Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-10-22
.ABoolnerang
by ANDREW c EWING

4 III AAEA-
"Frou your positionY
Yes
"What fory"
"well, you know that when was
graduated from the electrical school
WAS offered a situation In the Office
of the Metcait company. OF which Mr..
Metcalf is president and principal
stakeholder. supposed the position
would be permanent IL turns out that
the Metcalf company had put In a bid
on the erection OF an electrical plant
and had been awarded the contract
Mr.. Metcaif wanted some one to assist
IN making figures on the specifications
and hired ne for that purpose. The
formula being nov completed. he has
no further use for me-"
How dishonorable In him not TO
have told you In the beginning that
you were simply employed for the
job
IF he had would have declined his
offer. for had permanent one offered
me at lower salary, I've been work
ing nights for six months besides my
day work and have q whole closet fun
of estimates figured out that wouldn't
do over again for thousand dollars.
I received only $500 for the whole
period OF my service. I'm sorry.
Sadie. that we can't fix the date we
expected to fix for our wedding.
shall have TO hunt for another place,
and when get one can't tell whether
shall be treated In the same shabby
fashion"
"well. Bob, I expect you1l find tho
world full OF disappointments.
YES, and when | get knocked down
propose to get up and push on"
Good! II you feel that way you're
sure TO win In the end"
But Bob found getting smother place
difficult Engineers were being gradu-
ated every June. and those just enter.
Ing the field were ready to work cheap.
Besides, duh times came on, and II
was difficult for those having positions
to hold them. His fianeec was always
hopeful and eheered him SO far as she
could.
One day the young engineer was call
ed up on a telephone. On answering
the call be learned that the person
on the other end Of the wire was the
president Of the Metcaif company.
Would # be possible he asked,
''for you TO recall from memory the
formula you made for the electrical
plant we bid ON while you were with
us!"
mo, sir"
There was no further word for
moment, but Bob knew that the receiv-
er had not been hung up.
"Why do you ask? Has anything
happened TO the formula l made FOR
youg'
Eyes. Last night our safe was bro.
ken into. and 1t was taken with other
moneys and securities. and there Is
no certainty of our ever recovering It,
We must begin work Immediately in
order to get the Job finished according
10 contract"
Bob opened his eyes. but not his
mouth. He knew that the company
would forfeit 100000 # the work was
not finished on time Indeed. IL could
not begin without making neB iormu-
ia. At length he said:
81 could help you out. Mr. MetcaH.
but / don't think you treated me right
In not telling me when you employed
me that 1t was for this JOB only /
did great deal OF work home nj
nights and simply took results to the
office All that home work | have and
could easily reconstruct the formula
from it"
Bob could hear a suppressed ex-
clamation of JOY.
.'You can come back TO work II you
like" said the president. and III raise
your salary"
Thank you. / don't care to enter
your employ again"
I'll make IL permanent"
THAT doesn't tempt me either"
what do you ask for the figures
ron have;"
They are not for sale. Had l been
retained permanently in your employ
] would give them to you. or IL had
been told thasI was hired simply for
the Job would do the same. AS II Is
am under no obligations TO you"
There was silence for few moments
when the question came, "Will You
be at home this EVENING" TO which
Bob replied that he would.
When Mr.. Metcalf called in the even
ing he looked very much broken. He
offered Bob $4,000 IL he would re-
construct fAe formula Bob declined
the offer. but made a counter PROPOSE
ton He proposed that they should
submit the case to the heads Of other
concerns TO decide between them what
the cost should be. both to be bound
by their decision The offer Was ac-
cepted. and an average amount Of what
the arbitrators figured as proper pay
ment was $1,000.
But a different arrangement was
made. Mr.. Metcaif sold controlling
interest In the company to the vice