The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-08-17
TURNING The TABLE.
Or Making tho Boot Fit tho Other
Foot.

THE office boy meditatively pusneo
4 the call button.
moment later, in response 10
the call, the president of the corpora
ton entered and respectfully approach
ed the Office boys desk.
did you wish to see me. TommyT
asked the president timidly.
"Oh, yes. MIR. Monypeny. rake
scat, I'll be through with this mover
in a few minutes. want to talk "
you"
The president sat down as directed
The office boy finished the allur1ng taie
Of how Blick Black, the chocolate de-
tective," saved the heroine. Then he
closed the book. showed it into a pi-
geonho,e of the desk and turned in bis
swivel chair to face his employer
"Mr. Monypeny," he began, what
have to say to you is important, ana,
while 1t is not pleasant. want you to
know that l have nothing personal
against you. AS matter OF fact,
like you and l want to be your friend.
Understand"
Eyes, Tommy"
But the situation is just this: This
concern has not been doing as well as
it ought. You know that, of course, as
we'll as do"
Eyes, / know"
"Well, then, you know that some
thing must be done, and I suppose 1t
might as well be done soon as Late
The president looked worried. you're
not going to get rid of me, are you,
Tommy" he inquired.
"No," replied the Office boy, figuring
a little on pad before him. mo-" be
repeated slowly. II hardly think that
will be necessary; but, as l said before,
something must be done. Now. the
principal expenses Of this concern may
be grouped roughly under three heads
raw material. labor and dividends
That's right. isn't it,"
Il think that's about right"
"Well, Of course, the charges for
raw material cannot be reduced.
That's out of the question. We've
got to have the stuff, and that's all
there is to it. The same is true Of la
Dor. You can readily see that we are
the most important part Of the bust
ness We can't do without the men
who do the work, and OF course you
cannot expect us to accept any less
for our work than we are getting"
"Of course not" admitted Mr.. Mony-
peny.
"Then that leaves the dividends as
the only department in which we can
retrench. does it nOt?'
"It looks that way" agreed the
president reluctantly.
ut certainly does" pursued the Of
fee boy. with an air of finality, land.
as I have said before, 1t grieves me
sorely to be compelled to reach con-
clusion which is so unfavorable to
you. My kindly attitude toward cap
ital is well known to every one"
"But. Tommy. it would be unfair to
interfere with dividends at this time.
You know l have just bought big
country place and an extra automobile,
and it takes lot of money to run
them. Now. If you had only told me,
say, a month ago."
"But l didn't know it," argued the
Office boy II had hoped it wouldn't
be necessary. But, come! After all
it isn't so bad You ought to be glad
am not going to dispense with you
altogether. l am only going to ask
you to accept a 25 per cent reduction
in dividends. VIII you be willing to
remain with US on that basis?'
II suppose I'll have to-
THAT'S the manly way to talk. And
you'll find it won't be so bad There
are lots of ways you can economic.
don't you know. Cut out Florida or
European trip or something like that.
Yes, I'm sure you'll make out. That
will do for the present"
THANK you. Tommy" said the pres
Ident politely as he turned away.
You are entirely welcome, Mr..
Monypeny. ELLIS o. Jones in Life.