The Washington herald., 1915-09-12
Copyright, lA5D

l. swept by in its patient devious,
cruel game of Hunt the Contract But
two years had taught him how to ride;
to take a fence; to leap a ditch. He
had had his awkward bumps, and his
clumsy falls. He had lost his way
moro than once. But he had always
groped his way back again. stumbling
ly, through the dusk. Jock McChesney
was the youngest man on the Berg.
Shriner Advertising Company's big
0tai of surprisingly young men. So
young that the casual glance did not
reveal to you the marks that the
strain of those two years had left on
his boyish face. Blu. the marks we're
there
Even Emma McChesneys eyes
those mother eyes which make the
lynx seem a mole-had failed to note
the subtle change. Then, suddenly, one
night, the lines leaped out at her.
They were seated at opposite sides
OF the eook-littered library table in
the living room of the cheerful up
town apartment which was the real
ization of the nightly dream which
Mrs. Emma McChesney had had in her
ton years on the road for the T. A.
Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company.
Jock McChesney's side of the big
table was completely covered with the
mass of copy paper, rough sketches,
photographs and drawings which
make up an advertising layout. He
was bent over the work, absorbed. in
tent. his forearms resting on the table.
Emma McChesney glanced up from
her magazine as Jock bent forward to
reach a scrap of paper that had fut-
tered away. The lamplight fell full
on his face. And Emma McChesney
saw. The hand that held the magazine
fell to her lap. Her lips were parted
slightly. She sat very quietly, her eyes
never leaving the face that frowned
so intently over the Uttered table.
The room had been very quiet before
jock busy with his work, his mother
interested in her ma gazine. But this
silence was different. There was some
thing electric in 1t. 1t was a silence
that beats on the brain like a noise.
Jock McChesney. bent over his work.
heard it, felt it. and, oppressed by 1t,
looked up suddenly. He met those two
eyes opposite.
"Spooks? Or is it my godlike beauty
dirty?'
laid her magazine on the table. face
down, and leaned forward, her staring
eyes still fixed on her sons face.
Look here. young 'un. Are you
working too hard?"
Me? Now? This stuff you mean"
No: I mean in the last year. Are
they piling it up on you?"
Jock laughed a laugh that was
nothing less than a failure. SO little of
real mirth did it contain.
"Piling it up, Lord. no. I wish they
would That's the trouble. They don't
give me a chance"
"A chance! Why, that's not true,
son You've said yourself that there
are men who have been in the Office
three times as long as you have. who
never have had the opportunities that
they've given you"
1t was as though she had touched
a current that thrilled him to action.
He pushed back his chair and stood
up, one hand thrust into his pocket,
the other passing quickly over his
head from brow to nape with a quick,
nervous gesture that was new to him.
And WHY he flung out why,
Not because they like the way I part
my hair They don't do business that
way up there. It's because I've made
good. and those other dubs haven't
That's why. They've let me sit In
at the game. But they won't let me
take any tricks. I've been an appren-
tice hand for two years now. I'm
tired Of it / want TO be in on a kill
ing I want to taste blood. I want a
chance at some of the money-real
money"
Emma McChesuey sat back in her
chair and surveyed the angry figure
before her with quiet. steady eyes
q might have known that only one
thing could bring those lines into your
face son" She paused a moment. so
you want money as badly as all that
do you"
Jocks hand came down with a
thwack on the papers before him.
Want it, You just bet I want 1T"
DO / know her." asked Emma Nc
Chesney quietly.
Jock stopped short in his excited
pacing up and down the room.
DO you know Why. l didn't say
that?
When youngster like you. whose
greatest worry has been whether Har-
vardll hold 'em again this year. with
Baxter out. begins to howl about not
being appreciated in business. and to
wear a late fall line of wrinkles where
he has been smooth before. I feel justi-
fed in saying. DO l know her?'"
Well. 1t isn't any one--at least. II
isn't what you mean you think it is
when you say you"
Careful there, You'll trip. Never
you mind what I mean think 1t is
when I say. Count ten. and then just
tell me what you think you mean"
Jock passed his hand over his head
again with that nervous little gesture
Then he sat down. little wearily
He stared moodily down at the pile
of papers before him. His mother
faced him quietly across the table.
Grace Galt's getting twice as much
as 7 am" Jock broke out. with saw
age suddenness The first year
didn't mind. fellow gets accustomed
these days, to see women breaking into
all the professions and getting away
with men-size salaries. But her pay
check doubles mine-more than dou'
bles it,
IT'S been my experience" observed