The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-26
CHAPTER TX.
THE RANK AND FILE.

- CONSIDERABLY to his surprise
and no less to his satisfaction,
~ the newly appointed division
counsel" as his title ran, was
not required to take over the old legal
department Offices in the second story
other Offices Of the company were 10
Gated. Instead he was directed to fit
up a suit Of rooms in Temple court,
the capitals most pretentious uptown
skyscraper, and there was something
more than a hint that the itemSN FIRST
cost need not be too closely considered.
1t was the vice president himself,
writing from Chicago. who authorized
the new departure and loosened the
purse strings. He wrote:
Don't be afraid OF spending q little
money. Make your uptown ONCE as at
tractive as may be and arrange matters
with Ackerton % that you will not be
burdened with too much of the routine
legal work. A successful legal represent
alive will be a good mixer. as I am sure
you are. and viii extend the circle OF his
acquaintance as rapidly and as widely as
possible. Your appointment will be fully
Justified when you shall have made your
uptown Office q place where the good cit
liens Of the capital and the state can
drop IN for a cordial word with the COM
pany's spokesman and for a better mu-
tuaI understanding OF the facts.
Acting upon this suggestion, Blount
opened the Temple court headquarters
and threw himself energettcally into
the indicated field. Ackerton, a tech
meal expert with q needle-like mind
and the state code at his fingers ends,
WIS left In charge Of the working Of
fees In the railroad building, with in
stTuctions 10 apply to his chief only
when he needed specific advice.
At the uptown headquarters Blount
gave himself wholly to the pleasant
task of making friends. With a good
store Of introductions upon which to
make beginning and with the open
handed. whole souled camaraderie Of
the west to help along, the list of ac-
quaintances grew with amazing rapid
ity.
For the three or four weeks after
Mrs. Blount had whisked the Annerses
away to Wartrace Hall and the habitat
Of the negalosauridae, the newly ap-
pointed social secretary" for the rail
! road. as Honoria had dubbed him, re-
fused no invitations, never inquiring
whether they were extended to his
fathers son. to the railroad company's
legal chief or to Evan Blount in his
proper person.
During this social interval he saw
little of his father. though he still &C.
cupied his share OF the private dining
room suit at the Inter Mountain. Part
OF the tiLae, as he knew, the sena-
tor was a. Wa-trzce Han, looking aft
er his huge landed estate and help
ing to entertain the visitors from Mas
sachusetts. But now and again the
! father came and went, and occasion
ally there was a dinner for two in the
hotel cafe, with a little good natured
ratllery from the senator's side Of the
table.
Got you chasing your feet right
lively In the social merry-go-round
these days. haven't they, son? Like it
as far as you've gone" asked the ex-
cattle king one evening.
Its all in the days work" laughed
| the younger man. "IM need all the
pull can get little later on. won't
| II"
81 shouldn't wonder If you did. son;
shouldn't wonder If you did. And
I reckon you're doing pretty good
| work. Was ii McVickar's idea or your
own-this sudden splash into the social
| water holeT''
81 don't mind telling you that it is o
part Of the new policy" returned the
social splasher. still smiling. I'VE are
out TO make friends this time. friends