Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-03-15

pher and said:
sSay, Hark, think were on n dead
one. don't your
81 hope not, for jerks sake. He's 80
In earnest" said the stenographer.
swell. It's jerks doings. He sug-
gested II. and guess he needs the mon
ey worse than we do"
"But II II failsT'
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 Hike 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 a dollar
he took II and asked for two. In the
meantime, n few answers 10 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 ~
doors, both wondering how long Jen-
kins' nerve would stand the hardships
Of chasing his prey through ice and
snow.
At noon on Saturday jenkins ap-
peared at the office. He looked thinner
4Y,ov oh ~
He had piece Of red flannel round his
neck and his voice was a husky whls-
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 $40 and the
net earnings of the company at 10 per
cent amounted to $24-just So for each
OF the three stockholders.
"GoOd boyv' said Stack. picking up
his share. You're n wonder. didn't
think you'd make 1t co.
Harkins, being what Stack calls "a
chump," clushed when jenkins handed
him his share of the profits.
''I'll tell you. Mr.. Jenkins" he said.
81 don't feel as IL was entitled to any
OF this money. You and Stack here did
m II tho xworly opd x-o,, o,,ubt 20 I,aov, N, y,
share for stamps and car fare, ehr'
But Jenkins insisted, and the stenog
rapher yielded.
''All right" he laughed; I'm take II
on condition that you take dinner with
me this evening. Wen celebrate the
weeks success-kind or chisten the
business. What do you sayT'
jenkins and Stack promised, and at
Z o'clock that evening the three. part
ners we're sitting together at a 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, Hank 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
/ am concerned, it is dissolved, evapo-
rated, vanished. Here are our &C
counts" He pulled out the package
''They are supposed 10 represent $4,000
OF good accounts. You can have them
/ wouldn't give 81 for the bunch"
His partners looked at him In aston
ishment You're JokingT' they cho
rused why, we have just got t.
work.
"YOu mean I've Just got to work,
said Jenkins. 'Well. I'm done too. I'm
out S. for stamps, I've worn out pai
Of shoes. I've done 500 worth OF tn,
meanest work on earth, and / haven
got anything but IS and the grip. Thi
Is the first square meal I've had 70
two weeks. and / tell you the quick col
lection business is all on"
The next day Stack said to Harkin
that Jenkins wasn't such a mark afte
all. AS for the young lawyer, he is II
doubt whether to so back to the farm
or look for a more congenial place I
office" for now Mr.. Lord, the eminen
attorney, says that Jenkins has n
, sand" and will never get along unles
he learns to love work" - Chicag
Record