The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-05-31


IIarkins laugh when he answered: 81
didn't collect a cent. Hard luck, Isn't
III l ran into n gang OF tough ones and
then ran out of car fare. Any answers
TO our dunning lettersT'
mot n glimmer," mourncd Harkins.
Stack looked glad OF It. lie loaned
jenkins a half dollar for car fare,
charged 1t up on the company's book
and resumed his warn place In the
corne
When the young lawyer was gone
out, the clerk sidled up to the %stenogra.
pher and said:
"Say, Hnrk, | think we're on a dead
one, don't your"
81 hope not, for jerks sake. He's so
In earnest" said the stenographer.
"Well, It's jerks doings. He sug-
gcsted 1t, and l guess he needs the mon
ey worse than we do"
"But II II failsT'
"Wcll, II II fails I think jenkins
ought to stand the losses. I'm out FIVE
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
flend. 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 If they offered him n dollar
he took 1t and asked for two. In the
meantime, n few answers to advertise
ments came into the office, but Mr..
Lord seized upon them ms '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.
At noon on Saturday jenkins ap-
peared Mt the office. He looked thinner
than ever. His shoes were worn out.
He had n piece Of red flannel round his
neck and his voice was n husky wills
per. Harkins didn't have the heart to
ask him how he Jared, but Stack yell
ed:
Hello, old man! 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 ut 10 per
cent amounted to $21-just $S for each
of the three stockholders.
Good boy!' said Stack, picking up
his share. you're n wonder. l didn't
think you'd make it go"
Harkins, being what Stack calls "a
chump," clushed when jenkins handed
him his share Of the profits.
"Ill tell you, Mr.. Jenkins" he said.
II don't feel as if l was entitled to any
Of this money. You and Stack here did
all the work, and you ought to keep my
share for stamps and car fare, ehT'
But jenkins insisted, and the stenog-
rapher yielded.
"All right" he laughed; 'I1n take it
on condition that you take dinner with
me this evening. Wen celebrate the
weeks success-kind Of clristen the
business. What do you sayY
jenkins and Stack promised, and at
Z o'clock that evening the three part
ners were sitting together at a restau-
ant 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 it is the quick or the dead
but want to announce that, SO far as
l am concerned, 1t is dissolved, evapo-
rated, vanished. Here are our ac-
counts" He pulled out the package.
'"Thcy are supposed to represent $4,000
wouldn't give 81 for the bunch"
His partners looked at him In aston
ishment. you're joking!" 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 SIS for stamps, I've worn out a pair
Of shoes, I've done 500 worth Of the
meanest work on earth, and l haven't
got anything but IS 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 60 back to the farm
or look for a more c%ongenial place to
''ofice," for now Mr.. Lord, the eminent
attorney, says that jenkins has mo
sand" and will never get along unless
he learns to love work" Chicago
Record.
The TOper's Dinner.