Gilpin observer., 1915-05-27
JOHN SMITHS THEORY
BY FRANK FILsoN.

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Copyright. 1915. by w. G. Chapman)
He felt pretty gloomy all the way
down to his Office. He had begun te
earn enough income the year before
as lawyer In the little manufactur
ing town. to Justify him in claiming
Mollie. whom he had loved since he
entered college, as his wife. But the
struggle was a hard one, and he had
only just been able to keep his home
together.
Then. month previously, the
Adamson company had invited several
of the town lawyers to apply for a
salaried position as adviser. The
choice had really narrowed down to
two: himself and Herbert Johnson
And he knew in his heart that John.
son was slated for the position.
II mere learning had counted, he
might have got it. But there were
other qualities. Johnson was man
about-town, a frequenter of the best
hotel. where he dined and met people.
But. most important Of all. Johnson
was acquiring reputation as a man
who took hard cases. The Adamson
| corporation would undoubtedly prefer
a man who was willing to attempt to
drive through the law, If it could be
| done. to lawyer who had his own
ridiculous scruples.
However" he said to Mollie, IT be-
lieve there Is a good future for a law.
yer whose honesty will be so generally
recognized that 1t will go far toward
winning him every case in which he
appears"
And she had agreed. But that did
not help him toward the $4,000 posi-
ton with the Adamson corporation.
And that income. in addition to his
other work, loomed larger and larger
as the days went by.
Then he was stunned to receive an
invitation to call upon the corpora
ton.
In his best suit, which Johnson
would have scorned to wear, except
for gardening. perhaps, he made his
way to the big factory downtown and
was shown into the room of the presi-
dent, George Adamson, fussy look
ing old gentleman, who bade him sit
down and examined him with a very
critical gaze.
But Mr.. Adamson thawed percepti-
bly, when his visitor answered the
searching questions that he put to
him. There John Smith knew that he
was on safe ground. His credentials
were certainly better than Johnson's,
and Adamson acknowledged himself
as highly pleased.
Now let us come to practical de-
tails" he said. For instance-an old
inventor out in Dayton has a patent
that we are very anxious to secure. It
is an improved method Of manu-
featuring gas furnaces. and II we
had 1t it would cut the cost of produc-
tion Is per cent. The old man is
crank and has an inflated value Of his
property He won't sell for less than
million. which would mean no extra
profit to us for three years. Morally
We are justified in taking his patent
and manufacturing according to its
specifications, for the good of the
country 1t is intolerable that one
know that he could not hope to find
the money to sue. Anyway, the case
would run for years, and all the while
we could be manufacturing. Very
we'll! But now, suppose he moved for
an injunction to prevent us manufac-
turing while the suit was pending.
How would you go about stopping it?"
PAY him his million dollars or
stop manufacturing" answered Smith
quietly
Old Adamson glared at him. You
?"-he beloved.
That would not be party to such
case" answered Smith. mo doubt
you can find men who would. am
afraid am not the man you need.
Good-day, sir" And he walked out OF
the ONCE.
you'll hear from us tomorrow" he
heard the irate old man below after
him. But the threat passed over his
I head. An hour later he was telling
Mollie all about 1t.
"Dear. you did Just right" she said.
But he saw the tears which she
vainly tried to conceal, and presently
| she was weeping unreservedly upon
| his knee.
The next morning when he saw
letter from the Adamson people beside
his plate he remembered the presi-
| dents threat. He laughed scornfully
! ms he opened It, What could the old
man do? II he threatened him he
would promptly bring suit for dam
ages, or defamation of character. He.
! John Smith, did not intend to allow
that old rufIian to ride roughshod over
| him.
: He opened the envelope. Next mo-
ment ne dropped the letter with a cry
"Mollie! He's offered me the job"
he cried in exultation. Then:
/ But can't take It, dear. I wouldn't
, work for such people"