Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-07-07

tnlnS Detter TO a man OF your stand
ing. But-well, I'm making a start,
you see, and the fact of the matters
that, just at present, could we'll man
age to do all the work myself. Still, ii
no doubt We shall get on capitally to-
gether; and, of course, | need not say,
as soon as our progress justifies it,
we must come to new arrangements.
A matter of six or seven hours a day
will be all | shall ask of you at pres
ent For my own part, work chiefly
at night"
Chapter II.
BY the end of the first month Top
ten or twelve hours a day, and his
spells of labor only heightened as
time went on. Seeing himself victim
lied he one day alluded to the prom
Use of better terms, but Starkey turned
sour.
"You surprise me, Topham. Here
we are practically partners, doing our
best to make this thing success, and
all at once you spring upon me an I'M
reasonable demand. You know per-
fectly we'll that every penny | can
spare goes in advertising. You know
how expensive these rooms are-fOr
We must have decent address. Ii you
are dissatisfied, say so, and give me
time to look out for some one else.'
Topham was afraid of the street,
and that his employer well knew The
conversation ended in mutual sullen-
ness, which thenceforward became the
note of their colloquies. Starkey felt
himself victim of ingratitude and
consequently threw even more work
upon his helpless assistant That the
work was so conscientiously done did
not at all aStonish him. Now and then
he gave himself the satisfaction OF
finding fault just to remind Topham
that his bread depended on another's
good will Congenial Incidence grew
upon him, but he talked only the more
Of his ceaseless eXertions. Sometimes
in the evening he would throw up
his arms, yawn YEARLY and declare
that so much toll with such paltry
results was a heart breaking thing.
Topham stared sullenly at the six
pence. This was but the latest of
many insults. yet never before had
he SO tasted the shame of his subiec-
ton. Though he was earning a living
.iorot IN, ,o1f
uously than Starkey ever had, this
fellow made him feel like a mendi-
cant. His nerves quivered; he struck
the table fiercely, shouting within
himself, "Brute Cad," Then pocketed
the coin and got on with his duties.
1t was toll of a peculiarly wear1-
some and enervating kind. Stark ey's
advertisements, which were chiefly
in the country newspapers, put him IN
communication with persons on both
sexes and Of any age from II onwards,
the characteristic common to them all
being ineXperience and intellectual
helplessness. Most Of these CORE
spondents desired to pass some exam
nation; a few aimed-or protested to
aim-merely at self-improvement, or
what they called culture" Starkey
OF course, undertook tuition in any
subject to any end, stipulating only
that his fees should be paid in adj
vance. Throughout the day his slave
had been correcting Latin. and Greek
exercises, papers in mathematical or
physical science, answers to histor-
ical questions; all elementary, and
many grotesquely bad On completing
each set he wrote the expected com
ment, sometimes briefly, sometimes
at considerable length. He now turned
to a bundle of so-called essays, and on
opening the frs could not repress a
groan. No, This was beyond his
strength. He would make up the par
GELS for post, write the half dozen
letters that must be sent today, and
go out. Had he not sixpence in his
pocket?
Just as he had taken this resolve
some one knocked at the sitting room
door, and with the inattention of
man who expects nothing, Topham
babe enter
"A gen'man asking for Mr.. Star
key. SIR said the servant
''All right, send him in"
And then entered a man whose
years seemed to be something short
OF 30, a hale, rudy checked, stoutish
man, whose dress and bearing made
It probable that he was no Londoner
Mr.. Starkey, NJ. A?" he in
CURED. nervously, though his smile
and his upright posture did not lack
a certain dignity.
Quite right murmured Topham,
who was authorized to represent his
principal to any one coming on busi-
ness. Will you take a seat?"
You will know my name" began
the stranger. ''Wigmore- Abraham