The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-07-26

said, since he had fought three pitched
BATTLES with as many OF the camp bull
lies, and had In each Of them proved
himself man of his hands who could
not only take punishment. but could
hammer an opponent swiftly and neat
ly into any desired state OF subjectlon.
Come in here and sit down; I want
to talk TO you" was the way Williams
began IT.; and after Smith had found
q chair the chief went on "Say. Smith.
you're too good man for anything I've
got for you here. Haven't you realized
that?"
Smith pulled a memorandum book
from his hip pocket and ran his eye
over the private record he had been
keeping.
"Tve shown you how TO effect few
little savings which total up something
like Is per cent of your cost Of produc-
tion and operation" he said. Don't
you think I'm earning lry wages?"
That's all right I've been keeping
tab, too, and know what you're do
ing. But you are not belinning to earn
what you ought to. either for yourself
or the company" rat in :he chief
shrewdly. And then: Loosen up,
smith, ana tell 'ae something about
yourself. VINO are you, and where do
you come from, and what sort of job
have you been holding DOWN"
Smiths reply was as surprising as II
was seemingly irrelevant.
IF you're not too busy. Mr.. Williams,
l guess you'd better maze out my time
check" he said quietly.
Williams took n reflective half-min-
ute for consideration. turning the sud
den request over deliberately In his
mind. as his bnbit was.
|. ~ suppose by .thatsyou mean that
you'll, quit before you. viii. ,conse 1t to
open up on your record q he assumed.
you've guessed It," said the man
who had sealed the book of his past.
Again Williams took little time. 1t
was discoura ging to have his own and
the colonel's preHgurings as to Smiths
probable state and standing so prompt.
ly verified.
II suppose you know the plain infer
ence you're leaving, when you say a.
thing like that"
Smith made the sign of assent. ut
leaves you entirely at liberty TO finish
out the story to suit yourself" he ad.
mitted, adding: "The back numbers
my back numbers-are my own, MFR.
Williams. I've kept a file of them, as
everybody does, but l don't have 10
produce 1t on request"
or course, there's nothing compul-
sorry about your producing 1t. But un-
less you are what they call In this
country crooked crook, you are
standing In your own light. You have
such a staVing good mead Tor hgures
anu hnahces that II seems pity Tor
you ~ pe "as.ins II mere en an unaer-
eu 1ou IN eos'e.'uns' ANY
syuhs ienow just OUT oi teehhica'
sehooi eou,u uc WHAT you're uoihg ID
'"e ""y ol p"rihs uown expenses.
Inc cost-cutters smile was mildly
inereouious'
NOBODY seemed 10 De doing 1t De-
rore l came, ne onered.
NO. Wi,iiains aiiowed, 'thats the
,act. 10 zen 'ne pam trutn, we've mao
Digger thihgs 10 wrestie Win; ana we
,'a,e mem YET ior .hat iiin,'er-enoush
Vi ,nen u 20 III, hrounu the Joo Twice
anu ,'e III DoWhho''
rihan.es queriea smith, ieerng
some 0, .ne oack-huihoer ins'ihcts sur
ring "'.hih MIN.
Inc chiet engineer nodded; then he
looked up with twinkle In his closely
set gray eyes. IF youll tell me why
you tried TO XIII Burdeil the other day,
maybe Iii open UP the record-our
fecord--for you.
InlS time the c0st-Cutter'S smile was