The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-03-06
B. cLARlssA MAdIlE


frowned as she recognized the voice,at
the other end OF thewire.
Perhaps you better talk to Mr.. Mes
singweiI; 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 oc-
cupation. From behind the closed glass
door Of her employers private ottice
came the deep bass murmur Of his
voice as he talked with Rudolph Fear
ing.
Suddenly she canght her breath as
Messingwell's 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 afterwardt'
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
slngwell'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 a spendthrfft
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 lettering business as
his means would permit, and SO Alden
was left with his promise to fulfill to
the best Of his ability.
"Tll do the best Il 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 win come. back again, Alden,
Just give tia; chance tosrecoTer from
the depressicn" 4 sEa " eS
The depression was thing be the
past and prosperity was abroad in the
land ana there still remained the de-
caying sbusinesss Herhaps ia little
Strengthened here4andi there, outbound
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cry in the long mill buildings was out
Of date.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 us he read it 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.. Messingwell?
she inquired.
He swung about and turned pale.
respondent face toward her. mo, l
didn't cab, Miss Carman. But" he
paused for an instant and looked in her
face for the flash OF sympathy he had
never failed to find there, and again he
was rewarded. did you know Fearing
had bought up every obligation we
tower he asked bluntly. ah
II heard 1t yesterday" she said
steadily.
He gives me until noon to settle,
then he win close me up for good. I've
made mess Of it AMP he ended with
sudden passion. II ought to have hired
manager and kept out OF it myself"
She permitted a little silence to fol-
low in order that he might recover his
poise. Then she said: of course it
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. If you sell all the
buildings, machinery and fixtures I
have calculated there would be enough
to wipe out all the obligations and
leave clean record for the firm Of
Messingwell & Co"
His establishment was genuine. you
have calculatedT. he repeated. you
have estimated the possibility oftmy
giving up-you have seen what a
blanked failure amp He smiled bit
terly and turned his eyes away from
her.
ut isn't failure to withdraw from
business because one cannot honorabIy
carry it on. she returned with spirtE,
IF failure is the Ultimate end, why not
draw out before 1t actually happens
and thus Illustrate the end7"
He shook his head hopelessIy. 81
promised father I'd hang on to the
business as long as 1 had penny. I
haven't got much now, but l think I
know how can stave Fearing OF for
awhile"
You cannot do it. Mr.. Messingwen, y
said Emily sadly. ere he holda an %ha