Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-11-23

ny!
God only knows | want to badly
enough It's just general incompe-
tence. presume.
What makes you think that?"
Duncan smiled bitterly Expert
ence." he said
you've tried what elSe?"
"A little of everything. all the jobs
open to a man with knowledge of
Latin and Greek and the higher mathe
Understanding clerk timekeeper
cashier all of EN-"
And YET Kellogg believes in you"
Duncan nodded dolcfully "Harry's
good friend We roomed together at
college That's why he stands for
me-"
HE says you only need the right
opening"-
And nobody knows where that is
except my fortunate employers. It's
the back door going out for mine every
time. oh. Harrys been IA prince to
me. He's found me four or five jobs
with friends of his. like yourself But
don't seem TO last. You see. ! was
brought up to be ornamental and ir
regular rather than useful. to blow
about in motorcars and keep valet
busy sixteen hours day. and all that
sort of thing My fathers failure
you know about that?"
Spaulding nodded Duncan went on
vloOmily. talking a great deal more
freely than he would have talked 81
any other time-Slitfering. in fact. from
that species of auto-hypnoSis induced
by the sound of his own voice recount
Ing his misfOrtunes which seems eSpp
cially to affect a man down on his
lnck
"rhat smash came when | was five
years out of collegel'd never thought
If turning my hand to anything in all
hat time. I'd always had more coi6
han could spend --never had to con-
;ider the worth of money or how hard
is to earn My father saw to all
hat. He seemed not to want me to
work, NOT that hold that against him
He'd an idea I'd turn out a genius of
some sort or other. | believe We'll.
Ne failed and died all in a week.
md found myself left with an ex-
.ensve wardrobe expensive tastes. an
Impractical education-and not so
much of that that you'd notice it-and
not cent was too proud to look to
my friends for help in those days-and
perhaps that was as well; sought
jobs on my own Did you ever keep
books in fish market"
No" Spauldngs eyes twinkled be-
hind his large. shiny glasses.
But what's the use of my boring
you?" Duncan made us if to rise. sud
denly remembering himself.
you're not. Go on"
81 didn't mean to. Mostly. pre-
sumo. I've been laundering round an
explanation of kellogg's kindness to
me, in my usual Intellectual way. but
J felt an explanation was due you. as
the latest TO suffer through his mis-
placed interest in me.
"Perhaps." said Spaulding, Il am be
ginning to understand Go on. I'm
interested About the fish market:'
"Oh. | just happened to think of it as
sample experience. and the last OF
that particular brand ! got SO week
and earned every cent of 1t inhaling
the atmosphere My beard cost Inc
Sc and the other IS afforded me a
chance to demonstrate myself cap
tain of finance paying laundry bills
and clothing myself. besides buying
lunches and such like small matters.
| 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. The
hours We're easy. too: didn't have TO
get to work until ; in the morning.
| lasted five weeks at that job before
l was taken sick. Shows what great
constitution I've got"
And then"
oh Duncan reused why.
then | fell in with Kellogg again: he
found me trying the open air cure on
bench in Washington square Since
then he's been finding noe one berth
dItei ile - " ''"'S NiO"S" ~
timist."
Spaulding shifted uneasily in his
chair. stirred by an impulse whose
unwiSdom he could not doubt. Dun
can had assuredy done his case no
good by painting his shortcomings in
colors 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 | 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
sadding me on you You see. he be-
lieved I'd make good. and so | did
in way: at least hoped to-"
"Oh. that's all right" said Spaulding
uncomfortable. The trouble is. you
see. we've nothing else open just now
but if you'd really like another chance
on the road I'm be glad to speak
L