Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-10-17
HE WAS SIGHTED.

Inc Dill clerk Jerked his thumb
over to the mahogany loose box next
to the Ola mans and his expression
was one Of contempt 81 don't think
he's so much-a-much,' he said to the
cashier 81 don't know but the old
man might have done about as well
without going out Of the office"
Naming no names insinuated the
cashier
Naming no Names assented the
bill clerk. "Of course. he's got one Of
these James j. Hyde boards. and that
may be a sure sign Of financial genius,
and he's red-headed stnl. think I
could raise a beard myself if gave
my mind to it, and thought the
thatch didn't cut so much lie as what
was underneath it,"
There is popular prejudice among
employers in favor Of brains"
Il didn't ask you to be insulting"
said the bill clerk, with an aggrieved
air. ITS got so lately that can't
say anything without your indulging
in personal reflections"
you're too sensitive" said the cash
Ter. II always told you that you were.
You twist the most innocent remark
into something disparagiug. Now all
| meant to say was that our new man.
ager might have brains and that our
esteemed employers recognition of
that fact might have had something
to do with his appointment. That be-
ing the case, Johnny, it naturally fol-
lows that his appointment of Mr.
Scavins operated against your appoint
ment. I hope you see the logic of my
observation now. It's no reflection on
you"
IF it comes to that, why didn't he
recognize your massive brain?"
Its my modesty my son. That has
always stood -lore or less in my way.
l don't obtrude my brain on peoples
notice"
you're dead right there" said the
bill clerk.
Il conceal it, in fact. If l let it get
too conspicuous it would make trou-
BILE for me- Merely to call attention
to it would be all that would be neces-
sary. 1t would excite admiration, of
course, but it would also excite envy.
If had let it manifest itself in this
Office and it had gained for me Mr..
Scavins exalted position, what would
have been the consequence? 1t would
have lost for me your friendship in
stantly. You'd have got out your little
hammer and begun knocking right
away, and that would have broken mg
heart" ..- -s, ......-y9f-Ts
I'm no knocker," said the bill clerk.
eff you'd got the job I'd have been
| tickled to death. You're older than l
am anyway, and you've got family.
No, l wouldn't have cared if you'd got
it, but to haul in a sorrel-topped, cock
eyed supercilious lobster from the out
side and pass over men who've been
| with the firm as long as I have-and
as long as you have-is too much.
heard he's a cousin of the old man
wife and she and all of her family
| tackled him so hard that he had TO
give in and provide for the duck.
! That's just about the way it was, too.
He came to me this morning and asked
me questions about the business for
half an hour by the clock. That's the
way it goes. teach him and he draws
| the salary. l tell you, It's pull does it.
A family pull or a political pull OF
some other sort of a pull. The WORK
man does doesn't count. You can
work till the cows come home and all
that will ever come of it is the same
little old envelope at the end of the
| week"
why don't you get a pull, then?"
"Eh?"
Get a pull-a family pull, for in
stance. The old mans got an unmar-
ried daughter, and here you are, a
fine, handsome young fellow with an
unblemished character, exceptional
ability and fascinating manners"
I'm broke just now said the bill
clerk, feeling in his pockets. per
haps you wouldn't mind saying that
again on Saturday night-before wit
nesses."
You're no knocker," pursued the
cashier. you haven't knocked Scav-
ms ever since he's here. Let me tell
you something, Johnny He asked me
questions about the business for the
best part of an hour. He pumped Had
away and Peters, too. And now I'll
bet he knows more about the business
than any one of US. You pull the wool
out of those long ears of yours and
you'll hear dry bones begin to rattle.
It's too bad it wasn't me. but seeing
that it isn't I'll have to make the best
of it. I've got an idea that Scavins
is going to give a certain permanency
to the pay roll and that consoles me
to some extent. If it had been you I'd
be putting in the lunch hour scanning
the Help anted-Male' advertise
ments in the papers. Scavins may be
a lamentable error, but, as you init
mate, 1t might have been you-or me-"
tits me for the want ad., anyway"
said the bill clerk. I've stood for a