Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-14
The Argus Daily Story
Messingwens Failure-By Clsrissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1913 by Associated Literary Bureau.

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 a 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 he talked with Rudolph Fear
ing.
Suddenly she caught her breath as
Messingwelrs 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 it's 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 a 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 a spendthrift
younger son had managed to involve
almost to the point Of failure when
death stroke laid the father low. The
younger son had taken himself as far
his means would permit. and so Alden
was left with his promise to fulfill to
the best of his ability.
I'll do the best can, father" he
promised. I'm not good business
man-doctors seldom are, you know
but as long as have a 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 it a 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
to die in the near future. The machin-
cry in the long mill buildings was out
of date, and Messingwell's methods
were hopelessly 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 as he read it and promptly
hired all of the Messingwell hands fol
| his own modern, up to the minute fac
| tories. He knew that Alden had no
the money to pay his workers another
weeks wages; that there were no or
ders on his books; that failure wa!
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, cree
/ figure beside him.
she inquired.
He swung about and turned q pale
Respondent face toward her. mo,
didn't call, Miss Carman. But" b.
paused for an instant and looked in he
face for the flash of sympathy he hat
never failed to find there, and again b.
was rewarded, did you know Fearing
had bought up every obligation W
owe?" he asked bluntly.
II heard it yesterday" she salt
steadily.
He gives me until noon TO settle
then he will close me up for good Nv
made mess of it all!'' he ended witt
sudden passion. 81 ought to have hires
a manager and kept out of it myself"
She permitted a little silence to fol
low in order that he might recover hi
poise. Then she said: "Of course i
seems hard to let the business go to
man like Rudolph Fearing, but ever
firm must come to an end some day
timely or otherwise. " you sell all tn
buildings, machin, and fixtures
have calculated there would be enoug
to wipe out all the obligations an
leave a clean record for the firm o
Messingwell & CO..
His establishment was genuine. "Yo
have calculated?" he repeated. "Yo
have estimated the possibility OF m
giving up-you have seen what
BANKED failure amp" He smiled BIZ
terly and turned his eyes away fror
her.
at isn't failure TO withdraw fror
business because one cannot honorabl
carry it on" she returned with spiri
''If failure is the ultimate end, why nc
draw out before it actually happen
and thus Illustrate the end?"
He shook his head hopelessly. a"
promised father I'd hang on TO th
business as long as had a penny.
haven't got much now. but think
know how l can stave Fearing off fo
awhile"
You cannot do it, Mr.. Messingwell,
said Emily sadly. "If he holds all tn
notes you can't force him to arbitrate.
III borrow the money from som,