The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-06-03
ss-s-Sss-s-b'-s-sNs-s-s
Saving the
Company.
BY CARLETON HAZARD.
copyrighted. 1903, by Associated
Literary Press
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

After long line OF incompetent
stenographers Bradley congratulated
himself when Alice Fuller took her
place at the typewriter desk. aud as
though by magic the crooked places
We're made straight
So quietly did the girl slip into the
routine of the office and so unostenta-
tiously did she accomplish results that
Arthur Bradley did not realize all that
she was doing. He had only the pleas
ant feeling that at last the office was
running straight. and, manlike. he took
the credit to himself.
1t had been Il struggle to get the of
fee going at all, for the firm was in
opposition to the trust, and everything
possible Was done to break up the
newly established branch office.
More than once Bradley had narrow
ly escaped some trap laid for him, but
for every blow struck at him he gave
back as good The letters from the
home office were encouraging and init
mated that II he would round out the
first year there would be an increase
of salary as we'll as the present of q
block of stock
The biggest feather In his cap was
when the home office turned over to
him the task of securing contract for
some $2,o0O000 worth of material.
''Such big contracts are usually han
died from the home Office" he explain
ed to Alice Fuller as he gave her the
letter with instructions to place 1t In
the private letter file In the safe. IF
they turn this matter over to me 1t Is IA
sign that they have faith In my judg-
ment It's going to be ticklish mat
ter to figure ON all that material at u
price that will he low enough to cap
ture the contract and still give US as
much Of profit as possible"
."rhey probably realize that you are
close to the contract, and they know
that they can trust YOU" answered
Alice, 1T shows that this branch Is
becoming important"
She went quietly about her work
but there was happy light In her
eyes, for she was as much pleased at
himself
Alice VAS not girl of impulses, but
she had come to have more than Il lik-
ing for Bradley, and she took pride
in his success.
The week that followed was busy
one. Bradley figured far into the
night On the problems of cost, and each
morning he gave to Alice the results of
his work, to be tabulated on the ma
chine and filed In the safe until tho
figures should be complete. II was
weary work with all the specifications
and blanks, but at last the estimate
WAS complete, and Bradley took 1t OH
u New York in person for the ap
prevail of the home office.
He was jubilant on his return. The
president of the company had congrat-
ulated him on the excellence of his
work and had limited that the new
London Office might he opened soon
with Bradley In charge.
But the Jubilation was short lived,
for two days later Il long letter came
from the New York office instructing
the branch to alter the estimates in
accordance with set of figures some
10 per cent In advance of the original
estimate
Here's job for YOU" growled
Bradley as he took the paper to
Alices desk. I'm have to do as the
home Office says, but it's throwing
away the contract and my chance of
promotion"
Are you certain that 1t Is the order
Of the New York Officer asked Alice
as she took up the sheets. You know
that this contract will mean great
deal to the trust If they are able to
take 1t away from us. 1t means
great deal more to us to retain It,"
That's just IT," complained Bradley.
'Ihey know that II we lose this con
tract we lose our fight for an independ-
ent existence and shall have to sell out
to the trust at their own price. If we
get 1t, 1t will mean that We can beat
them and hold our own. Yet they
raise my figures"
And 1t would be worth a great eff
fort to beat u.s." went on Alice. Sup
pose that the trust people had some
one planted IN the home office who
could copy the figures and send them
to the trust officers. Suppose, too,
that they supplied the people with our
letter heads and envelopes. We would
be unsuspicious and change the bid In
accordance with Instructions, only to
Ind MT hot ha Il af
the bids had been opened and the con-
tract awarded to the trust. | think
you will find that they have bid only
slightly lower than this, but much
higher than your original figures"
''That's possible" admitted Bradley.
IN wire the home Office and find out"
"And warn the traitor in the Office
that his plans have been discovered"
reminded Alice. ''They Will then bid
below your figures and get the contract
anyway II would be best to hold on
and take chances by yourself. 1t will
be the only way to hold the contract"
''lf only could be sure" exclaimed
Bradley But | can't act ON mere
guesswork."
This is something more than guess
work." insisted Alice. I'm the first
place. this letter Is mailed from the
Madison square station That is In the
building In which the trust has Its
main Office. Our letters all come from
the Wall street station, four or five
miles away and nearest our Office.
They are using the same make Of
typewriter President Hammond's ste
nographer uses, but II Is not the same
machine On the letters from our Of
fee there Is a piece broken from the
cross Of every IT,
Il think you are rightr' cried Brad
ley as he compared two letters Wen
pop In the original estimate, and when
they come to open the bids out our
trust friends will have dozen fits"
But answer this letter and say that
changes have been made In the bid In
accordance with Instructions and that
the bid has been submitted" directed