The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-05-15

not know this. lie ndd 1Ound upon MS desk,
one Saturday morning, a sealed note from the
manager, which read:
For some time past have not been altogether
satisfied with the conduct of your department. I
have endeavored to warn you against assuming a
too dictatorial attitude toward the agencies and
publications which we patronize. My endeavors
have apparently, been without effect. Lately, you
have been taking altogether too much authority
upon yourself. I am. therefore, obliged to ask for
your resignation, after the expiration of the custom
AIRY two weeks
After reading this note, Jimmy made his
final mistake; mistake which was quite in
line with his previous errors. Instead of seek
ing a personal interview with Mr. Bowman
for the purpose of investigating the details of
his condemnation, he addressed two-line
note to "The Manager" resigning forthwith.
Then, after drawing his weekly salary, he
departed in high dudgeon, feeling that he had
indicated himself and was, all things con-
sidered, very self-reliant and virtuous young
man.
His mothers gentle comments on the affair
had started reaction. She was a wise
mother, not so blindly fond of her son that
she could not see his faults, and the obligation
she felt under of making up to him for his
dead father, inspired her to deeper interest
in his Office life than is taken by most mothers.
Gently, very gently, she led him to see his
own swollen self-esteem; and, the recent loss
of his position assisting, Jimmy soon dis
<-ox,oroI fbe hIoofoH raforroI To
Shocked and disguised, he punctured it.
But this puncturing left part of him in
very habby condition; and his later attempts
to reenter the business world had not been
conducive to reducing this f1abbiness, nor his
thorough self-disgust He soon learned what
a small figure he really was, even in the bust
ness where, to his own eyes, he doomed so
large. Worst of all, he was beginning to see
that his ideas could work without his assist
ance.
His gloomy meditation of these matters was
interrupted by the appearance of Mr.. ].
Broughton Boggs. They had known each
other during Jimmy's apprentice days in the
Hallowell Agency. Upon Leonard's sudden
elevation to the advertising managership of
Simpkins and Bowman, however, Mr.. Boggs
had dropped below his horizon.
"Well, well! If it amt Jimmy!" said the
Give wire," extending moist, pudgy hand.
al thought it was you! Been havin' small
trihe of hard luck lately, understand. Too
bad! Well, WE'LL"
eyes" said Jimmy shortly. 1t was part of
his humiliation that Mr.. Boggs adopted the
patronizing air of Hallowell Agency days.
Jimmy had been very small minnow in that
puddle; Mr.. Boggs easily the latest and most
imposing bull pout of them all.
"Well, WE'LL" resumed the stout gentleman,
sitting down and stretching his legs. Life,
as I've often remarked, is an elevator. 'Bifn
You hit the automatic reverse at the top; and
then, first thing you know, 'Boomp!' you
smack into the reverse at the bottom, and
start it all over again. Same thing over and
over. Such is life!" He sighed.
"You don't seem to take any account of the
elevator man," returned Jimmy, diverted in
spite of himself. "Most well-conducted ele-
vators have somebody inside to keep 'em from
biting and boomping up and down to no
purpose"
"There amt in life," declared Mr.. Boggs,
with another sigh. "Or if there is, he's drunk
most of the time. Or else crazy. Yes, sir,
even with me, business amt what it used to
be. No, sir"
"Wen, Pm glad to have met you, Mr..
Boggs," interrupted Jimmy, rising. "I'l
take your example to heart"
"Herel Don't go yeti" said the other,
showing signs of animation. "I've got some
thing to tell you-important!"
"Well-" returned Jimmy uncertainty;
adding, mendaciously, give got an engage
ment"
"You just come here and set down, "
ordered Mr.. Boggs. GIVE got something
that'n interest you, engagement or no engage
ment About old Wilson," he added mysteri-
ously.
If he hadn't been much changed Jimmy,
he would have departed without another
word. As it was, he sat down again.
"I1l have to ask you to be as brief as pos
sible," he said, looking at his watch.
"All right, all right" assented Mr.. Boggs
ungraciously. 81 only intended to do you a
favor. The fact is, Wilson worked little
trick that got you out of your job. But, OF
course, if you don't care to hear the de-
tails"
Jimmy resisted another temptation to bid
Mr.. Boggs an abrupt goodbye.