The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-07-31


Hartman proceeded. has been hav-
ing trouble, as you know"
He paused, and in the interval, the
effort of remembering who Robbins
was, cleared Georges mind The
calmness of despair came upon him,
and he spoke with perfect freedom,
as never before in Harriman's pres
ence.
Robbins is not the man for the
place" he said. He doesn't know
what he is there for
Hartman slapped the desk gently
with his fat right hand.
Precisely" said he, land that IS
why l am going to put you in his
shoes"
The sweat started out suddenly in
the palms of Georges hands, and he
felt at the same time the sensation of
cold grip on the back of his neck.
| To be put at the head of even the
smallest of the company's agencies
a post one-tenth the Importance of
that at Johnstown-was all he would
have asked of Heaven. And to think
nv" iiC iihh lONl II liz IdO d SUI
den vision of Williams at work on
those accounts.
You will leave for Johnstown to-
night" said Hartman. Here is the
, order superceding Robbins. You will
draw the same salary and get the same
commissions that he does. No man
gets such a chance as this twice in his
lifetime. You must prove yourself
worthy. and do it in a hurry"
He leaned over the desk and looked
earnestly at George who. in that mo-
ment would have given his right hand
to be an honest man.
9! expect you to crush competition
out there" continued Hartman.
THAT fellow WelIbrook, who is run
ming an Independent racket. must be
done up. l don't care how you do it,
or what it costs. Lay him out. We
want ALL the business wherever we
go. That is what we are on earth for"
81 don't think I shall have any
trouble" replied George, speaking
like one in a dream, for he knew that
his ruin would come before he could
start upon this mission. robbins
says that Wellbrook is prominent
man whose father and grandfather
were in the business before him; that
he has the whole city's confidence. and
is so popular, that merely undersell-
ing him won't do the trick; but
IF he's popular, you will have to
make him less So" said Hartman.
Every mans reputation can be- I'M
dermined. If he has never done any
thing, put up job on him. Only re-
member that if you're caught in it, you
can't look for any support from us.
We have no use for men who get
caught"
81 understand that" replied George,
with a shudder for HIS own situation.
"If you could buy up one or two
trusted men in his employee" said Har-
riman, you might throw him down
that way. Find out whom he owes
money to, and buy up the claims; but
don't make a martyr of him in the eyes
of the whole community. Fix it so that
he'll seem to ruin himself, if you can.
You know what we want; now let's
see results. Here is an order on the
cashier for a few hundred dollars. |
suppose you'll need some clothes. and
that sort of thing, as well as your trav-
cling expenses. Good luck to you. l
rarely make a mistake in man. and 1
believe you'll have that fellow Well
brook in the poorh house in six months"
He laughed pleasantly, and George
tried to join him, but the thought of
Williams restrained his mirth. 1t was
dreadful to think that at the moment
when he was about to be trusted with
so important a mission, the stigma
of dishonesty should be placed upon
him. He could fancy the look of dis
gust in Harriman's eyes when he
should learn that for once he had been
mistaken and that the man in whom
he had reposed such fattering conf
dence was in reality thief. Surely
to no such man would be confided the
weighty and confidential work at
Johnstown; rather the prisoners
dock and the Jail for him.
"Mr. Williams wishes to see You,
sir" said Old Ben, appearing suddenly
in the middle of the room.
Hartman nodded to George, who
was moving toward the door, and then
said to the messenger: "All right; I'll
see him"
George was rooted to the spot. He
knew well enough what Williams
wanted. Fate had overtaken him.
Williams entered hurriedly, and
started with surprise at sight Of
George. The latter nodded coldly.
"By the way, Williams" he said,
there's $25 in an envelope in my desk
that forgot to turn over to you. I'll
lay it on your table"
He passed out, leaving Williams
standing with his mouth open, and his
eyes like two glass marbles.
To draw the money from the cash
Ter to arrange the amount for Will
liams. and to escape from the Office, re-
quired less time for George than
Williams needed to square himself
with Hartman for disturbing him
about a matter that had proven to be
not what it seemed.
George hurried home, his heart
light, his mind full of plans for the
ruin of Wellbrook.