The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-14
have been in the employ of the house

We know that" said Mr. Wallis,
IN iact' We we've just speaking OF it.
mad mentioned il to Mr. Ehrmann."
Ah'' SAID NJ natterbae. Yes,
Wen, during that time think | may
say that have discharged my Office
oo'ies with zeal. diligence and intelli.
gehco You vii Grant that, hope ?''
certainly admitted Mr. Wallis.
Nevertheless continued MIR. Bat.
.efoee my salary Al the present time
Is ~ per week, and considering that
y nave family to support, and"
see here, Mr.. Batterbee," said Mr..
hAfmann. We can't help your hav.
Ing family, you know. We're not
70 blame for that. And this isn't an
eleemosynary insti-"
PARDON me, interrupted Mr.. Bat.
terbee, with a dignified wave Of the
hand Il am quite aware Of the fact.
out merit, perhaps"
Merit cuts no ice with the market
price and the law Of supply and de-
mand"
These books that | have brought in
nave been carefully examined by you,
MT Ehrmann, at least once month.
You are an expert accountant and a
! COCO business man. Ii there had been
any naw OF fault in them, | am sure
You would have detected it, and would
not have hesitatcd to apprise me Of
the fact"
You bet | wouldn't have hesitated,"
SAID MI. Ehrmann. with a short laugh.
Then, | assume. that you have had
no fault to hnd?"
Mr. BattclbIe," said the senior
partner. gently, Il think that we
MlsA. cut short discussion which
ain AFRAID can only prove painful. We
cheeriully admit the value OF your
services, but. while your salary has
not been large, 1t has been as much
| even more than We could afford to
pay. locking at it from a business
point. We can get the same services
performed Tor us by a younger man
lor even less money. Now, may
as We'll tell you that we were talk.
ing over this very matter, and pro
hts on the business having sensibly
declined in the past few years. we feel
that not only can we advance no
salaries, but, ! regret to say, We must
dispense with your services at the
close Of the current week."
That's the size of it, Batterbee,"
said Ehrman. briskly. Business Is
! business"
Just So said Mr.. Batterbee. Now,
let's get down to business. To be-
| gin with, you gentl"r,n have misun-
derstood me. am not asking you Tor
any increase of salary. had not the
remotest Intention Of doing SO. |
WANT TO work Tor the iirm without any
salary at all"
What" exclaimed Ehrmann and
Wallis.
But for share Of the profits"
continued Mr. Batterbee, calmly. In
short, propose that you take me into
the firm as an equal partner"
Ehrmann broke into loud laughter.
but the senior partner regarded the
elderly clerk with close and serious
attention.
If you don't mind, will sit down."
said Mr.. Batterbee, drawing up
chair. Standing very long fatigues
me, | find MI Ehrmann, If you feel
that you are sufficiently recovered,
will go on. Or course, | must show
you how you would be justified in
taking the step propose. Possibly
this might interest you to start with"
he drew a brown leather covered
bank book from his pocket, an.
handed II TO Mr. Wallis. You will
observe" h. continued, that the ac-
count was opened with the bank in
January, 1880, If IT nber rightly,
It was one month after my third I'M
successful application for an increase
OF salary luu viii oh crve that he
deposits have been made at regular
interval ever since, but In increasing
amounts, also that no charges have
been drawn against these sums,
placed to my credit. The interest
has been compounded semi-annually.
and altogether the sum total is now
nearly $4,000.
Mr.. Wallis gasped ard handed the
bank book to Mr. Ehrmann, who
turned pale as he looked over tho
columns Of figures.
Where did you get IT." he asked
with starting eyes.
Mir Batterbee smiled easily.
thought you would be likely to ask
me that time-honored question: he
said. AT the same time you must
pardon me if decline to answer 1t.
| shall not tell it-for 1t is not in that
bank now. II is accessible. but not
that bank
Il fancy gentlemen" he resumed.
after a silent pause. during which the
partners looked into each others
eyes. II fancy that you have your
susplcions-ent groundless, or
course, as Mr.. Ehrmann can testify,
he having carefully examined nay &C.
counts. think, Mr.. Ehrnann, you
will admit that the man who could
embezzle $4,000. under your very
nose tan altogether ridiculous SUPPOSE