The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-19

thought Of the pattern factory that
was grinding away their lives and TAX
ing toll of their youth.
He went up to the girl. Miss Whit
man." he said unsteadily. "you-you
aren't fit for this job. It's taking your
life away"
She looked at him with wild alarm.
I've got to-" she said in panicky
tones. you won't tell the foreman ?
For my sake-you won't tell him. l
= know I'm slow, but I'm doing my best.
I'll make good. /"
He caught her by the hands. You
don't think" he began. You don't
think" The idea was preposterous.
did you think l wanted to make it
harder for you?" he asked.
His arms were about her. and she
was weeping upon his shoulder. Her
helplessness stirred him deeply. He
kept his arm tenderly around her as
they walked to the elevator.
Il am going to see you to your
home, Lucy" he said.
That was the beginning of their real
acquaintance. But in the factory they
continued to appear as strangers. This
love that had come to them was too
sweet. too intimate for public knowl,
edge.
1t had been the simplest thing in
the world. There never was any for
NAL declaration. That night, as they
parted. she raised her lips to his, more
like a sister than a sweetheart. On
Sundays he took her on trolley into
the country. And they began to dream
about the future.
The irony Of that bit into Toms
soul. Suppose he managed to get fif'
teen dollars week ultimately! There
was no promotion out of the pattern
department. 1t was blind alley; the
only man who got more than fifteen
was the foreman, and his wage was
twenty-three Boys came into the fac.
tory and drifted out to other jobs
Girls entered, to marry, or
well, they disappeared after a time,
as the young men did. Tom had been
there longer than any other.
At last he told Lucy frankly of his
fears.
There's nothing to it at all" he
said. And l don't know what to do.
! guess I'm not fit for anything else,
except a laborer's job maybe. came
from a country town, and my folks
never amounted to much there. had
a letter to Devoe. He put me where
! am. I'm just one of the wastage,
Lucy"
mol" she cried. "You are worth
all Of them put together, dear. And
you are going to succeed. know you
are"
Il will" he said. with clenched
hands.
But how? At twenty-five he was as
helpless in the heart of this grinding
civilization of commerce as q savage
might be. He saw rich men every
where, men who rode in automobiles,
who stood, in evening dress. at the
theater entrances. How did they get
taeir chances? And why couldn't he?"
Say. Rogers, did you hear Brown If
going to leave?" asked one of the men
at the factory one day. Got a ten
thousand-dollar job with the Women's
Cloak and Skirt people. Devoe's
pretty mad at losing him. guess. but
everybody in his department is look.
ing for Browns job"
Ten thousand dollars q year! Tom
felt surge Of disgust within him. He
could have done as we'll as Brown.
And he knew the business from the
bottom up. He had not been there
four years for nothing! And Devoe
had lied to him.
During the lunch hour he went into
Devoe's Office, passing the swing door
that separated the factory from the
sales department for the first time in
his life. He was burning all over
with anger against the man.
He walked past the office boy,
straight into the room where Devoe
was seated alone. his feet on the table,
looking out of the window.
you haven't told me the truth! The
heard himself crying in fury. you
told me four years ago there would
be chance for me. When's 1t coming
of? Why don't you give me Mr..
Browns placer"
Devoe took down his feet and a
flush Of anger. which crept over his
face. was succeeded by amusement as
he looked at the despairing figure be-
fore him.
my dear boy. who are you? don't
know you from ADAM" he said.
Tom thought he was lying. 81
brought you a letter four years ago.
and you said you wouldn't forget me,
and that you tried out new men on
r.