The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-10

is manager OF the pdlGeru SI1oP.
He is a designer himself, and an
inventor, too, think. =
The man nodded.
.SThat s right. They spoke to
me about him. He has done some
useful things. They called him a
valuable Lad. Characteristics
please 2"
"He is rather quiet, .and shy
and has very little to say about
himself /"
The man looked up
Somewhat the opposite of No
l, eh 20
eyes
Gone thing more. Are the two
young men on good terms 20
"Oh, yes. They come here to-
gether quite often. -
"That s little strange, ism I
ii 2"
The girl laughed.
''I fancy that No / thinks he
has no opposition worth consider
ing and that No. 2 feels that it re
pays him to come here, whether he
wins or loses.' She merrily laugh
ed. 81 IN almost sure that No.
thinks No. 2 an admirable foil fol
his own masterful brilliancy-an
perhaps No. 2 is willing to play the
role in order to come here oftener.
The man nodded.
"But you haven't told me about
this Osborn's family. Is he a ma
tive Of the town 20
eyes. His father was the first
foreman Of the factory After
John graduated from scientific
school he entered the factory and
has been climbing ever since.
think it must be because he works
so hard. -
m going down to the factory
dear. Perhaps I'll make the ac
quaintance of these interesting
young men. )"
"Shall l take you down; dad
dy ?"
"No. I'm going rmaccompan.
led and unannounced.
"Then, I'll come after you with
the electric. y
every we'll dear. Give me plen
ty Of time. Goodby.''
Twenty minutes later a gray.
haired man, plainly dressed; a tired
appearing man STOPPING shoulders
was ushered into the anteroom OF
the office Of the assistant superin-
tendent of the great Acme mill.
"There's a lot Of 'em ahead OF
you this morning." said the boy
who guarded the inner door. I'll
call you when he's ready to see
YOU"
The man nodded and took a seat
in a dusky corner. There were
twenty or more persons waiting.
twenty persons seemingly repre-
senting as many grades in life, and
he newcomer found himself busy
studying them. From time to time
the inner door opened and one OF
the waiting group was admitted.
The man might have been there
twenty minutes when the outer
door opened and slender young
man entered. He was bareheaded
and carried package of loose pa
pers in his hand.
AS the man passed along he chan
ced to notice the man in the corner
He slackened his pace and came a
little nearer. And the gray haired
man looked up at him and smiled
"You are waiting to see Mr.
Treat 20
"Yes. /"
"He is busy this morning-you
may have to wait some time. Come
over here by the window. This is
an easier chair. +"
The grayhaired man took the
proffered seat with a word OF
thanks, and the young man passed
into the inner room.
When he came back he was close.
ly studying one of the papers from
his bundle. But he looked down
as he passed the grayhaired man
and stopped. His eyes took in the
plain attire, the gray hair, the pa
tient face.
pardon me-" he softly said
"but may presume that you are
looking for employment 90
The man nodded.
eyes, he answered.
"You are a stranger here 2"
"I am now,'' the gray. haired
man replied. "When I was quite
young I worked. in the old factory
building. That is why I hoped to
find employment here. -
The young mans face looked
grave.
eve have many applications for
work, ;, he said. His face Tighten
ed. "And you were a boy in the
old factory ?'I'd like to hear about
those old times. We think we have
made great advances since the
Acme s early days"
"No doubt of that, said the old
or. ,,nn,, = g I'm ,nl1ra f,raid ,rn,,