The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-08-24


EJM them done SO
MW neatly and ruled
30 correctly. Little things like that
add greatly to the reputation OF our
Office. Keep on as you're doing. and
well see IL we can't make first-class
ship broker out Of YOU"
The lads face flushed crimson with
mixed pleasure and embarrassment,
and. saying nothing, which was q very
good answer under the circumstances,
he hastened back to his tall desk.
"Gee-whillikensw calculated Ralph
Conner, after Mr.. Greenland had left
the Office. 1--WE been here over year
now, and the old man has never given
me any such dose of tatfy in the whole
time"
"Good reason why" growled the eld-
erly office manager. who could not
help overhearing the conversation Of
the two lads. you take a 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
can do to read. let alone admire them.
The trouble with you, Ralph Conner.
Is that you don't understand the mean
ing of what you are writing. You go
at 1t just as If you were 4 parrot.
Young Evans has pretty nearly both
cred the life out of me by asking ques-
lions, but 1 will say that he seems to
profit by what he is told"
"I'm sure, I'm very much obliged,
Mr.. waldron. for all your kindness to
me-" said Jimmy. II know that ] owe
a 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 fidgeted about moment
or two, and then said:
"Mr. Waldron, may ask
Ralph Conner, over at the next desk.
commenced to smoker and work one
arm like a pump-handle. The office
manager turned on his high stool to
glare at the humorist, and then back
to Jimmy. merely saying. "WellT'
"Er-may ask" repeated the boy.
nervously, may ask why Mr.. Gren.
hard Is so excited about not getting
this two-thousand-ton steamer char
terT
Cant get the steamer" replied the
Office manager, without turning around.
But there are lots of them in the
harbor," persisted the youth. "Why,
/ 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 wal
In South Africa hasmade q great scar
city in tramp steamships at New York
as we'll as at other ports. The British
Government Is using a great many In
its transport service. I'll venture to
say there are dozen firms waiting te
snap up just such a ship as we want
the moment she arrives. don't sup
pose you really know what tramp
steamer is"
"No, sir" said Jimmy, II do not
I've always lived inland until we came
here, and am not posted on any kind
of shipping very much, but now tina,
I'm In the business, I'm going to learn
all l can about them"
THAT'S right" returned the manager
admirlngly. Here's a little pointer
for you, now. A tramp steamship IL
one belonging to no regular line. but
seeking cargoes from one port to an
other, wherever she can get Them"
sand we have an order to charter q
two-thousand-ton tramp steamship
and have not been able to ind one. as
YETI" inquired the lad.
"Just So" assented 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 to another ship brokerage con
~ern."
"whewv' whistled Jimmy, dolefully
$50 shouldn't wonder If we lost oul
biggest account" went on Mr.. Wal
dron, sardonically.
But such a tramp steamer ma,
come into harbor by tomorrow morn
Ing" spoke up Jimmy. eagerly.
"Yes, but IL 1t should, how can WI
be sure of getting her? The Maritime
Exchange serves us all alike in tn
matter Of reporting arrivals. Othe
brokers have the same show as W.
do" observed the manager. And b
concluded by nodding his head signif
cantly over toward the piled-up worl
on the Junior clerk's desk.
And Jimmy Evans and the rest o
the office STAFF Of Greenland & Co
ship brokers. of New York City. wer
soon immedsed in the details of thei
regular labors.
Late that afternoon Jimmy left tn
ONCE and FASTENED toward his subul
ban home. In going to the ferry b
had to pass along . portop q Va