The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1913-01-17
Messingwell's
Failure
He Kept His Promise
Faithfully
BY CLARISSA MACKlE.

The telephone bell rang sharply, and
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 oc-
cupation. From behind the closed glass
door of her employers private office
came the deep bass murmur of his
voice as he talked with Rudolph Fear
ing
Suddenly she caught her breath as
Messinswelrs voice rang suddenly
sharp and distinct TO her listening ears.
Very well. Fearing: If you don't hear
from me by noon you can do your
worst-and go TO the devil afterwardw
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 losing game for Messingwell
He had come at the bidding of dying
father to carry on the long established
business of Messingwell * Co, which
old Messingwell and spendthrift
younger sou 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 lettering business as
his means would permit. and so Alden
was left with his promise to fulfill to
the best of his ability.
.l'l do the best | can, father" he
promised Pm not a good business
man doctors seldom are. you know
but as long as have penny to my
name the old sign shall swing above
tue Office door
His father had begged him to keep
up the appearance of prosperity. The
business will come back again. Alden
Just give 1t chance to recover from
the depression
The depression was a thing of the
past. and prosperity was abroad in the
land, and there still remained the de.
caying business, perhaps little
strengthened here and there, but bound
10 die in the near future The maehin-
cry In The long mill buildings was out
of date aud Messingwells methods
were hapelcSsly old fashioned.
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 US he read II and promptly
hired all Of the Messingwell hands for
his own modern, up to the minute fac.
tories. He knew that Alden had not
the money to pay his workers another
weeks wages: that there were no Or
ders on his books; that failure was
staring the unfortunate physician in
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 last
she summoned courage and slipped in
side. standing with her slender, erect
figure beside him.
Did you call me, Mr.. MessingwelT p
she inquired.
He swung about and turned a pale. |
Respondent face toward her. mo, |
didn't call, Miss Carman. But" he
paused for an instant and looked in her
face for the fash of sympathy he had
never failed to find there, and again he
was rewarded. did you know Fearing |
had bought up every obligation we
oweY" he asked bluntly.
II heard it yesterday" she said
steadily
HE gives me until noon to settle |
then he will close me up for good I've |
made mess OF 1t all!' he ended with |
sudden passion. II ought to have hired |
a manager and kept out of II myself.
She permitted little silence TO fol
low in order that he might recover his
poise Then she said: "Of course il |
seems hard to let the business go to a
man like Rudolph Fearing. but every |
firm must come to an end some day. |
timely or otherwise IL you sell all the |
buildings. machinery and fixtures ! |
have calculated there would be enough |
to wipe out all the obligations and |
leave Glenn record for the firm OF
Messingwell 4 Co"
His establishment was genuine. You !
have calculatedY" he repeated You |
have estimated the possibility of my !
giving up-you have seen what q |
BANKED failure | ann" He smiled bit /
terly and turned his eyes away from |
her.
1T isn't failure to withdraw from
business because one cannot honorably |
carry it on" she returned with spirit. !
IF failure is the ultimate end. why not |
draw out before 1t actually happens
and thus Illustrate the end?"
He shook his head hopelessiy. II
promised father I'd hang on to the
business as long as had a penny. |
haven't got much now. but | think
know how l can stave Fearing off for
awhile"
you cannot do 1t. Mr. Messingwell."
said Emily sadly IF he holds all the
notes you can't force him to arbitrate
"I'll borrow the money from some
body and pay him of" replied Alden.
reaching for his hat Well struggle /