The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-29

. NO I'm not sick And I'm not Sinking. seem
p . work fS harder than with less results Perhaps
Town seems willing TO let the paper die I'm sorry"
was the idea OF the boss that being fred
was too sure OF his Job. having lately been promised
Sfaee on. If you don't deliver the goods by
Th uas - have to get who will. That's all"
street 81 He was not even angryhe merely asham-
have ragged But then tbe boss could not Iast yea
nave found fault with his work The thought stung.
~ All forenoon he worked, but with small success
ano,oti thaa his once confident smile becoming
now pleaded for It was like fear He hated
s Fed an that ne was afraid He discouraged
middlng And he knew the 'middlin man" did
the Daily ssntlasor any de-
a. 4 ne interview with the boss Monday. Tues
small Roadway with his work He wondered If he
sonid a., ne honesick for the home he had
through business college ana then nae haa a
REG again Jones had no home but the room he
he was glad he had just paid rent month in ad-
vance, for he began to be sure he would be fred.
able. Respondent Then he went down to the porch
ana ana talked little to the Iandlady she called him
ms hrst name or would have used II II they had
Inc other fellows would have gone eheerfniy with
II on Jones was not that sort-he decent in thu
special objections
ulated against vice. But 1t did appeal TO him
good taste is often the best protection
try Things went better but the dav was sultry
Everybody wilted and mad and refused to be So
into scettyE Ter % g 1s a,scons n
down over his he ordered. then, his eye
catching the eye OF girl beside him. he straishtened
she was in the advertising department. He turned
and spoke to her about the heat and about the poor
quality of the food they about o have. but
good anywhere.
a millionaire"
He turned to look her and noted with start
she was white about the lips and red about eyes.
which somehow did disguise the that she
very, very pretty Her palor made him simply pa
theae but her deep gray eyes were knd--something
oeen more than eighteen She said nothing about her
How you work go these days~' she asked az
she bit into sandwich fun of what the newspaper
folks called alleged ham"
Rotten" he answered sucoincty. How about your"
he had not expected simply business question to
bring tears girls but that's what happened
TO Jones and made him inwradly himself
never had girl friend and he turned eyes Of wstfG
apology this fair haired slender little thing hravely
trying to smile past the tears while she took sulp
OF coffee before she tried to answer
Worse than rotten" she said whimsicaliy TIM
fired" He had not been about himself, but he
was about her.
But you do fine work-they ali say In Office,
You don't deserve IT. he said angriiy.
/ She hastened to explain TITS only that I'm newest
at the office. and there too much help for the dull
summer months They want me on again in septem.
another place-it's dull everywhere
RE troubles
Can you do anything but stenography' Say, why
ful idea that all the world have himself had hons
somewhere. But this worse than his first
worse than the threat of
"1-have home" she said shortly But all
do besides typewrite is cook-Rnd do Homework.
But don't see how can so into somebody's kitchen.
something will happen--it always does" she smiled
and slid of the stool. I'l he late II don't hurry
She noddug him bye. he followed
hand.
paid 1T with his own. Then he walked back 10 the
1t Saturday afternoon. Offices taking the
day off. every soul who could get out OF town going.
and the rest vicously cross because they couldn't.
Nobody cared whether the circulation increased or
/ 7Ut=sHvs tusH' ire rival paPers--and Jones To
! do him justice he worked like Turk but he ae-
compshed little. At he returned the Office for his
it was likely to be his last SIS from that source He
would be fired Monday. He set his teeth.
! Just as he came out, Fannie was leaving, too and
a certain gay holiness him. only
twenty-one. and he had $50 IN his pocket and hi.
! good time He had no vices, no deots-out he had
never had a girl.
shrink from him as she would have from some OF The
/ surprised himself IN what he said.
Won't you go to supper with me and then out to
both good I'm nearly crazy with being alone win
1 you2"
4 The girl hesitated a and then consented
i've only IS between nyselt~-and--I don't
what" she said. Unless the housekeeping post
/ tion. If l have do that. / with least have
good time tonight and forget about IT until 1t has
1 to come"
is a blessed. despairng tragic. happy thing
These two ate in good little cafe They took
the park; they laughed at the tradi-
/ tional fun of the vaudeville performance Finally
rather late they walked home TO her bleak hot board
ing house And when the girl said good night she had
promised to give him her Sunday afternoon and
ing.
That Sunday-wel the hoy and girl freed them
selves of the ingrowlng loneliness that had been feed
ing upon them Each told the other his past, HE
present
When he left her that night they engaged
1 The next morning Jones to the Office usual
and since the boss absent for the moment. he
went to usual At he took the girl
lunch, and they went the courthouse and had long
talk. Then back to her boarding place
and he went work again--this time with a will
with light his eye. and love in his smile. He
loved the world. the world always Responsive felt
and answered It. Everybody approac subscribed
for the paper Courage rode high in his heart that
he went back office with the spells OF the day
He had forgotten the boss.
But the boss remembered. He Jones and called
him to the desk
You're fred" he said briefly Jones anger and his
/