The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-02-03
Copyright, 1910 by Associated Literary
Press)

Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary
| Press.)
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 busi-
ness past, nor his troubles. His one
idea was to get the work done prop
erly, promptly, plentifully. lie
wanted subscriptions, and carried no
superfuous sentiment about with
him. So after Jones had for several
weeks been slumping, the boss sum
mOned him to the desk.
Whats the trouble, Jones2 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
fresh idea into this business for a
month-and what ails your solicit
ing? Sick?"
Jones was so obviously a clean sort
that the boss knew he was not dis
rt Young fellow hesitated
moment before replying while the
older man eyed him with keen kind
liness
mo, I'm not sick And I'm not
shirking. ] seem to work harder
than ever with less results. Perhaps
it's the heat-everybody else is hot,
too, and the town seems willing to let
the paper die. I'm sorry"
Now, it 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 a raise.
well, Jones, I'll give you another
week to get a brace on. If you don't
deliver the goods by next Monday
I'll have to get a man who will.
That's ALL"
The boy-he was hardly more
went out on the street. He was not
even angry-he was merely ashamed
in a dull way. Last year-last month
he 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
apologetic. Where he had demanded
a hearing, he now pleaded for one. It
vas like fear. He hated to realize
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 department-of the
Daily Scintillator
The interview with the boss was
on Monday. Tuesday passed, and
Wednesday, and still Jones made
small headway with his work He
wondered if 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 1t 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 a hot
June evening, miserable, despondent.
Then he went down to the porch and
talked a little to the landlady. she
called him "Mr. Jones'" The Office
said Jones" No one knew his first
name, or would have used it If they
had. The other fellows would have
[Oontinued on Eighth Pagel