Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1909-12-31
A NEW EAR GIFT
BY BEVERLY. WoRTtlNGToN.
tCopyrigkt 1903, by American Press Asso.
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BY BEVERLY WoRTtilNGTON.
tCopyright, 1909, by American Press Asso.
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'Mr. Bickford." said the president,
you are aware, suppose. that this
business, is solely for making money:
What pays goes; whit doesn't pay
does not go. Besides. my stockholders
keep me up to making dividends If
don't pay dividends my head goes of.
We can get your work done for half
Of the salary we pay you. We shall
not need your services after the LIST of
January" 81,
But, Mr.. Tinkham, I've been with
you sixteen years. I'm now thirty-six.
Places are being filed by younger
men. fear may not get another"
THAT Is your misfortune"
II don't know what shal"-
II have no time to listen to what
your future may be. have other mat.
tiers to attend to-
Bickford fretted over his discharge
till 1t made him Ill. One day a chum
said to him:
"Bickford. l tell you what you do.
You've got $1,000. know. Spend half
Of it having Il good time. Resign your
position and go off where you'll find
something to distract your attention
from this bugbear. When you feel
strong come back and 60 to work at
anything you can get to do. If you
stay here you'll 60 under" =:
Bickford took the advice He went
to Florida. putting up at hotel where
he paid IS day for bis board. and
stayed there month. Instead of get
ting matters into better he got them
into worse FIX. He fell desperately in
love.
The object of Bickford's affection
was Miss Mazda Tibbetts. young girl
who was staying at one of the less pre-
tentious hotels. 1t was more quiet and
comfortable than the caravansary
where Bickford was staying. and
Miss 1ibbetts' mother. an invalid. was
with her. and the house was better
fitted for such d person. Nevertheless
from appearances there was no money
In the Tibbetts family. Bickford felt
that he was playing contemplate
part in making it appear by the
amount that he daily expended for
board that he was opulent when in
reality be was without any income
whatever. But in his affair with Miss
| Tibbetts he found at least temporary
mental relief from his troubles and
had no heart to break with her till be
was obliged to. When his $500 was
spent, except enough for his railway
ticket home, he found himself In po-
sition to make al explanation. He
told the girl the facts.
Probably she would have blamed
him for what he had done had it not
been for her repugnance to the treat
ment he had received.
'These modern ways Of doing busi-
ness,' she said, "are execrable. As
soon as mean man has established a
successful business he capitalizes it.
This gives him board Of directors. to
whom he pretends to be responsible
This in turn gives him an ostensible
excuse to run the business without q
soul. Then he gifts rid Of those who
have helped him build it up and re-
places them by cheaper men, mere
cogwheels in the great machine be has
been constructing"
The question between Bickford and
Miss Tibbetts was what should they
do. They loved. and Bickford could
not support a wife. Miss Tibbetts
was an ardent believer in love as a
basis of marrimony. with or without
money. She said that when she got
back to the north she thought she
could find something among her rela-
lives for Biclsford to do. He had $500
I'm bank at home. which. with some
funds of hers. would last them for sew.
eral months. Bickford saw that she
favored the plan of being married
then and there. and, with many mis-
givings. be consented. He had come
away without any income with which
to- support even himself BE, went
back with wife requiring-so he con
sidered it-!a far greater income than
for one. ." .4z s,! y, ". = :,
Mrs. Bickford after the marriage in
sisted onsremaining q month longer In
Florida. Her mothersneeded to stay
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