The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-04-10

lSl A-loA tI.lS- he mad found uDcn his desk
one Saturday morning, 4 sealed note from the
manager, which read:
For some time past have not been altogether
satisfied with the conduct OF your department. /
nave endeayored 70 warn you against assuming a
too dictatoriai attitude toward the agencies and
publications which We pztrorize Ny endeavors
have. apparently. been without effect Lately. YOU
have been taking altogether too much authority
upon yourself an. therefore. obliged to ask for
your resignation, after the expiration OF the custom
aTy TWO weeks
After reading this note, Jimmy made his
final mistake; d mistake which was quite in
line with his previous errors. Instead OF seek
ing personal interview with Mr.. Bowman
Tor the purpose OF investigating the details of
his condemnation, ne addressed a two-line
note 10 : 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, a very self-reliant and yirtuous Young
man.
His mothers gentle comments on the affair
had started a 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 a deeper interest
his office Life than is taken by most mothers.
Gently, very gently, she led him to see his
own swollen seh-esteenn; and, the recent loss
OF his position assisting, Jimmy soon dis
covered the bloated appurtenance referred to-
Shocked and disguised, he punctured it.
But this puncturing lett part OF him in a
very flabby condition; and his later attempts
to reenter the business world had not been
conducive to reducing this flabbiness, nor his
thorough self-disgust. He soon learned what
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.. 7.
Broughton Boggs They had known each
other during Jimny'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
live wire, " extending moist, pudgy hand.
! thought il was youl Been havin' small
trile OF hard luck lately, understand. Too
bad! Well, WE'LL"
Yes, : said Jimmy shortly. 1t was part of
his humiliation that Mr.. Boggs adopted the
patronizing air of Hallowell Agency DAYS.
Jimmy had been a very small minnow in that
puddle; Mr.. Boggs easily the latest and most
imposing bull-pou 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 Biff!'
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 ii 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, 2 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
Well, Pm glad TO have met you, Mr..
Boggs, interrupted Jimmy, rising. "I'l
take your example to heart .
Here 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, mcndaciously, I've got an engage
ment.
you just come here and set down"
ordered Mr.. Boggs. I've got something
thatll 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.
"I'll have to ask you 10 be as brief as pos
slble, he said, looking al his watch
"All right, all right, assented Mr.. Boggs
ungraciously. 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.. Bcggs an abrupt good bye.
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