The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-01-15

The telephone bell rang sharply, ant
the eirl al the typewriter paused ant
, drew the reCciver 10 her ear. Sh'
frcvucd rs she recognized the voice =
the other cud ~ the wire
Perhaps YOU better talk 10 Mr. Mes
singvcll. wait a moment. please sh'
said. pressing button at the side o
her deSS She hung ~ the receiver
but did not resume her interrupted &C
cuPation. From behind the closed glass
door of her employers private Office
came the dcep bass murmur Of hi;
voice as he talked with Rudolph Fear
ing
Suddenly She caught her breath as
Mcssinsvcll's voice rang suddenly
sharp and distinct To- her listening ears
VERY we'll Fearing. II YOU don't heal
from me by noon YOU can do your
worS,-and 20 10 the devil aftervard"
Then she heard rho receiver slammed
on lis hook and the creak of his chair
as be swung away from his desk.
] Emily Carmau had been Alden Mes
singwcll chief clerk Tor two wears.
II was a losing game for Nessiugwell
He had come NJ the bidding Of 2 dying
/ father TO carry ON the long established
| business of MeSsiucwcll 4 Co. which
/ old Nessiugwcll and Spendthrft
Younger son had managed ia involve
almost to the point Of failure when n
death stroke laid the father low The
Younger son had taken himself as Gar
away from the totteriuG business rs
his means would permit. and so Alden
was left with his promise TO ful6l 10
the best ot his ability.
IN do tho best | can. father he
promised %m not u good business
man-dcctors seldom are. YOU know
hut aS long ms have = penny TO my
uamc the old sign shall swing above
the Office door"
His father had begged him TO KEEP
NJ the appearance of prosperity. The
business viii come back again, Alden
Just give it q chance 10 recover from
the depression
The depression WAS a thing OF the
past, and prosperity was abroad in the
land. md there still remained the dc
oayina business. perhaps - little
strengthened here aud there. but bound
TO die in the near future. The machin
cry in the long mill buildings was out
OF date. and Mcssingwell's methods
were hopelcssly old fashioned
The week before Alden had closed
down the mills aud 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 il and promptly
hired oil of The MessinGwcI hands for
his own modern, up 10 the minute fac
tories. He knew that. Alden had moi
the money To pay his workers another
weeks wages; that there were no or.
dcrs Oh his books; that failure was
staring the unfortunate physician in
the face
Emily carman knew all these things
aud So she hesitated before she turned
the knob that opened the door between
her Office and Messingvelrs. At last
she summoned courage and slipped in
side, standing with her slender erect,
figure beside him.
Did YOU call me, MIR Messingwell?'
she inquired
He swung about and turned q pale,
Respondent face toward her. mo. =
didn't call Miss Curmau But" he
paused for an instant aud looked in bel
face for the fash of sympathy he had
never failed To- fluid there. and again he
was rewarded, did YOU know Fearing
had bought M every obligation we
owe?' I've asked bluntly.
- heard it Yesterday" she said
steadily.
He gives me until moan TO settle.
then lie will close me up for good. I've
made a mess OF it all"' he ended with
sudden passion II ought TO have hired
n manager AMI kept out OF il myself"
She permitted - little silence TO fol.
low in order that he might recover hts
poise Then she said "Of course III
seems bard 'to>let the business go to a
man like Rudolph Fearing. but every
hrm must come 10 al end some dsv
timely or otherwise. IL you sell all the
buildings, machinery and fixtures n
have calculated there would be enough
to wipe out all the obligations and
leave clean record for the firm Of
Messiugwell & Co."
His establishment was genuine. You
have cslculated? he repeated, You
have estimated the possibility ~ my
giving upon have seen what VI
BANKED failure ann He smiled bit
terly and turned his eyes away from
her.
at isn't failure 10 withdraw from
business because one cannot bouorsblv
carry II on" she returned with spirit
"If failure is the ultimate end. why not
draw out before ii actually happens
and thus Illustrate the end?"
lie shook his head hopelessly II
promised father Id hang on 10 the
business 80 long as ! had o penny. RI
hevan'i got much now. but ! think VI
know how I can stave Fearing off, for
awhile"
You cannot do II, Mr. Messingwell." 81
said Emily sadly ~ he holds all the
notes you cant force him to arbitrate 81
ON borrow the money from some
body and pay him on" replied Alden.