Smyrna times., 1900-05-09
ONE OF THE
CTY'S OWN
How Young Man Came to Go to
the South African War.
ososoao&oAo&Aoso@osoaos

"Mr. Redbolt is to go to the governor
at once"
Mr. Redbolt strobe briskly across the
room. A moment later he was in the
private office.
Young Mr.. Dewhurst, who had man.
aged the business since the death of
his father, gave him furtive look as
he entered and then turned hurriedly
to bundle of correspondence by his
side and selected letter with an air
of malicious satisfaction.
The ball was opened by Mr.. Dew
hurst unfolding a cantankerous COM
plaint from an unimportant customer.
1t was the merest trifle and quite IN
worthy of the occasion. Nevertheless
Joe Redbolt was by no means surpris-
ed at the tone adopted. For some time
past the smallest opportunities had
been seized for fault finding, and he
knew by instinct that the climax had
been reached.
How do you account for this blum
der? asked Mr.. Dewhurst suspicious
ly.
His clerk gave a simple, straightfor-
ward explanation, which, to reasona-
bic man, would have been sufficient.
But Mr.. Dewnurst was not in a rea-
sOnable humor.
1T appears to me, then, that you are
not in any way to blame, Mr.. Redbolt,"
he said cynically.
81 think not
"YOu never make a mistaken"
"NOt very often"
who is to blame, then?"
There was a moments silence, and
the two men looked into one another's
eyes.
you are. sir" said Redbolt respect
fully. Il acted under your instruc-
tions."
This appeared to give the unworthy
little tyrant his opportunity.
"YOu are more than half imperti-
nent," he said roughly.
Il give you my word that 1 don't in
I tend to be sO," said Redbolt, with per-
feet good temper.
Perhaps not, but I'm tired of it.
You forget your proper position and
have crossed my will in several ways"
Mr.. RedbOlt colOred rather painfully,
and his principal continued, with a
smile of spiteful triumph:
You understand what l allude to?'
The clerk bowed slightly.
"Then l think you had better look
about for another situation"
shall we calculate the month from
last Monday?' inquired Joe Redbolt in
perfectly even. matter of fact voice."
"Eh-yes." said Mr.. Dewhurst. But
won't ask you TO continue your work
here"
With That he pushed across the table
little pile of coins which had been
counted out already, clearly showing
that he intended from the first to make
use of the opportunity.
For the first time Joe Redbolt looked
angry. 1t was adding insult to injury
to send him away at n moments no
tice, as if he had disgraced himself.
1t was the more outrageous because
he was a distant relation of the Dew
hursts by blood. The two young men
had been for a short time at school
together. They had entered the firm
together, and Redbolt had worked his
way up by sheer ability under old Mr.
4 Dewhurst's eye to a responsible posi-
4 ton.
4 Naturally they knew the same people
and to some extent visited the same
4 houses, and it was in this way that
Il Dewhurst's inherent jealousy had rip
4 ened into positive rancor, for that
Il there was a member of the fair sex al
the bottom of it is almost obvious.
The innocent cause of the trouble
n little dreaming of the mischief she was
creating. had thoroughly enjoyed the
rivalry of the two men. as every
daughter OF Eve Is bor"l 10 do, anC
4 She had not made it quite clear which
OF them was to be favored, which Is
certainly q woman's privilege.
But Joe Redbolt was generally be
heved to be the lucky man, and Dew
hurst had vented his unmanly spite by
thousand annoyances in the office.
However, In love, as in war, 1t is th'
4 unexpected that often happens. Jo'
kedbOlt proposed and was refused
point blank.
Now, most men, when they see dan
gerous rival put out of court, bur!
their animosIty and even become gen
erOus.
But this was not the case with Free
Dewhurst. Petty annoyances develop
ed rapidly into daily insults until tn
4 morning, as we have seen, he ha'
found an excuse to cut his forme
l schoolfellow adrift.
1 Joe Redbolt picked up the pile
COINS, counted them deliberately an
put them in his pocket.
Now, Fred Dewhurst," he sal
nuskily, 1--WE are no longer master an
man. so that can say what think"
Dewhurst looked rather alarme