The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-10

WAS cunning out.
The persons who were waiting
suddenly arose, but he waved them
aside.
No more time to spare, he told
them. If your business is of i'm
portance come again tomorrow.
He turned toward the outer door
and encountered the grayhaired
man who had suddenly arisen and
now barred the way.
Excuse me, sir, but are you Mr..
Treat 2"
Yes.
May have a word with you 20
The assistant superintendent
looked the stranger over.
" What is it you want ~
The old man looked at him ap-
pealingly.
want employment sir. "
The young man frowned.
That s what | supposed Well,
we have nothing for you. We
want energy hcrc-not the musty
deliberation of old age. You We
passed your. time of usefulness.
my grayhaircd friend. "
The stranger S voice grew eager.
." worked for the factory. sir.
forty years ago. You II find my
name on the old books and on some
OF the old patterns.
The young man shook his head.
Well, he said. You can Z
work here again. You have out
lived your allotted span of indus.
trial usefulness. ! am surprised
to hear that you are looking for
work Don you know that the
chances are strong that if you So
cured place You would crowd
some younger and much ADLER man
from employment -
The stranger sighed.
But what ann to do hc
asked in n helpless tone.
That $ destined to bc very
serious problem - said the young
man You know what DR.. Osler
. is reported 10 have said Well.
don I 20 as far ~ the rhlorofom
theory, ot course, but do think
that when a man reaches the point
where both his mental and physical
strength is waning, he should bow
to the inevitable and get oif the
track. That : what ! expect 10 do
when ! reach your age. It's thu
law of the inevitable 90
The older man shook his gray
head
But what am to do. sir 9' hc
repeated
Go homo. ' said the young man
q little sharply. Go home and
/ tcli your friends 10 take care Of
iAou The Acme plant emit b.
bothered We have dividends io
earn and stockholders to satisfy
. ii wc tried To run a benevolent
home here for supcrannuafrd cm.
+ pIoyrs, wc would soon close our
doors
" And doe, the fact that / once
worked here count for nothong
the stranger asked
That = all sentiment. said the
Young man and sentiment has nu
place ~ q lrustling factory Per.
haps if You had stucl, 10 the work,
You wouIdn 7 bc ln your present
straits
he had turned toward the door
leaving the stranger staring after
him 70 stare strange 10 Say. that
WAS coupled with y queer cynical
smile when "A young woman sud
/ denly entered the room q hutter
ing and IN every way a charming
young woman, who loked cagerll
from one man TO the other.
How do you do Mr. Treat -
she said to the younger man. who
suddenly removed his hat. Then
she turned to the stranger. Il
couldn I wait any longer, daddy, "
she said
The young man pailed His
jaunty air of self-confidencc sud.
denly wilted. He looked at the older
man and muttered an indistinct
apology. Then turned and hur
ried away.
The girl looked around in won
der.
Why, what does that mean, dad
dy 2"
II means that No. is of the
opinion that your father is too old
to be of any service TO the factory. -
Before the girl could comment
on this remarkable statement the
outer door opened and John Os-
borne came in to the room.
" Why, Miss Harmon, he STAN
mered, with quick flush Of pleas
ure.
This is my father, Mr. Osborn,
said the girl.
The stranger extended his hand.
the younger man hung back
II hope you'll forgive my
forwardncss. sir" he stammered.
j didn't dream that You were
Miss Harmon 5 father -
The girl looked from one man to
the other.
II means. my dear, her faith
er explained, that No. , should
say this young Osborn here tried