Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-26

His Portrait
How a Rich Man
Paid For an
Injustice
BY ANDREW c. EWING
BY ANDREW c. EWING

Edgar Beck with. at eighteen. having
shown marked artistic ability, wished
to be an artist. but his father had
recently died leaving no estate. and
Edgar. far from having the means to
study profession was Obliged to
support his mother He obtained a
position In the mercantile house OF
Goodwin n Co. ut So week.
Mr.. Goodwin claimed that business
plant should be run on strictly bust
ness principles. He paid very low
salaries. not inquiring into the honesty
OF his less important employees. his
chief object being 10 get his work done
cheaply. He figured that he could ar
ford 10 lose small sums now and then
rather than pay an increase of salaries
for honesty. Besides. he had an In.
expensive detective service which con
sisted of himself only. He would
place bills on his desk In his private
office 70 out. set Il watch Oh who
entered. and II the bills were missing
on his return would know who had
stolen them Then he would discharge
the thief
One day he placed bill on his desk
and went out. intending TO be gone
only few minutes. Half an hour
passed before he returned 10 find
Edgar Beck with Just leaving the room.
Come back" said Goodwin.
Edgar went back into the room and
when asked what he had wanted said
that he had been sent with message
by the head OF one of the departments
While he was delivering the message
Goodwin was looking for the bill he had
left exposed. II was gone. He said
nothing about II to Edgar. but the next
morning the boy was notified that he
was discharged.
Edgar was not minded 10 submit pa
tiently to an imposition. He went 10
Mr.. Goodwin and said to him that since
his services were no longer required he
would not object 10 leaving the con
Germ. but a certificate of good charac-
ter would be necessary to enable him
to find another place
It's against my rule to give certil-
Gates OF good character. | require none
when | hire persons. and what | don't
ask don't give
Then tell me the reason of my dis.
charge"
THAT ! decline 10 do also Should
give you the reason you would call
upon me to prove IT, That would take
time. Time is money"
/ Edgar saw by the resolute look on
the mans face that he would gain
nothing by pressing the matter and
left with anger In his heart. He went
straight 10 the head Of his department
and asked for an explanation He was
1 given the reason of his discharge and
advised not 10 stir the matter. because
II could only result 10 his injury
There had been two other persons In
/ Goldwin's private office besides Edgar
one OF whom had taken the bill. But
4 II would be difficult 10 prove this even
II an opportunity had been offered
I Edgar went home and talked the mat
/ ter over with his mother. After think
/ ing of 1t she counseled him 10 swallow
the pill. Since he had not been openly
/ accused II was not incumbent upon
him 10 make defense. aud II he made
n defense there was every chance that
he would not be able to prove his limo
cence.
I IL happened nj this time that news
came Of the death OF an uncle OF Ed
ear's. who left him the sum of $1,000
He resolved to apply u part of IL Il
studying art. and since this would OBJ
viate the necessity OF his obtaining an
other position he concluded TO accept
his mothers advice. l;ut he swore Il
himself that companion object e
success in his profession should be 10
get even with the man who had re
fused him an opportunity TO vindicate
himself from charge of being thief
Young Beckwith's talent hay in trans
hitting a human face 10 canvas This
was evident from the first and he re
solved 10 become u portrait painter.
Nevertheless he painted portraits for
years before he obtained Il reputation
for excellent work. l.ut nc last he
received an order to paint the portrait
OF n prominent Judge on the bench
and succeeded In making u very life.
like representation Of his subject The
painting was hung in u courthouse.
and every one who saw II admired II.
From this time Beckwith received
orders from prominent men. and every
portrait of such added Ia his repntii'
ton. Not only prominence in his art.
but money. came 10 him Persons OF
wealth tiockcd to him to have them.
selves represented on canvas.
Twelve wears PASSED since Beckwith
had ceased 10 he clerk and become
an artist. He had grown beard and
his hair was already iiecked with gray.
great change Ind come 10 his ap.
pearance since he had been nm en-.
piovee n the holise 81 Goodwin & Co.
One morning carriage drove np Ca
his sinii" and man came up the
stairs. The moment he entered Beck
with recognized him MS his former
employer i;nt the artist saw that he
waS Dpf htmSe4f r.a.,pufzed