The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-06-21

kM them done so
TIM neatly and ruled
SO correctly. Little things like that
add greatly to the reputation of our
office. Keep on as you're doing, and
Wen see IL we can't make flrst-class
ship broker out Of you"
The lads face flushed crimson with
mixed pleasure and embarrassment,
and, saying nothing, which was very
good answer under the circumstances,
he FASTENED back to his tall desk
whlllilSensw calculated Ralph
Connor, after Mr.. Greenland had left
the office. "pve been here over year
now, and the old man has never given
me any such dose of tany in the whole
time"
Good reason why" growled the eld-
erly Office manager, who could not
help Ovcrhearing the conversation Of
the two lads. "You take n whole day
to make one set Of copies. what with
tearing up expensive blanks and begin
ming again, and even then they're so
smudgy and blurred that It's all one
d
The trouble with you, Ralph Connor.
Is that you don't understand the mean
ing Of what you are writing. You go
at II just as IL you were parrot.
Young Evans has pretty nearly both
cred the life out of me by asking ques'
tions, but l will say that he seems to
profit by what he is told"
"Pm sure, I'm very much obliged,
Mr. Waldron, for all your kindness to
me-" said Jimmy. II know that 1 owe
great"
"Oh. It's all right" interrupted the
manager. "Come over here and check
off these commission accounts with
me-"
At the close OF this lengthy task.
young Jimmy fldgeted about moment
or two, and then said
"Mr. Waldron, may ask"
Ralph Connor over at the next desk,
commenced to snlcker and work one
arm like pump.handle. The office
manager turned on his high stool to
glare at the humorlst and then back
to Jimmy, merely saying. "Well?"
"Er-may l ask" repeated the boy.
neryously, "may l ask why AR. Gren-
hard is so excited about not getting
this two-thousand-ton steamer char
ter?"
Cant get the steamer" replied the
office manager, withoutturn around.
But there are lots of them in the
taI
l saw dozens when l came over in the
ferryboat from Jersey this morning"
"Yes, dare say, but they're all
either liners or ready chartered" said
Mr.. Waldron. fussing with some docu-
ments as he spoke. You see, this war
in South Africa has made great scar
city in tramp steamships at New York,
as well as at other ports. The British
Government is using great many in
its transport service. I'll venture To
say there are n dozen firms waiting 10
snap up just such n ship as we want
the moment she arrives. l don't sup.
pose you really know what u tramp
steamer is"
mo. sir" said Jimmy, "I do not.
I've always lived inland until we came
here, and am not posted on any kind
of shipping very much. but now that
I'm in the business. I'm going 20 learn
all can about them"
That's right" returned the manager
admiringly. Here's little pointer
for you. now. A tramp steamship is
one belonging TO no regular line, but
seeking cargoes from one port TO an
other. wherever she can get them"
And we have an order to charter a
two-thousand.ton tramp steamship,
and have not been able to find one. as
YETI" inquired the lad
"Just so." nssented Mr.. Waldron.
"but what makes the thing worse Is
this order comes from our biggest Gus.
toner. and he declares that, unless we
can secure the charter for him by to-
morrow morning, he will take his bust.
ness 10 another ship brokerage con-
Germ"
"Whewr' whistled Jlmlny. dolefully.
$50 l shouldn't wonder II we lost our
biggest account" went on Mr.. Wal
dron. sardonically.
But such a tramp steamer may
come into harbor by tomorrow morn.
Ing" spoke up Jimmy. eagerly
"Yes. bnt IL ii should how can we
be sure OF getting her; The Maritime
Exchange serves Us all alike in the
matter Of reporting arrivals. othei
brokers have the same show as We
do" observed the manager And h,
concluded by uoddlng his head siguif
caDtly over toward the piled-up wcrl
on the jusior clerks desk.
Aud Jlmtay Evans and the tcst o
tho Office staff of Cr.nharl & Co
ship brokers. Of iew York City. wer
coon lmmcdscd In the details Of thci
regular labofs.
Late thar afternoon Jimmy left tn
of''cc and FASTENED toward MS subur
ban home. In going to the ferry ID
had 10 pass along a portion OF wcs