The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-27
THE EVENING STORY
Firing Homes
(By Joanna Single


When Jones had been steadily maxi
ing good for two years in the circula-
ton department of the Daily Scintil-,
lator," he suddenly began, in the ele-
CANT language of the new boss, to
stump. The new boss, by sheer merit.
had suddenly risen from obscurity to
MS present position, and he knew not
Jones, his worthy business past nor
his troubles. His one idea was to get
the work done properly, promptly, plenti-
1uily. He wanted subscriptions, and
carried no superfluous sentiment about
with him. So after Jones had for sew
eral weeks been slumping, the boss
summoned him to the desk.
What's the trouble. Jones? The cir
culation is crawling back on us. The
IriDune's' sworn statement in their
lying paper last night gave me the
backache. You haven't brought fresh
idea into this business for a month
and what ais your soliciting? Sick?"
Jones was so obviously a clean sort
that the boss knew he was not dis
sipating. The young fellow hesitated
moment before replying, while the old
er man eyed him with keen kindness.
mo, I'm not sick. And I'm not shirk-
ing. 1 seem to work harder than ever
with less results. Perhaps it's the hea.
everybody else is hot, too, and the
town seems willing to let the paper die.
I'm sorry
Now, it was the idea of the boss that
being fired occasionally was good for
any man. Perhaps Jones was too sure
of his job, having lately been promised
a raise.
well. Jones, I'll give you another
week to get brace on. If you don't
deliver the goods by next Monday-I'n
have to get a man who will That's
ALL"
The boyle was hardly more
went out on the street. He was not
even angry-he was merely ashamed in
a dull way. Last year-last month
he would have ragged. But then the
boss could not last year have found
fault with his work. The thought
stung. What was the matter?
All forenoon he worked, but with
small success. He knew that his once
confident smile was becoming apollo
getic. Where he had demanded hear
ing, he now pleaded for one. 1t was
like fear. He hated to realize that he
was afraid. He was DISCOURAGED, ana
the days work summed up between
flair" and "middling." And he knew
the ..Middlin' Man. did not last long in
the business department-or any oe-
partment-of the Daily Scintillator.
The interview with the boss was on
Monday. Tuesday passed; and Weones-
day, and still Jones made small head
way with his work. He wondered II
he could be homesick for the home he
had never had. An older sister, dead
since his sixteenth year, had brought
him up. For the rest, he had worked
his way through business college and
then had struck out to the city for
himself. The brother-in-law had
married again. Jones had no home
but the room he paid for in board
ing house. Thinking about it now, he
was glad he had just paid his rent
a month in advance, for he began to
be sure he would be fired.
He sat alone in his room a hot
June evening, miserable, respondent
Then he went down to the porch and
talked a little to the landlady. She
called him Mr.. Jones' The office
said Jones" No one knew his first
name, or would have used it if they
had. The other fellows would have
gone cheerfully out with the gang,
got gloriously intoxicated, and then
have slept it off. Jones was not that
sort-he was decent in the basic
things. He had no special moral OBJ
jections formulated against vice. But
it did not appeal to him-good taste
is often the best protection.
Saturday morning he set his teeth
and made a last try. Things went
better but the day was sultry. Every
body was wilted and mad and re-
fused to be solicited. He hated doing
it. So at noon his time had beer
spent in vain. and he wandered dis
consolately into Scotty's for a coun-
ter lunch. He slouched his hat down
over his eyes as he ordered, and
then, his eye catching the eye OF
girl beside him, he Strengthened and
took off the hat. He knew Fannie
Morris slightly-she was in the ad-
vertising department He turned and
spoke to her about the heat, and
about the poor quality of the food
they were about to have, but which
was as good here as anywhere, if
you're not a millionaire"
He turned to look at her and noted
with a start that she was white about
the lips and red about the eyes, which
somehow did not disguise the fact that
she was very, very pretty. Her pal
lor made her simply pathetic, but her
deep gray eyes were kind-something
motherly shone from them. though
she could not have been more than
eighteen. She said nothing about her
own troubles.
How does your work go these
days?" she asked as she bit into a
sandwich full of what the newspaper
folk call alleged ham,"
How about you?' He had not ex-
pected a simply business question to
bring tears to a girls eyes, but that's
what happened to Jones, and made
him inwardly curse himself for a
Numbering donkey who ought to be
Z
friend and he turned eyes of wistful
apology on this fair-haired, slender
little thing bravely trying to smile
past the tears while she took a gulp
of coffee before she tried to answer.
Worse than rotten" she said
whinsically. I'm fired" He had
not been angry about himself, but he
was about her.
But you do fine work-they all cay
so in the Office. You don't deserve it. -
he said angrily.
She hastened to explain. Its only
that I'm newest at the office, and there
is too much help for the dull summer
months They want me on again in
Sept enber. They just told me-and I
don't know where to get another place
its dull everywhere now"
He nodded comprehendfngly. His
own troubles dwindled.
"Can you do anything but sterog-
raphy? Say, why can't you go homer"
The hoy somehow had Wistfu1 sdea