Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-02-21

out, the clerk sided up to the stenogra-
,her and said:
..Say. Hank. think we're on a dead
,ne. don't your
II hope not. for jerks sake. He's 50
n earnest" said the stenographer.
swell. it's jerks doings. He sug-
rested II, and guess he needs the mon
ey worse than we do"
.But IL 1t failsf"
"wen. II 1t fails 1 think Jenkins
ought to stand the losses. I'm out Ave
fifty already. and it's his fault"
"But he's doing all the work." sug.
gested Harkins- ....
"Well. so he ought" And Mr.. Stack
went back to his novel
The young lawyer worked like a
fiend. When car fare was gone, he
walked, even ran. after his supposed
victims. He quit going back to the
office and worked far into the night.
He pestered the life out OF every debt
or who showed the least sign of paying
up, and II they offered him dollar
he took 1t and asked for two. In the
meantime, few answers to advertise
ments came into the office, but Mr..
Lord seized upon them as too deep for
the boys" Nobody called. Stack be-
gan and finished three paper covered
novels. Harkins plodded away In
doors, both wondering how long Jen-
kins' nerve would stand the hardships
OF chasing his prey through ice and
snow. X
At noon on Saturday jenkins APP
peared at the office. He looked thinner
than ever. His shoes were worn out.
He had piece of red flannel round his
neck and his voice was husky whis-
per. Harkins didn't have the heart to
ask him how he Jared, but Stack yell
ed:
Hello, old mani We thought you
had absconded with the firms money!
jenkins was very silent. He sat
down at his desk and began TO make
out his statement. Stack watched him
with curious interest as he piled up the
few checks aud greenbacks which rep
resented the first weeks business of
the Calumet Quick Collection COM
pany. He had collected S240. and the
net earnings Of the company at 10 per
cent amounted to $24just s. for each
of the three stockholders.
Good boyw said Stack. picking up
his share. You're a wonder. / didn't
think you'd make it CO."
Harkins, being what Stack calls "a
chump." clushed when Jenkins handed
him his share Of the profits.
"Pn tell you, Mr.. Jenkins" he said
Il taA 40
of this money. You and Stack here did
ell the work. and you ought to keep my
share for stamps and car fare. chr
But Jenkins insisted, and the stenog-
rapher yielded.
IAN right" he laughed; I'm take It
on condition that you take dinner with
me this evening. Wen celebrate the
weeks success-kind OF christen the
business. What do you sayT
Jenkins and Stack promised, and at
Z O'Clock that evening the three part
ners were sitting together at restau-
rant table christening the collection
company.
When they got to the coffee. Jenkins
let his bomb fall upon the festal board
in this wise:
Now, Hark and Stack, as to this
collection company, don't know
whether 1t is the quick or the dead
but want to announce that, so far as
1 am concerned, 1t is dissolved. evapo-
rated. vanished. Here are our ac-
counts" He pulled out the package.
They are supposed to represent $1,000
of good accounts. You can have them.
wouldn't give 81 for the bunch"
His partners looked at him In aston
ishment. You're jokingw they cho-
rused. why. we have just got to
work.
You mean I've just got to work, !"
said Jenkins. well. I'm done too. I'm
out IS for stamps, I've worn out pair
of shoes, I've done 500 worth of the
meanest work ON earth, and l haven't
got anything but So and the grip. This
is the first square meal I've had for
| two weeks. and tell you the quick col
lection business is all off,
The next day Stack said to Harkins
that Jenkins wasn't such a mark after
| all. As for the young lawyer. he Is In
doubt whether to go back to the farm
| or look for a more congenial place to
''oface," for now Mr.. Lord, the eminent
| attorney, says that Jenkins has mo
| sand" and win never get along unless
he learns to '.loye work" - Chicago
4 Record