El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-08
The Herald's
Daily Short Story


"T understand" said the lawyer
Tell me all about TT
He took care of me when I was
poor boy and taught me everything
know about business. I did my best
to prove that I was worthy of his con-
fidence. And his wife was like a real
mother to me. Their house was the
only home I have ever known.
81 learned to know and love the
little girl. She was a little younger
than I, lighthearted and kind, a little
fond of teasing. perhaps, and I became
just like a big brother to her Some
day when she had grown up and
was a rich man we were to be mar
ried, she said once for fun, and It was
the hope of this which always forced
me ahead and kept up my courage
through the years that passed I felt
so sure would get my reward some
time But things changed. Mary grew
up and entered a new world in which
I had no share. / was only her faith
er's employee, tied down to my work
She, did not come 70 the office very
often, and when she came. she no
longer called me John. but Mr.. Long
1 saw the woman had forgotten the
promise the little girl had given Per-
haps she thought 1 had forgotten too.
but 1 had not. I wanted to become
her fathers partner or start In bust
ness for myself and to reach this goal
worked and saved. Then when some
day I had become her equal, I in
tended to remind the little girl of her
promise.
when I was 25 I knew every de-
tail of the business. Mr.. Dodson was
often sick and the responsibility rested
on my shoulders alone, and he knew
he could trust me.
when his widow asked me to be-
come manager. 1 was glad to accept
her offer. The amount of money they
used to draw must not grow smaller.
My work was to Re one Of charity and
gratitude and the reward was to come
later I felt so sure Of my own abili-
ties that, If anyone had told me that
business would go backwards I would
have laughed at the idea. Everything
looked promising. Though Mary had
host of admirers, she gave her heart
ever that some time she would be
mine.
business continued to be good for
a while. Dodsons firm had a splendid
reputation and we always made out
better than our competitors. But 1
found out that I had been too optims-
tic: new competitor entered the mar
ket, backed up by a number of large
firms. and one morning I realized that
he was taking away some Of our Gus
toners Then I knew I had to fight
for life. My rival had unlimited money
behind him and was able to cut our
prices. I fought hard all the time.
but II was a losing fight from the
start and a time came when our bust
ness ceased to pay any profit.
L never mentioned this 10 Mrs. Dod-
son; 1t was my fight and I would not
gled forward inch by inch with the
result you see on the paper in front
Of you Dodsons firm has lost none
of It's reputation: we have always paid
but there were times when
I felt afraid that I would have to tell
Mrs. Dodson- But now there is Mary"
He stopped and wrung his hands un
able to say another word.
You must tell her that the firm is
still solid" he stammered at last, ''but
for little while she will have to man
age on less. 1 am sure the crisis Is
past now. We have many old custom
ers who stick to us and we are get
ting few new ones. but 1t is to be
uphill work for while yet"
The old lawyer nodded
81 thank you Long" he said. 'T I'M
derstand everything now. In a few
Mary will be here. VIII you
please call again in half an hour?"
John Long stood in the office near
the door and looked at the young girl
who was sitting at the desk.
as he entered. the old lawyer took
off his glasses and began to polish