Alaska sentinel., 1908-10-08
A MAN IN THE MAKING.
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The story of Skaggles-as 1t is told by a writer in the Associated Sunday Magazines-is very simple, but it goes straight to that spot In the heart that is always waiting to respond to the brave and sweet things of life. Skaggles was not his name. Some one gave him that title the third day after he took the job It was finally curtailed to ''Skag" When he first came to the office he fitted like a mouse's tail in well but be had an old look-the look of burden beyond his years. He was wan and pale, and his nose was red every time he came in from the weath- CT. His shoes and stockings were ven- tilated beyond endurance to anybody except a boy.
 But Skag was a faithful worker-at first. Bright and early be swept the office and dusted the desks-that Is, used the duster-and by eight o'clock he was over in his corner, his hair plas- tered back and his face washed, save for the high-water mark about his neck put US uCSACCS over his new position languished. The clerks complained of unemptied waste baskets and dusty desks. It was also noticed that Skag's clothes were daily growing more shabby, his hair longer. his shoes more run over, and 1t was evident that his mind was not on his work.
 A reprimand from the boss" had the desired effect. He became more pune tual, took more interest in his work, seemed cheery, and sometimes whistled little. But Skag's work was spas modic. It was not long before he was as bad as ever. His work Jagged. he was slow about getting round mornings, and his interest-outwardly, at least was of the wooden Indian variety. The crowniag and final test of endurance on the part of the office force came when he went to sleep in hls chair.
 "Skag. come here."
 It was the boss Skag shuffled into the managers private office, and sat on the edge of chair, nervous and fdgety. The boss did not speak for a minute-his way of impressinS cul- prit.
 "Skag, this thing has gone far enough! You are not paying attention to your work. Look at the dust on my desk-it's frightful. This Is Monday. I'll give you just one week. Saturday winds you up unless you come out Of that trance. That's all." Skag snlffed and shuf1ed back to his chair, where he tugged at the seam on his trousers and gaEed vacantly out of the window.
 The next morning the office fairly glistened, and all through the week his work improved The stenographer even discarded her work sleeves, her desk was 50 clean.
 But no one noticed that Skags face was growing thinner and his eyelids more dropping.
 Saturday night. after i've o'clock. Skag stayed and cleaned up the office. He would be that much ahead when Monday came.
 Monday morning the office was as clean as a Dutch kitchen, but there was no Skag. Noon arrived, and still no Skag, at which the boss waxed wrathy.
 "Jones, go up to the kids house and see what the trouble is. Tell him If he can't get here by two o'clock, he needn't come at ah.'
 When Jones returned he went into the managers private office and closed the door. Later he came out with a long sheet of paper in his hand. The boss had headed the list with twenty i've dollars.
 What brought 1t onT asked the stenographer.
 Exposure, and not enough to keep body and soul together. The kids been sitting up nights with her for month Funerals Wednesday," skag is still working. He wears new suit. and the hish-water mark round his neck has disappeared. And they do not call him Skaggles now. They call him by his right name. Practicing by Ear. When Grover Cleveland was practic-