Evening star., 1914-08-02
Drawings by F. Foster Lincoln

/ that-ony maybe my chest measure had swelled
an inch or so, and wouldn't say my heels want
hittin bit hard as strolls digned up and down the
private office.
You see Mr.. Robert sntchin couple of days
off for the Newport regatta and he'd sort OF left me on
the lid you might say So far as there BEN any real
actin head of the Corrugated Trust for the time beng
we'll was it. Anyway, I'd passed along some conf
dental dope to our Western sales manager stood by to
take report from the special audit committee, and
had interview with the president of big bond house,
all in one forenoon That was speedin up some tor
private sec, want 1t?
And now | was just markn' time waitin for what
might turn up and eelin equal to pulln off any sort
of DEAL from matchin' Piddie for the lunches, to
orderin' stock issue. What if the asphalt over
on Fifth avenue softenin' up, with the mercury
httin the nnetie and half the force off vacations
l had real job to attend to- | was dom things!
And stops by the roll-top to lean up against 1t
casual had that conf table, easy feein of ben the
right in the right place. You know, | guess?
You're there with the goods. You amt the whole
works maybe; but you're special, particular party,
one that can push buttons and have EN- answered,
paw the mail, put your initials under signature
AND right in the midst of them rosy reflections the
door the private Office swings open abrupt and in
pads stout old party wearin generous built pongee
suit and hgh-crowned Panama. Also there's some
thing familiar about the bushy eyebrows and the lima
bean ears. It's Old Hickory himself. | chokes down
a gasp and straghtens up.
Gee, MI Ellns! says l. thought you was
abroad"
didn't think I'd been banished for life, did you2'
says he.
But Mr. Robert" goes on, 4didnt look for you
until
mo doubt he breaks in 4Robert and those fool
doctors would have kept soaking in those internal
mud baths until turned into a crocodile know I'm
a gouty, rheumatic old wreck | suppose; but I'll be
dad blstered IN going end my days wallowing in
medicated mud! I've had enough. Where is everybody?
r.. Dzl... &o111. Mo-
Ellins and Marjorie and Son-in-Law Ferde up to
Bar Harbor, and hint that theyr expectn' him to
up as he lands.
That's their program, is t?' he growls. 4Think I'm
going spend the rest of the sitting veranda
taking pills. do they? Well, they re mistaken
And off he goes into his room. l don't know
what he thought he goin to do there. Just habit,
| expect. For we've been gettin along without Old
Hickory for quite sometime now, while he's been over
at Bad Worsenheim, some such joint. First OFT he
tried keep in touch with things by daily cable then
he had weekly report sent him; but gradually he lost
the of the DEALS and for the last month or SO
he'd quit firm over any orders at all
Through the open door could see him sittin' at his
big lat-topped mahogany DESK starin around sort of
amless. Then he pulls out drawer and shuffies over
some old papers that had been there since he left
Next he picks up pen and to make notes.
"Boy" he sings out. Ink"
Course could have pushed the buzzer and had Vim
cent do it. but seein how nobody had put him wise to
the change, didn't feel like announcin it myself. So
fills the nkwe, chases up waste basket for him, and
turns the electric fan.
@Now bring the MALL says he snappy.
He back to; it safe to smile. You see, I'd
attended all the mornin deliveries sorted out what
| knew had to be held over for Mr. Robert, opened
what doubtful and sent off few accordn
orders But, after all, he the big boss. He had
right go through the motions if he wanted to. So
ugs in the mail, dumps it in the tray and leaves him
with it.
MUST have been half an hour LATER and was back
- at my desk doping out schedule I'd prom