The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

reluctant surrender the little ex-cashier found
her greatest delight in humoring him back to self
confidence. The manager at tho store uncon'
sciousy assisted her by showing John Edward
along a little. Between them, they oyershot the
mark and John Edward had a dangerous relapse
into the old Huckins spirit The result was the
same old story with the difference that II did not
end with a yellow envelope John Edward quit.
Explanations were not necessary when he faced
his wife I'm the little four-room fiat.
"Wen" she said at length, her eyes clouded
with anxiety and disappointment Il had hoped
that you grown up by this time but guess
For moment she looked sorrowfully around
the little home Then her old brslness OF manner
returned.
81 guess I'll ht" she announced. this won't be
any place for me with you out of work. Sue
has been wanting me to visit her for some time
and guess III start tomorrow You better store
the furniture and take room somewhere"
The next day she lifted" but before she went.
some of her brslness deserted her. you can
send for as you get back TO work,
she said as she bade him goodby "and Billy" she
added with little sob, don't keep me waiting
long will you, boy?'
by the end of a month JohP Edward had lived
over some OF the experiences of the past. He
had even found IL necessary to resort to the old
expedient of smoking cigarettes and Tightening
his belt as a substitute for lunch. AT times MS
knees were wobbly in the same old way they had
peen on the sands Of Arizona. In addition, he was
bitterly lonely He missed his brisk little wife
as he had never i'm his life before missed any.
thing and he became possessed OF fear that she
might never come back, for he was no nearer a
job than he had been when she went away.
For the second time In his life he went on by
himself to think He went over the matter from
beginning to end and no matter how he looked at
it. he bumped his head against the same conclu-
sion II was merely the brig in another form.
BY the end of six weeks he had digested the mat
ter thoroughly and was waiting In line before the
employment desk at the store.
"Ah Huckins." the manager greeted him, what
10 you want?
Anything" John Edward replied
Well" the manager twirled his pencil and
etud lad he face Of ne through
narrowed lids. you'll have to begin at the bot
tom How does that strike your
John Edwards shoulders went back as he
looked the manager straight in the eye when
do / begn?" he asked
Two years passess rapidly when a man Is busy;
the hour hand lags for the man who has
no time to watch it, John Edward had advanced
slowly but it did not worry him. He was not
looking for decorations on his sleeve and the
quarterback miles away from his thoughts.
When he was rot expanding luxuriously under the
smiles of his h,le black-hared wife in their four
room fat, he cudgelling his brains for some
means OF bringing up the receipts OF the dlmlnu-
tive department which he presided and
when he found idea worth trying, he went at
it with both eyes on the job.
At last there came a time when place on the
quarterback vacant and anxious eyes all over
the store directed longingly upward, but John
Edward couldn't take his OFF his department He
had no time. He had forgotten everything eX-
cept the balance sheet he had to turn in at night,
and he dropped his work with gesture OF i'm
patience when they sent for him to come to the
office
When the manager had finished his little
speech John Edward realized vaguely that
he had at last climbed the ladder and had
both feet firmly planted on the quarterback He
looked from one to the other, from the old man
to the manager and his hand unconscousy went
to his forehead in the old salute.
II thank you, sir" he stammered, H. er--I-
whatever you say goes
The other fellows came around at intervals dur
ing the afternoon to congratulate him and he lis.
tened to them with eye on the clock and
his thoughts on the little black-haired wife in the
tiny four-room fiat
Her eyes were sparkling and dewey when she
had heard the news
BILLY" she said. you don't know how proud
am of you But l knew you had it in you from
XnI ilaN