The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-01-07
copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary
Press)


Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary
When Jones had been steadily
making good for two years in the
circulation department Of the Daily
Scintillator, he suddenly began, In
the elegant language Of the new boss,
to slump The new boss, by sheer
merit, had suddenly risen from
obscurity to his present position, and
he knew not Jones. his worthy bust
ness past. nor his troubles. His one
idea was to get the work done prop
erly, promptly, plentifully. He
wanted subscriptions. and carried no
superfluous sentiment about with
him. So, after Jones had for several
weeks been slumping. the boss sum-
moned him to the desk.
What's the trouble. Jones? The
circulation is crawling back on us.
The Tribune's sworn statement In
their lying paper last night gave me
the backache You haven't brought
a fresh idea into this business for a
month-and what ails your solicit
ing? Sick?"
Jones was so obviously clean sort
that the boss knew he was not dis
sipating. The young fellow hesitated
a moment before replying, while the
older man eyed him with keen kind
Illness.
mo, I'm not sick. And I'm not
Sinking. ] seem to work harder
than ever with less results. Perhaps
it's the heat-everybody else Is hot
Ntoo, and the town seems willing to let
the paper die. I'm sorry"
Now, 1t 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 raise.
well, Jones, I'll give you another
week to get brace on. II you don't
deliver the goods by next Monday
I'll have to get 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 dull way. Last year-last month
The 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
apologize. Where he had demanded
hearing, he now pleaded for one. 1t
"a a hotnd m raaIfza
that he was afraid. He was discour-
aged, and the days work summed
up between "fair'' and "middling."
And he knew the "Middlin' Man" did
not last long in the business depart
mentor any departmental the
Daily Scintillator.
The interview with the boss was
on Monday. Tuesday passed. and
Wednesday, and still Jones made
small Roadway with his work. He
wondered II he could be homesick for
the home that he 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 a boarding house. Think
ing about It now, he was glad he had
Just paid his rent a month In ad
vance, for he began to be sure he
would be fired.
He sat alone in his room q hot
June evening, miserable. Respondent
Then he went down to the porch and
talked q little to the landlady. She
called him "Mr. Jones'" The ONCE
said Zones" No one knew his first
name. or would have used 1t II they
had. The other fellows would have
gone cheerfully out with the gang
got gloriously intoxicated. and then
have slept It on. Jones was not
that sort--he was decent in the basic
things. He had no special moral
objections 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 q last try. Things went
better, but the day was sultry. Every
!, body was wiltsd and mad and re
fused to be solicited. He hated Going
Il. so at noon his time had beer
spent in vain, and he wandered dis
consolately into Scotty's for coun
/, ter lunch He slouched his hat dowr
Y over his eyes - he ordered, and
then, his eye catching the, eye Of Z
girl beside him. he Strengthened and
took on the hat--shs was In the I'D