Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-11-22
Getting HIS GOAT
BY DEAN HERRICK.

hand listening to Archibald Flahav.
ems TRADE.
Flahaven pounded his desk and his
apoplectic face took on an alarming
color. Anyway" he beloved, II want
you to let Viola alone"
So that was it! Eric had suspected
as much. 1t wasn't the number of
steel rails that had been scrapped
after all that was causing this tempest
in the. general managers brain. His
hand clenched, then relaxed and an
amused smile curled the corners OF his
lips. But instantly alive to his posi-
ton, he sobered again.
Flahaven sprang up. Laugh, blast
you! Well see who'll laugh. Do you
think I'm going to have MY daughter
waste her time on a day laborer? If
catch you flirting with Viola again,
or so much as looking at her, I'll not
only discharge you, but blacklist you
as WELL"
"But Mr.. Flahaven-"
"Get out!"
you'll be sorry. I love Viola and
she loves mel" flashed the young man.
"Get out!"
A notice to get his money and quit
reached his department almost as
soon as he did. "All right" he said
cheerfully to the messenger. "Say,
Tim, want to make q dollar?"
"Surel"
"Go and bet Patsy O'Brien that I'll
get the old mans goat in two weeks. !"
cav, go on!"
That night, as pre-arranged by tele-
phone, Viola met Eric at the gate of
her fathers premises.
''Hello, dearest grill" he whispered
cheerfully, drawing her close. I'm
going away, dear, but I'm coming back
before long. I've been discharged and
I'm going to hunt more york. But,
tell me first, do you really love me?"
"Forever-and you know it, Eric"
"And you are willing to be poor and
pack lunches for me, and have me
come home black as miner every
night?"
Perfectly willing"
''You are the very dearest girl in the
world Now I must go. Good-by,
sweetheart"
'Milly," said her father at break
fast, addressing his wife, 81 wish you
would do something for me-"
Mrs. Flahaven acquiesced with the
celerity her husband always demand
ed in advance. Eyes, Archibald"
"Give partyp
"Why, Arch"
eyes, yes. Give big one, bang-up
go the limit. Rockwell, the presi-
dent of the company, telephoned that
some Of the bankers who own the
plant are coming up for couple Of
days. Have it then!''
"All right, Archibald. A dinner
dance will be just the thingp
"And Viola, make the best of your
opportunities
''Yes, father!" But poor Viola was
white and miserable.
Days passed, busy ones for every
body, wretched ones for Viola. One
afternoon the desk phone in Flahav-
ems Office rang. Rockwell asked him
to come to a conference Of officials at
the hotel.
Flahaven went. He was shown to
o room where chairs were arranged
around big mahogany table, but only
one Of which was occupied.
"How do you do, Mr.. Flahaven?
Won't you sit down? We're both q
bit early, hut the others will be in
soon."
eric Baileyw choked the general
manager, aghast.
'I'm glad you remember me-"
smiled Eric. 81 didn't think was so
important"
The other was speechless.
"I've been thinking over q few
things, Mr.. Flahaven. I want some
advice. Once there Was n young man
who happened suddenly by death to
fall into a position he wSs not fitted
for. So, without telling anyone what
he was going to do, he put on over
alls and determined to learn thing
or two about labor himself. Then he
happened to fall in love with a girl,
the daughter of a man who had
worked his way up from the ranks to
power. For this crime he was dis
charged and blacklisted. Now the
young man had it in his power to dis
charge the father, but he was trying,
among other things, to learu self-con-
troll. So he got out of town and took
a few days to think it over. He de-
cided to let things go and not make
fuss, but he thinks he ought to have
q reward. Now, what would you say
was fair, Mr.. FlahavenT
"Anything" faltered the other.
"Viola?"