his class,
but the Green Mountain boy had all
the courage of his ancestors and
H.. Fgll
closed with the Italian on top of the ma
chine, bleeding like stuck beef from
a scalp wound inflicted by stray coup
ling pin in the hands of the agents Of
flee boy. There was a satisfactory set
Element before the man went mutter-
ing away with his machine.
BY this time the boy was much talked
about and the idea of giving him a more
responsible position was being agitated
when the uncle concluded that he want
ed Ross with him in some capacity. In
a brief talk Ross was informed that he
had the proper stuff in him and that
he would not be left at the mercy of a
soulless corporation. He was taken un-
der the uncle's wing and made office
boy IN the bank of which the uncle was
president. Ross seemed predestned TO
an eventful life, for he had not been
on his new duty for week before he
threw his natty cousin bodily from the
outer Office, jarring him physically and
giving his pride one of the severest
wounds il had ever received.
This time it was the aunt who in-
sisted that the boy be discharged forth
with and sent back 10 the farm. But
she stirred up a bit of character in her