Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1905-03-17

BEYOND HIS
MEANS
..s++.l+*++++++*s+ *s+s+...s..!.. !.
SHE brief advertisement stated
that an unfurnished apartment,
By EVERETT H0LBR00K

that an unfurnished apartment,
Il rent very reasonable" was to
be had at a certain address
The locality was not renee from fash
ionable regions. but was Itself some
what on the decline. Mr. Bransiield
had fair mental picture of it show
ing row of small, old style buildings
between more modern structures adj
joining the avenues. Possibly Il young
man in hard luck and condemned to
the severest economy might find some
thing suitable to his means.
The street seemed to have improved,
however, when Bransfield came to it,
or was the difference in his own pock-
ct?
The last time that he remembered
having passed that way was in May.
He was then the local manager of the
Farrell Aluminium company, with
salary of $500 a month and fat com
missions, and, though he had just lost
nearly all his savings in an umwlse in
vestment, he certainly did not feel
poor. But In October there wasn't any
Farrell Aluminium company OIL earth
and hadn't been any since the grand
smashup Of early June, and Edgar
Bransfield was manager OF nothing,
with salary of nothing ana no com,
missions.
He had never sought employment be-
fore. He had been thrust into the alu-
minimum company Immediately upon
leaving college and for eight years had
climbed from one round of the ladder
to tie next. Suddenly the ladder itself
had vanished, leaving him standing
with both feet planted on the empty
air. He had been hopeful at first. then
perpleXed and finally scared. His faith
in himself as a business man was un-
impaired but he had discovered that
there was one commodity which he
did not know how TO sell namely. his
own services.
AT the time when he went in search
Of an unfurnished room-tO be fitted up
with few odds and ends rescued from
the aluminium company's otiices-he
was considering an offer of a position
with salary that would just fall short
of paying his board in the house where
lie had been living hence the need of a
change in his arrangements.
As lie walked along the street lie was
grieved to discover that the number
mentioned in the advertisement desig-
mated was one of the best kept and
most attractive buildings. 1t looked like
Il nice place to live, but not for Edgar
| Bransfeld. He would have preferred
to see a somewhat shabby exterior.
His own exterior, by the way, was
anything but shabby. lie was wear
ing a suit of clothes so good that he
had been tempted that morning to
pawn it, but had passed sentence upon
his dress clothes instead and had OBJ
tanned loan Of 81 upon them He
still had small sum in bank. but
had resolved that it should not be less
until he had taken employment prom
Using an income in excess of his ex-
penses.
He looked up at No 81 and observed
push button labeled "Janitor." but
when he had ascended the steps he
hesitated. After all. why ring the bell? ?
A mere glance inside would satisfy
him that the building contained no
room at the proper price. and he might
be spared petty humiliation
AS he stood irresolute in the hall
| young gentleman came in hurriedly
and called out. Hello. Allen" but