Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-20
] ] HOW SpIKER {
EEW0N THE PRIZE
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This story has several morals. Also,
1t has three heroes, heroine, an
eccentric philanthropist and score
of supernumeraries of too little i'm
portance, so far as this incident is
concerned, to be mentioned by name.
The heroes are: Mr.. Swallow, Mr..
Spilkington and Mr.. Spiker; the hero
eccentric philanthropist is Mr.. Will
son. So much for the Introduction;
now for the story:
Swallow, Spilkington and Spiker
work for Mr.. Wilson. On the 4th day
Of January last the three young men
held an important interview with
their employer.
what do you want?" said Wilson to
Swallow.
"a raise" said Swallow.
"And you?" to Spilkington.
"a raise
"And you?" to Spiker.
"a raise..'Sa
Cant have it, said Wilson. you
get $25 a week now"
81 know that" said Swallow, "but
that amt enough. We are worth more
than that. We wants $780,"
Too much" said Wilson. "Still,
do not wish to discourage you. You
are worthy young men, and like you.
do not wish to leave you without
hope. l will increase your salary on
one condition. If you get married
will pay you $50 week."
Swallow, Spilkington and Spiker
turned pale.
Married." they said. This is very
sudden. We must have time to think"
They retired into an adjoining room
and thought. After due deliberation
they reported their decision.
Sir" said they, 1--WE refuse to &C.
cept prosperity on such onerous terms.
twenty-five dollars week, according
to our calculation, will go further for
one than $50 for two. We prefer posi-
tive to potential evils. We will not
get married"
Then Swallow, Spilkington and
Spiker went back to their desks and
continued to work for $25 week,
always bearing in mind the opportun-
ity for advancement should they care
to purchase promotion at such cost.
Swallow, Spilkington and Spiker are
good friends. Usually they lunch to-
gether. Last Monday that amicable
arrangement would have been salts
factory to Swallow and Spilkington,
but when they got ready to leave the
Office and looked around for Spiker
they found he had already gone They
saw him at the restaurant, but they
did not join him. Spiker was not
alone. Miss Honeygarde sat opposite.
Miss Honeggarde beamed upon Spiker
and Spiker beamed upon her. They
were happy. Swallow and Spildngton
were not happy; they were envious.
"Ungrateful dog" said Swallow. $50
that's why he left us? He has treated
us most shabbily. But Well get even.
Well have revenge"
He called the waitress.
Della" he said, do you see our
friend over there? Well, he has de-
Gerted us. He's married."
Married." cried Della. "sure?"
Sure said Swallow. Married last
night. My friend and 1 were at the
wedding. Weren't we, Diok?"
"Uh-huh," said Spilkington.
you don't say said Della. "Was
1t church wedding? hope so.
do love church weddings. They are
SO swell and so awfully solemn"
mo-" said Swallow, .'this was not
a church wedding. 1t was just home
affair, but it was swell enough and
solemn enough just the same. Go and
tell the rest of the girls the cid chap
Is married. It'll make him feel good
for you to take some notice of him."
Della told the other girls, the other
girls told the proprietor the proprietor
told the patrons and the patrons told
each other 1t was an exciting time.
Everybody looked, everybody talked.
See the bride and bridegroom"
they said. Don't they look nice?'
But Spiker and Miss Honeygarde
did not look nice. They were too red
for that. They heard, they saw, they
blushed, they felt very uncomfortable.
Also, they looked very silly; neverthe-
less. they talked earnestly. Swallow
and Spilkington tried to make out
what they said, but they could hear
nothing. However, they found out all
about that the next day. Early Tues
day Spiker engaged Mr.. Wilson in an
animated conversation.
Sir" said he, q want my $50
week."
Married." asked Wilson.
Eyes. SIR"