The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-13
Messingwell's
Failure
He Kept His Promise
Faithfully
b. cLARIssA MAQE


the girl at the typewriter paused, and
drew the receiver to her ear. She
frowned as she recognized the voice at
the other end of the wire.
Perhaps you better talk to Mr.. Mes
singwell; wait moment, please" she
said, pressing a button at the side OF
her desk. She hung up the receiver,
but did not resume her interrupted &C.
cupation From behind the closed glass
door Of her employers private office
came the deep bass murmur OF his
voice as lie talked with Rudolph Fear
ing.
Suddenly she caught her breath as
Messingwell's voice rang suddenly
sharp and distinct to her listening ears.
Every we'll, Fearing; If you don't hear
from me by noon you can do your
worst-and 20 to the devil afterward!"
Then she heard the receiver slammed
ON its hook and the creak of his chair
as he swung away from his desk.
Emily Carman had been Alden Mes
singwell's chief clerk for two years.
1t was Il losing game for Messipgwell.
He had come at the bidding OF dying
father to carry on the long established
business OF Messingwell L. Co.. which
old Messingwell and spendthr1ft
younger son had managed to involve
almost to the point of failure when a
death stroke laid the father low. The
younger son had taken himself as far
away from the tottering business as
his means would permit, and so Alden
was left with his promise to fulfill to
the best of his ability.
'I'l do the best l can, father" he
promised. I'm not good business
man-doctors seldom are, you know
but as long us have penny to my
name the old sign shall swing above
the Office door"
His father had begged him to keep
up the appearance of prosperity. THE
business will come back again. Alden.
Just give 1t a chance to recover from
the depression"
The depression was thing OF the
past, and prosperity was abroad In the
land. and there still remained the de-
caying business, perhaps a little
strene thened here and there, but bound
| to die In the near future. The machin-
cry In the long mill buildings was out
Of date. and Messingwell's methods
a 60,
The week before Alden had closed
down the mills and given the hands
| two weeks vacation. The notice tackled
| on the door spoke of an inventory
being taken, but Rudolph Fearing had
laughed rs he read 1t and promptly
hired all of the Messingwell hands fol
his own modern, up to the minute fac
tories. He knew that Alden had moi
the money to pay his workers another
weeks wages. that there were no or
ders Oh his books; that failure was
staring the unfortunate physician II
the face.
Emily Carman knew all these things
and so she hesitated before she turned
the knob that opened the door between
her office and Messingwell's. At las
she summoned courage and slipped In
side, standing with her slender, erec
figure beside him.
"Did you call me, Mr.. Messingwell ?
she inquired.
He swung about and turned a pale
Respondent face toward her. mo,
didn't call, Miss Carman. But" h
paused for an instant and looked In he
face for the flash of sympathy he hat
never failed to find there and again n
was rewarded. did you know Fearing
had bought up every obligation WI
owe?' he asked bluntly.
~ heard 1t yesterday" she salt
steadily.
"He gives me until noon to settle
then he will close me up for good. Iv'
made q mess OF 1t an" he ended will
sudden passion 81 ought to have hiret
a manager and kept out of 1t myself"
She permitted little silence to fol
low in order that he might recover hi
pOise Then she said: "Of course
seems hard to let the business go to
man like Rudolph Fearing, but ever
Arm must come to an end some day
timely or otherwise II you sell all tn
buildings. machinery and fixtures
: have calculated there would be enoug
to wipe out all the obligations an
leave clean record for the firm O
Messingwell & Co."
His establishment was genuine. "Yo
have calculated?" he repeated. "YO
have estimated the possibility OF m
I giving up-you have seen what
! BANKED failure ann" He smiled 81
terly and turned his eyes away frOI
her.
ut isn't failure to withdraw frol
business because one cannot honorabl
carry 1t on" she returned with spiri
"If failure is the ultimate end, why M
draw out before It actually happier
and thus Illustrate the end?"
He shook his head hopelessly.
70 promised father I'd hang on to tt
St business as long as had a penny.
Is haven't got much now, but think
ID know how can stave Fearing on Il
% awhile"
.o "You cannot do 1t. Mr.. Messlngweli
said Emily sadly. III he holds all Il
= notes you can't force him to arbitrate
- "Tll borrow the money from som
% body and pay him OF" replied Aide
y reaching for his hat. Wen strugs
81 along somehow for another month. az
lie II Sherwood will only rake in few Q
~ ders on this trip we may DO able
10 start up once more"
o. "Who are you going to borrow