El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-17
The Successor
A short story.

z DON'T understand what you have
/ against him, John.
( - John Sanders turned towards his
5 wife and said angriIy;
81 have told YOU at least a hundred
times. Margaret, that I d. not want q
/ fool as my sOninlaw--"
Mrs. Sanders was about to give an
angry reply, but she controlled her
But tell me. John. are you quite
sure that Bent is as impossible as you
say" she asked gently. Il think he Is
one of the most pleasant and the
smartest young fellows / ever met.
HaIvor shrugged his shoulders
have heard a lot about the lnIalll-
BILE Intuition of women" he said
saTbat fellow did not even have the
courage to answer me when I surprised
him sitting with Olga yesterday he
lust stammered something and looked
. at me like a sheep. The man is a FOOL
But he is able to fill just as good a
. position as you had at his age
81 viii just remind you that 1 was
with Oftels even then, and he is mere
" working for Hanson & Co, firm Of
'rWeiI, I believe in Bent anyway,
and no matter what you say, olga
intends TO marry him as soon as he
promoted! She will have to wait for
a long time in that case. AT any
rate L insist that Bent Birk IS no nus
band for my daughter, ana she wont
get a penny from me
He went out slamming the door De-
hind him. Soon afterwards olga came
into the parIor where her mother was
Il have important news, mother"
she said. Bent has just told me that
Mr.. BOland died an hour ago from
~ q I e $50. +,,-r.5 unite male with
SMr. Boiand deadl she exclaimed.
ct suppose you know what that means
TO your father.
sSrr. BoIand and father were never
very friendly" said Olga, But I sup
pose that even so father viii now be
promoted TO his position as general
manager Of the works"
why, Of course" her mother eX-
claimed. The firm could not do other
wise after his many years Of faithful
service. But how did Bent hear about
He had Just met George OfteL"
''The old mans second SOM"
yes and his faYOrlte too He and
Bent are great Chums and he says IL
is all due to Bent's coaching that he
passed into his examination at the
POlytechnical college. So you see
Bent is not such fool as father
I know he is not. but he seems. TO
lose his wits entirely whenever father
is in the room
HE says the presence Of father con
fuses him somehow ana makes MIN
awkward and selfcOnsciOus. because
he knows father dislikes him"
We'll let US go down and tell father
the news, it will please him
John Sanders was in his most genial
mood at breakfast next day
'T am no hypOcrite,' he said, DO
land never treated me half decently,
because he was afraid Of me He felt
that he was growing too old and that
his position required younger and
more energetic man
'I suppose we will soon know who
is to take his place said Olga
yes il ought to be settled in day
or two Business is business and we
must have a general manager. In
few days we shall have plenty Of
money for things, for wedding gown
and trOusseau too, If you find a suit
able husband. But no Bent Birk,
He nodded goodbye and went down
TO the works.
The days passed and Boland had
been buried. John Sanders had Just
returned from the funeral and had
gone upstairs 10 change his clothes,
while Olga and her mother were sit
ting at the coy fireplace in the llT-
There was a knock at the door and
Bent entered nervously and asked for
Mr.. Saunders.
Olga was quite scared and told him
that her father was upstairs.
But what has happened BENT
''T must see him at once. must
say what / want to say before all OF
eco and call your father Olga"
said Mrs. Saunders. Bent. you do look
strange. Is there anything wrong
Everything is wrong. The whole
thing is impossible. but 7 want him to
hear about IL from me first
q %
you are talking about Try to get
calm before John comes down
Olga returned followed by her
father and Bent went straight up TO
him. Mr. Sanders" he said. you are
right. have been fool. Until now
have always acted like one in your
presence because 7 knew you disliked
me- Perhaps everything would have
been better If had been less salf-cOn-
sciOus. love Olga, and she loves me,
and we intend TO marry. but today
something very strange has happened.
something which is very difficult for
me to tell YOU. though 7 am in no way
to- blame Mr. Oftel has offered me
the position as general manager Of /
his works"
John Sanders stood as II he had
turned into a stone. his face was ashen
and Olga burst into tears.
st do not intend to accept the Of I
fer. Mr.. Sanders for know Olga
would not like me to do it
Olga took his hands.
You are right Bent. You must not
spoil fathers chances But you are
luite sure father will get the posi-
lion If you refuse it,"
Bent was silent a moment. then he
said: NO Olga He will not get it,
n 7 refuse il will be given TO Robert Z
West for Mr.. Oftel wants a young man
and he thinks Mr. Sanders is too old
"TOO old" John Sanders dropped
into a chair and hid his face in his I
hands
The young people left the room.
Mrs Sanders kneeled down at her
husbands side and stroked his grey
hair
Robert West" he groaned.
mo, not Robert West but Bent !
Eirl1e, your sOninlaw."
John Sanders finds that the old I
familiar work suits him very well, and
Bent is a very lenient boss, but there
Is a Bent Junior now. who is not the !
least bit scared of John Sanders. and Z
his grandfather declared that he is the :
brightest baby ever born.