Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-12-06
Hard Luck
By W. Bert Foster.


I'M OW. hats what call a down
IN right shame. exclaimed Milton
HARTLEY. to his fellow-cierk. Ned Steele.
"OId Bowes has more cheek than gave
him credit for. To think of his asking
you to teach that young nephew of his
the business, which means YOUR walk
ing ticket sure. as soon as he learns.
! wouldn't do ii!
ut is rather hard luck, replied Ned.
his voice tremblinga little. "He knows
Just how much need the money; and
even if he were going to discharge me.
he needn't have asked me to spend .
fort night or more teaching Charlie
Page all know abou, the work.
''It's taking the bread right out Of
your mouth" said the older clerk, in
dgnantly "Yourg Page don't need it.
either. If ] were you. Ned, Id skip. and
let the old man teach his nephew him
self. No one can do your work as YOU
do it, anyway"
81 shall be on the lookout for another
job. Works pretty scarce. you know.
and it's hard enough living on sin dol
lars week now"
"You're right, Ned. don't see how
you do it. Why, l can't live half de-
cent on $50 Il month. and I've no one
to look after but myself.
''Net mother and Nan and have got
along very we'll SO far. and probably
there'll be Il way opened" said Ned.
cheerfully. as he turned to his desk.
SWELL, you're a wonder o me" mutt
tered Milton.
Young Hartley could not. and prob
ably never would, understand the mean
ing of economy. He spent all he had
and found that far from enough. al
though his income was twice that OF
Ned Steele.
Hartley was head clerk when Ned en-
tered the employ of Bowes & Co.. nearly
year before. and Ned had taken what
the boys call "a shine" to the tiashily-
dressed and careless young man of the
world Not that Ned was led into the
the certainly questionable company in
which Milton Hartley shone: but he
admired from a distance.
Their lives were entirely different
and always would be, Ned told himself.
He had a mother and little sister 20
help support. and such pleasures as his
fellow-clerk INDUCED in were not for
him.
Hard luck. that's what it is he
thought. as he leaned over his books.
Only that noon Mr.. Bowes had called
his youngest clerk into the private Of
flee. and shooting piercing glance
over his golC-bowed spectacles at Ned.
as was his habit when talking. said.
sternly:
mfr. Steele. my nephew. Charles
Page. will be here next Monday morn
ing. and | wish YOU to teach him your
work thoroughly. | intend to make
some changes here shortly. That is
ALL"
That was all: but it meant everything
to Ned-more than he had even let Mil
ton know: and now. as he bent low over
the page of his ledger. two great tears
splashed down on the neat rows of fig
ures. and he dashed his hand across his
eyes, and bit his lip in vexaton at this
little weakness.
Hard luck" he muttered. as he went
home to supper; and it was a very
grave Ned Steele that entered the lit
tie house that evening.
When little Nan had been put to bed
Ned told his mother the bad news. and
received the comfort that Il kind Chris
tian mother always has for her boy.
keep up your courage. my SON." she
said. as Ned kissed her good night
Maybe good will come out of YOU,
hard luck
II wish could think So replied! Ned
| True to promise. MIR. Bowes intro
duced Charlie Page into the Office the
following Monday morning. and it was
we'll he did. for Milton did not make
his appearance all day. and even a
green hand" was some help
Mr.. Bowes Went about with face
like a thunder-cloud, and it was none
the less dark when Milton came in the
next day, as cool and placid as ever. Mir
| Bowes sharpest reprimand never ruff
fed the serenity of his head clerk.
Charlie Page and Ned had been schoo!
friends before Ned's father died; bur
| Charities warmth of friendship was
considerably chilled by his old school
mates very apparent GOODNESS.
Il wonder what it can be that S