Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-04-07

S6 and the other w AHpfaSa a'S
; chance TO demonstrate myself a cap
tain of finance, paying laundry Dilis
and clothing myself. besides Duylng
lunches and such like small matters.
, I did the whole thing. you know, one
schooner of beer a day and made my
own cigarettes. Never could make up
nv mind which was the worst. Inc
hours were easy, too: didn't have to
get to work until In the morning.
I lasted FIVE weeks at that job before
| was taken sick. Shows what great
constitution I've got"
And them
"Oh"- Duncan reused "Why.
then fell in with Kellogg again; be
found me trying the open air cure on
a bench in Washington square. Since
then he's been finding me one berth
after another. Hes sure enough OPP
timist."
Spaulding shifted uneasily in his
chair, stirred by an impulse whose
unwisdom be could not doubt Dun
can had assuredly done his case no
good by painting his shortcomings IN
coIors so vivid; yet somehow, strange
ly. Spaulding liked him the better FOR
his open hearted confession.
"Well"- Spaulding stumbled awk-
wardly.
Yes: of course" said Duncan
promptly. rising. Sorry If l tired
you"
What do you mean by Yes. of
course?"
THAT you called me in to fire me-
and so THAT'S over with. Only I'd be
sorry to have you sore on Kellogg for
saddling me on you. You see. he be
lieved I'd make good. and SO | did
in way; at least l hoped to-"
"Oh. that's all right" said Spaulding
uncomfortably. THE trouble is. you
see. we've nothing else open just now
but if you'd really like another chance
Cd the road I'm be glad to speak
to Mr. Atwater about il"
Don't you do it, Duncan counsel.
ed him sharply. aghast. He might
say yes And simply couldn't ac-
cept; 1t wouldn't be fair to you. kel'
logg or myself. ltd be charity. for
I've proved can't earn my wages. and
| haven't come to that yet No. he
concluded with determination and
picked up his hat.
"Jnst II minute" Spaulding held him
with II gesture. You're forgetting
Sometting-at least am. There's a
months pay coming to you. The cash
Ter will hand you the check as you 60
| out"
"A months pay" Duncan said
blankly "How's that? I've drawn up
to the end of this week already. If
you didn't know it."
"Of course knew it. But we never
let our men 60 without a mouths no
tice or its equivalent. and
NO" Duncan interrupted firmly
no: but thank you just the same,
couldn't-l really couldn't It's good
of you. but Now" be broke Oft
abruptly, I've left my accounts, what
there is Of them. with the bookkeep
| ing department. and the checks for
nv sample trunks There'll be few
dollars coming 10 me on my expense
account. and I'll send you my address
as soon as ! get one"
But. look here"- Spaulding got to
his feet. frowning.
NO" reiterated Duncan positively.
| there's no use. I'm grateful TO you
| for your liberation of me and all that,
! but we can't do anything better now
| than call it all off. Goodby. Mr..
Spaulding."
Spaulding nodded. accepting defeat
| with the better grace because Of an
innate conviction that it was just as
we'll after all And. furthermore. b.
admired Duncan's stand, so he offered
| his hand-an unusual coDdescension
You'll make good somewhere yet
| he asserted.
81 wish could believe it" Duncan'S
| grasp WAS firm since be felt more as
sured of some humanity latent in his
late employer. However. goodby."
"in:d luck to you" rang in his ears
! as the door put period to the inter
| view he stopped and took up the
battered suit case and rusty overcoa
which he had left outside the junior
| partners office. then went on. shaking
his head Much obliged" he said
huskily tu himself. "bnt what's the
good of that There's no room any
| where for professional failure. and
| that's what am Just ne'er-do. we'll
never realized what thai mpaut
really bafore, and It's certainly taken
me u damn long time to find out.
But know now. all right"
Despondently he went down to the
sidewalk and merged himself with the
| rrowd. moving with it. though thou
sand miles apart from 1t, and, presently
hiyerging. struck across town toward
the Worth street subway station.
And the worst Of it is he's too
sharp not to find it outfit he hasn't
by this time-and too decent by far
to let ME know if he has. 1t can't go
on this way with us. l can't let him.
Got to break with him somehow-now
today. | won't let him think me
what I've been all along to him. Bless
his foolish hearth
There was no depreciation Of Kel-
logg's goodness In his mood. simply de-
termination no longer to be charge
upon 1t. To contemplate the sum to-