The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-02-05
Romantic Story of the Downfall
and Discovery of Jim
Parker.
KENYoN's FIRM AFFECTION
How tho Political Boss Of Grasmere
Protected and Advanced the Lad
Whose Mother He Once
Had Loved.
BY RICHARD SPILLANE.

store, and richest man in the country,
never unbent to any one but Parker's
boy Jim. To Parker, senior Kenyon
showed little courtesy. When they
met in the street Kenyon nodded If SO
disposed, but usually passed without
noticing him. If Jim was with his
father, 1t was different. Kenyon
would stop, joke with the youngster,
buy candy and toys for him and never
seemed to tire of his company. The
first watch Jim ever had was a gift
from Kenyon. The money that put
the boy through college was supplied
by the rich man.
Parker protested weakly against the
college matter, but Kenyon, who was
rough and insistent, had his way Par
ker was self-opinionated, a bit soured
by his failure to do better in a world
ly way and firmly believed If he had
q fair chance he would make his
mark. He resented Kenyons mani
festations of regard for Jim, but as
Jim had real affection for Kenyon
and liked the big mans company al
most as much as Kenyon liked his, he
could do nothing.
When Jim came out of college Ken
yon put him in the store. Within a
year the young man was made the
manager. There wasn't a lazy bone
in the young fellows body. He was
bright, genial and enterprising. Ken
yon, who was a bit old.fashioned,
frowned when Jim suggested changes
within and without the store that
were little short of revolutionary, but
Jim argued so ardently that the big
man consented 1t cost lot of money
for new floors, new shelves, new coun-
ters, plateglass windows, new light
ing and ventilating systems and strict
ly modern equipment, but when the
work was done Kenyon, although he
only grunted, secretly was proud. Ev-
erything was displayed to advantage.
Everything was classified and ar
ranged to make the most attractive
display. From a material standpoint,
it soon was evident that Jim's judy
ment was good. The business in
creased. People found Jim's store
more and more of a magnet
Jim's Progressive Methods.
Jim not only knew how to sell, but
how to buy. He purchased prudently
and never allowed the store to get
cluttered up with old stock Now and
then he shocked Kenyon by selling
goods below cost rather than keep
them until the following season. Jim
argued that there was no profit in CIV
ing store room to stuff when the
space could be used to better advan-
tage for goods the public would buy.
This was not the old method, but as
each year showed an increased profit
Kenyon came to accept Jim's view
of business.
For young man with so much au-
thority and responsibility, Jim's pay
was small. Kenyon never was noted
for extravaganza toward his en-
ployees. Each Christmas he remem-.
bered Jim and once a week he had
Jim dine with him. That weekly
meeting was the one the big man
seemed to enjoy the most and he new
er permitted business or politics to in
| terfere with it.
Jim never asked for more pay He
never asked for favor but once and
then 1t was in hating, hesitating
voice. There had been change of
administration at Washington. There
would be a change in the postmaster
ship at Grasmere.
Father was talking about the post
mastership the other day." Jim re-
marked. II wish he could get it."
Kenyon scowled. did he ask you
to speak to me about it," he inquired.
Moo; not exactly"
Kenyon was silent for a minute or
more. Then he said, "Well, I will see
what I can do about it."
A few months later Chauncey Par
ker assumed Office as postmaster at
Grasmere.
The town was growing, the country
around was dev clipping. business was
good and the trade OF the store broad
ened year by year. It outgrew its old
quarters and took on quite a metro
politan aspect.
Kenyon no longer paid much atten-
ton to it. He had plenty to engage
his attention at the bank and with his
many other affairs.
About two years after Parker Sc
Nor had been made postmaster, peo-
pie began to remark that Jim Parker
was getting thin and seemed to be
ailing. He was overworked. Some of
his friends suggested that he ought
to take things easier or he would
break down. Jim, usually the most
kindly of persons, showed irritation
when this idea was put to him. He
never felt better, he insisted. Peo-
pie were mistaken. Hard work never
hurt anyone.
But few months later there was