Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-08-23

TASK Win Il certain reluCtanCe, LOT II
was as unpleasant to him personally
rs 1t was necessary to the future of the
road, and he knew that no halfway
measure would suffice. He must cut,
as Il surgeon cuts, to save. BY looping
away 4 mar here and there, giving his
work to some other man or dividing II
up among two or three men, he man
aged to peel off $4,000 on the year. He
counted that Il very fair days work.
He would start his reform With no
particular responsiveness. He would
retire the men he intended to dismiss
from the road one at Il time. He hoped
they would take the hint and hunt
other positions. At any rate, they
could not get back until he was ready
to take them back, as Cornish had as
sured him he would not he interfered
with. He concluded not TO hand the
notices and orders to Miss Walton, the
typewriter, to copy. She might let drop
some word that would give his victims
an inkling of what was in store for
them. He knew there were unpleasant
scenes ahead of him, but there was no
need to anticipate. When at last his
figures for the cuts We're complete he
would have been grateful for some n
With whom to discuss the situation.
All at once his responsibilities seemed
rather heavier than he had ~bargained
for.
There were only two men in the OF
fee besides himself-Philip Kerr, the
treasurer, and Byron Holt, his assist
ant. They We're both busy with the
payroll, as 1t was the 9th of the
month, and they commenced to pay off
in the shops on the 10th.
He had little or no usa for Kerr. who
still showed where he dared in small
things his displeasure Chat an outsider
had been appointed manager OF the
road. He had counted On the place for
himself for a number of years. but a
succession Of managers had come and
gone apparently without its ever hay
Ing occurred TO General CCrli>h thu
an excellent executive was Literally
spelling in the big. bare general Offices
of the line.
This singular Indifference on the part
of Cornish TO his real interests had
soured q disposition that at its best
had more of acid in it than anything
else. AS there was no wa in which he
could make his resentment known u
the general, even if be had deemed
such a course expedient, he took it our
Of Oakley and kept his feeling for him
on loo NTaa> u-biI, bl I;I,| -. -:-..,
hoping for Oakley's downfall ana his
own evenJful recognition.
With the assistant treasurer Dams
relations We're entirely cordial. Hot
was 4 much younger man than X"
as frank and open IL the other was =,
cret and reserved. When the 6 o'c. !.
whistle blew he glanced up from his
work and said:
Il wish you'd wait q moment. Holt
l want TO see you"
Kerr had already gone home. ana
Miss Walton was adjusting hev hlt 1o-
fore a bit OF 4 mirror that hung o.! tie
wall back of her desk. All right" re-
sponded Holt cheerfully.
Just draw up your chair said Oa...-
ley. handing his papers to him. At
first Holt did not understand: then Ike
began to whistle softly and fell u
checking of the various cuts with Is
forefinger.
What do you think of the JOB. By
ROM" inquired Oakley.
We'll, I'm glad l don't get laid Of.
that's sure. Say, just bear in ut2 /
that I'm going to be married til
summer"
You needn't worry: only / dim
know that"
Well. please don't forget it, NJ
Oakley"
Holt ran over the cuts again. T-ea
he asked:
who's going to stand for this? You
or the Old man? hear he wa, II
town last night
4 stand for it, but of course h. u?
proves"
I'll bet he approves" AMI tie rs
sistant treasurer grinned. This Is the
sort Of thing that suits him right down
to the ground"
How about the hands: DO Won
know ii they are members of any I'M
ion:"
No, but tGere'll be lively time, a!leaI
for YOU. They are Il great lot of kick,
ers here"
Wait until | get through. / haven't
touched the shops yet. That's II come
later. I'll skin closer before I'm done"
Oakley got up and lit his pipe. Tie
plant Jus make some SORT Of d sh5v.-
ing. We can't continue at the rate We
have been going. | suppose you ka5-
what sort OF shape il would leave the
town in if the shops We're closed"
Very poor shape, / should say VIII.
its the money that goes in AMI out Of
this Office twice 4 month that keeps the
town alive. 1t couldn't exist a Gar
without that
Then it be1ooves US TO see to il tllr
nothing happeus to the shops o.. r,lL
au sorry for the men | am laying OF.
but il can't be helped
i see you are going to chuck Hytl.
ley u Of his good thing at tie i.
ton. II be- was half white ha,l i