The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-04-08

| Nope! l was coming downstairs.
! why?'
NO matter. All you know is that
Mr.. Meeker is looking for another
| place."
What" exclaimed Justin, sharply.
| The, lad eyed him steadily as he
walked into the room.
you warn't worth keepin'," he said,
boldly. You was stalled. A feller's
| got to be a pacemaker, nowadays. to
get anywheres. 'Tain't what he's done,
or what he's doin' in a hole. It's what
folks see he's good for. and is goin' to
do in spite of 'em ALL You've done
right by others, but you amt done
right by yourself. You stopped
pushin'. Don't you see that? They
see it, and that minute you was put
down as one of them as would be
comm along behind"
| Edison Peck" the exclamation of
Mrs. Meeker rang wrathfully. Not
another word. The idea of such inn
| pudence and audacity from you. Why!
you're not out of short trousers yet.
What are you thinking of"
"Of you and Mr.. Meeker," blurted
the boy. Il can see and read and
hear, can't 1? Amt one of the fam
lily, with word to say out of my own
thoughts? l tell you he's got it in
him and he don't know it,"
| Go OUT" cried Leona, aghast at
what to her sounded an unforgivable
insult
But Justin Meeker lifted a detain.
ing hand as the tousled head turned
toward the door.
'Wait!" he said Come here, Edi-
son. Sit down. There! Who has
been telling you this? Let him alone.
my dear. Some malicious tongue has
been busy as usual. Now, my boy, go
ahead. What have you heard said?"
"Nothin' much. Mis- Meeker doesn't
understand. Neither do you. It's all
myself and hard pushin' to say, with
her gettin' mad, but l amt through
yet. I'll keep a blowin' it out and
get atop of wanting to back down"
Tears were starting in the anxious
orbs of Edison; his lips quivered, but
his jaw set, determinedly, as he
clutched the chairs rungs. He looked
like one bracing for the extraction of
tooth. =.
Il say you've got it in you and you
don't know it," he bolted. Didn't
you give yourself dead away talkin'!
'Spose I'd hire man who said what
you did to Mis- Meeker and expect
him to last? He couldn't. Why, he
just couldn't last"
Justin was gazing thoughtfully at
the floor.
What is it l don't know" he asked
quietly.
How to kick youi self into doin
more than you're asked to do" said
Edison Peck. solemnly. That's what
If you was in business on your own
hook, 1t would be pinch and worry
and fret and reach up, shown by
others, learnin' their ways, graspin
chances to get ahead, maxim yourself
a boss in the crowd and then not
stopRin'. Oh! you'd be agertated
then, / guess, for fear of Dustin up
or 1ettin' others skate by you You
make circles on the ice, you do, when
you ought to be pluggin' across: the
pond. There!"
He paused, red and painting. Meek
er was biting his lip. Something abou,
children and fools" crossed his mind
He laughed nervously.
Il declared" said Leona, hoarsely.
Hes right" calculated her hus
band. 1--we thought the same thing
my dear-about-well, you under
stand"
Where are you going?" said Leona
as Meeker grabbed his hat.
Out" returned that gentleman
hastily. "Blazewell and Company are
short-handed. heard. Hard men to
work for-but-"
Leona lost the rest.
Dear me-" she said to her dis
turbed soul. 1--we thought so, too
about-that."
Il guess we'll have to give Meeker
an interest, Manton," remarked the
gray-haired manufacturer to his part
ner three years later.
Exactly what I want" replied the
other. warmly. Cant get along with
out Justin. He knows every detail OF
the business. Remember that evening
he came in and got of our stuck trial
balance? Worked all night"
| Il do" old BLACKWELL grinned
Books didn't hold him long. How he
did push! One couldn't keep him
back. Nice fellow to get on with
isn't he? And Slayer said he wouldn't
last. Slager's a fool. Last? Why!
II that man isn't laster / never saw
one. Who is that stocky young chap
who comes in to see him?"
Edison Peck. He lives with 'em
A great hustler, I've been told. Just
graduated from the high school at the
head of his class. Means to work his
way through college. Meeker says
Justin swears by that boy. Say, how
about fortnight in Maine this fall?
Together? Well! suppose
Meeker can run matters, all right"
Manton laughed.
Better than we can," said he. "You
needn't worry about anything stop
ping, BLACKWELL. That man doesn',
seem to know what letting up means.