Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-09-23

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I've got TO-" she said In panicky
tones. You won't tell the foremang
For my sake-you won't tell him.
know I'm slow, but I'm doing my best
I'll make good. r."
He caught her by the hands. YOU
don't think" he began. you don't
think" The idea was preposterous
ibid you think I wanted 10 make il
harder for your" 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.
Il had been the simplest thing In
the world. There never was any Tor.
NAL declaration. That night, as they
parted. she raised her lips to his. more
like q sister than a sweetheart On
Sundays he took her on q 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 az.
teen dollars a week ultimately There
was no promotion out OF the pattern
department. II was a 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.
81 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 II at ALL" he
said. And I don't know what to do
I 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 rs
helpless In the heart of this grinding
civilization OF commerce as a 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
their chances? And why couldn't her
Say, Rogers, did you hear Brown. IL
going TO leave?" asked one Of the men
at the factory one day. Got q 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 IL look
ing for Browns Job"
Ten thousand dollars q year! Tom
felt a surge OF disgust within him. He
could have done as well as Brown
And he knew the business from the
bottom up. He had not been there
four years for nothing! And Devos
had lied to him.
During the lunch hour he went int
DEVICES Office. passing the swing dool
that separated the factory from the
sales department for the first time IL
his life. He was burning all ovel
with anger against the man.
He walked pas. the Office boy
straight into the room where Devot
was seated alone. his feet on the table
looking cut of the window.
You haven't told me the TRUTH" h,
heard himself crying in fury. "Yo,
told me four years ago there woult
be q chance for me. When's IL coming
OF? Why don't you give me Mr.
Browns placer"
Devoe took down his feet and /,
flush OF anger, which crept over hii
face, was succeeded by amusement a
he looked at the despairing figure be
fore him.
MY dear boy. who are you? I dom
know you from ADAM" he said.
Tom thought he was lying. 90
brought you q letter four years ago
and you said you wouldn't forget me
and that you tried out new men OF
the road" said Tom.
Devoe was interested. Want I
chance on the road. eh?" he asked
We'll. you might have had It severa
times. Why in thunder didn't you re
mind me? Think I've got time {,
waste on every jake that brings M
letter."
well. I want it." answered Ton
holly.
Think you could sell patterns Il
the ladies' Ell? Got a nice suit? Go
O smile? Know how to jolly ZEN
along?. Say. IL you've waited fou'
years for this. and allowing tina
you've get a forcefulness about you
I don't know as / won't give you ,
chance. Not Browns Job at present
young man. But IL twenty per. and [
commission looks all right to you 70
q starter, you can come back this aft
ernoon and I'll talk 1t over with you
And Tom found himself back In thu
empty pattern department. His heaa
was whirling. Twenty and a commits
sioni What sales he would make
Presently he saw Lucy ut his side.
Tom! What Is IL. dear?" she cried
amazed at his lcok. and clinging Il
him.
'It's-it's-the end Of this. Lucy,
he answered huskily. I'm going OF
the road. Put on your hat and lett
get out Of here. ! want to get a mar
Rage license before the bureau closes.