The Washington times., 1909-03-21

Irlenur QulZElCall9-
Am /? What makes you think so
retorted the other.
We'll, this is the third time within
me last fifteen minutes you've put
match in your mouth and tried TO stike
your pine on the sole Of your shoe.
when a young man, usually level
headed and rational. starts reversing
the order of things in that fashion. it
may be taken as pretty conclusive evil
dence that he's sadly ratified"
Wilbur Leslie laughed and hastily re-
moved the match from between his
teeth.
WAS 1 actually trying 20 light that
match with my pipe?" he inquired in
Credulously. Good heavens. What an
absent-lninded idiot I must be"'
That isn't the only sign you're not
sour normal self tonight" declared
Clayton severely. I've been talking 70
sou for tire past hour and it's quite evil
dent to me you haven't been listening
TO a single word. The expression on
your face has told me that your
thoughts have been elsewhere all the
tirie. Pretty discourteous treatment.
can IT. You invite a fellow TO your
house FOR a smoke and a friendly chat
and then you proceed to ignore his
presence entirely. Perhaps I'm in the
way here. If SO I'd better get my hat
and CO."
Wilbur laid his hand on his friends
shoulder.
Don't be angry, old chap. I apollo
Rize most humbly for my fit OF alb
sentmindedness. I win admit I have
been letting my thoughts wander while
you've been talking. I assure you that
j meant no discourtesy. though. The
fact is. Steve. I've got something on
my mind"
''You have. en-? Nothing serious,
hope old fellow. Nothing wrong at
the office, chr
''Oh, no. Everything is all right in
that quarter. Arthur Darlington, the
junior partner, has been a little ugly
TO me lately. it's true; bt / assure
YOU, I'm not worrying about that. I
stand ace high with his brother. and
Frank, as I guess you know. has
pretty nearly all the say in the firm
of harrington & Sons. while he is my
friend 1 have nothing to fear from Ar
thur" I
so Frank Darlington, the senior
partner. is your friend. is hep drawled
Clayton, taking long puffs at his briar
''WeD, I wouldn't trust him too much
IL 1 were you. Wilbur If I'm any
judge OF faces the senior partner Of
harrington & Sons is even more Of a
villain than his brother. They're both
scoundrels. is my opinion. but Frank
is the worst of the pair
wei. that's where you're wrong. -"
declared Leslie, with much heat.
Neither of my employers is a scOun-
drel, Steve. I'll admit that Arthur is
a little wild and unsteady-he hasn't
sown his wild oats yet. I guess. And
sometimes he's bit mean and vindic-
tive. too but he isn't a scoundrel, by
any means.
And as for Frank Barrington-why
he's as straight, level-headed and square
p business man as you could want TO
meet. And besides. Steve" ne went on
sngrfly, "I don't want you to talk that
way again. in my presence. I'm too
loyal an employee of the firm to allow
anybody to abuse its members in my
hearing. Whatever your own opinion of
my employers may be. kindly refrain
from expressing it when you are IN ny
company"
''Loyaity-bah,' exclaimed Clayton
disgustedly. "Nhy the deuce should you
be loral TO harrington & Sons, I should
like to know. You've been working for
the firm ever since you were a kid.
You've learned the details of their bust
ness from A TO Z. You work like a
dog for them and they reward you by
paying you salary that is little more
than many office boys get You've no
reason 70 be grateful or loyal TO them
Wilbur.
If you had any sand you'd strike
for big raise and make them pay YOU
what you're really worth. They'd pan
IL too III wager, rather than let you
go"
We'll as a matter OF fact. Frank mas
promised me q raise" replied the other
But between you and me, Steve, things
haven't been going very well with the
firm lately The hard times have hit
us some. i guess they really couldn't
AFFORD to raise my salary just at pres,
ent."
well. why don't you pull out and get
n JOB somewhere else2'' suggested mis-
friend. impatiently a young man OF
your ability and experience could easily
land a good berth with another firm in
the same line
What, desert the ship while she's in
distress2" cried Wilbur Leslie. indig-
nantiy. I'D like 10 see myself doina
tnatl You can't really mean it. Steve
IN not that kind OF a fellow. Besides.
promised old man Darlington just be
fore he died that I'd stick to his sons
as long as they'd nave me. The old
man had great confidence IN me. YOU
see 1 guess II he had lived I'd be get
ting pretty big salary now
Perhaps so; although I've always an
derstOod that the Old man himself kas
pretty stingy- At any rate, he is dead
and his sons are treating you wretch
eddy in the matter Of wages. II you
stay with them for the rest Of your
life. you'll never get a decent salary
from them"
Clayton spoke disgustedly.
Take my advice, Old man, and look
for another job" he added.
Not T." declared Wilbur Leslie firm
~ -I'll stay with the old firm until
I'm fired"
Wen, II things are as bad financially
with them as you intimate, you're like
~ to be fired before very long" de
ciared Clayton pessimisticaIly, rs that
what's worrying you tonight. old chap.
NO. I'm not worrying about that
r,rv- 10 OH