The St. Johns herald., 1901-03-30
TIE ST. JOHNS HERALD.
SATURDAY. rlARch 30. 1901.
] One of the City's Own
FSNN&reX7A&NSA&NVrs

hurst. One or two junior clerks ha received a more or less well-deserve
 wigging," and there was a genera feeling of worse to follow.
 At last 6 small office boy entere' the clerks office and sald in @ shril voice:
 "Mr. Redbolt is to go to the gov ernor at once"
 There was a mischievous grin on tn what was coming, and most of tn others, delighted at their own escape chuckled, like many people do whel some one else is in trouble.
 Joe Redbolt turned just a shad, paler when his name was called out as if he, too, anticipated seriou. trouble, but he set his lips and stiff fened his back, like a man who is go ing to make the best of bad job.
 "Good-by, Reddie, dearI" said some body, with an unpleasant sheer. "ii the governor gives you a rise, don't forget to stand drinks
 "Reddie looks worried!" murmured the cashier.
 Perhaps she has refused him after all," remarked another.
 A moment later he was in the pri- vate office.
 Young Mfr Dewhurst, who had man. aged the business since the death of his father, gave him furtive look as he entered, and then turned hurriediy to bundle of correspondence by his side and selected letter with an air of malicious satisfaction.
 The two men formed an odd con trast. They were of about the same age-2s or perhaps 3O-but it re- quired no great insight to perceive the difference m their characters RedIbolt was tall. straight-built and frank-lool0ing; his principal was small, insignificant and obviously one of natures sneaks.
 One could imagine Redbolt being foolish, but never cowardly; one could imagine Mir. Dewhurst being sly, but never generous.
 The interview was unusual; there seemed to he something in the back ground about which neither man spoke. Mir. Dewhurst was clearly master of the situation, and resolved to use his power; his managing clerk looked self-reliant, but perfectly re- spectful and polite.
 The ball was opened by Mr. Dew hurst unfolding a cantankerous com plaint from an unimportant customer. 1t was the merest trifle, and quite un- worthy of the occasion. Nevertheless, Joe Redbolt was by no means sur prised at the tone adopted. For some time past the smallest opportunities had been seized for fault-fnding, ard he knew by instinct that the climax had been reached.
 How do you account for this blun- der?" said MT. Dewnurst suspi- ciously.
 His clerk gave simple, straightfor- ward explanation. which, to reason able man, would have been sufficient. But MT. Dewhurst was not in a req sonable humor.
 "It appears to me, then, that you are not in any way to blame, MT. Red boltP" he said cynicaliy.
 ''I think not" .~ 'You never make 6 mistaken"
 Not very often"
 "Who is to blame, then2"
 There was a moments silence. and the two men looked into one another's eyes.
 You are. sir" said Redbolt, re- spectfully. 'T acted under your in- structions."
 This appeared 10 give the un- worthy little tyrant his opportunity.
 'You are more than half imperti- nent!" he said roughly.
 'I give you my word didn't intend 10 he so," said Redbolt, with perfect good temper.
 Perhaps not, but I'm tired of it. You forget your proper position, and have crossed my will in several ways" Mir. Redbolt colored rather pain fully, and his principal continued, with smile of spiteful triumph:
 "You understand what 1 a.lude to?" The clerk bowed slightly.
 "Then I think you hau better look about for another situation"
 Shall we calculate the month from last Monday" inquired Joe Redbolt, in a perfectly even, matter-of-fact voice.
 "Eh. yes" said Mir. Dewhurst. "But won't ask you to continue your work here"
 With that he pushed across the ta- ble 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. It was adding insult to in- jury to send him away adrift at a moments notice, as if he had dis Graced himself.
 It was the more outrageous because he was a distant connection of the Dewhursts 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 Mir. Dewhurst's eye, to responsible position
 Naturally, they knew the same peo- pie, and to some extent visited the same houses. and it was in this way that Dewhurst's inherent jealousy had ripened into positive rancor-for that there was a member of the fair sex at the bottom of 1t is almost obvious.
 The innocent cause of the trouble, little dreaming of the mischief she was creating, had thoroughly enjoyed the rivalry of the two men. as every