, 1918-09-05
TAKING A
CHANCE
o0
1918. by the Mcclure Newspa
Der syndicate.)
By LINCOLN RorHsLuM


~"Jiggers, the boss!"
And upon the heels of the whis-
pered warning MI. Joseph O. Hattis-
bury, heavy-footed and always sober,
entered the sanctum of his private Of
Zee.
The 90" 1t must be stated, had
been added to his name coincident
with his appointment to the vacant
presidency of the Consolidated Metals
corporation. marking a very gradual
rise from his lowly beginning as err
rand boy for this same business insti-
tuition some 40 years back. There was
about as much logic to his belief that
the 20" which stood for nothing, add
ed a unique dignity to his name, as for
his Idea, assimilated through the
course of his career. that heavy-footed
walking was an indication of q "dom-
inant personality" OF course, Mr.. 10
seph @. Hattisbury would not have
characterized it SO, principally for
the reason hat he seldom knew the
meaning Of or how to spell words of
greater than monosyllabic length.
AS the door, labeled in letters Of
warning size Private" banged shut,
a small, thinnish fellow, with deep-set
eyes, looked up from the large sheet
over which he was bent, and retriev-
Ing the lighted cigarette from his
pocket, whistled r~elievedly. His thin
ming hair and the telltale crows feet
about the eyes seemed to vie oddly
with his boyish mannerisms.
IF it hadn't been for your .jiggers,'
Helen, I'd We been caught that time
sure"
Helen rested her hands, with their
network of b~lue-veined ridges, on the
keys of her comptometer. Helen could
no longer be called exactly young, but
an indefnable happy turn to her lips
reflected a ~never-absent sense of
humor. She vas ~conservatively and
economically dressed in a dark serge
skirt which eloquently testified by its
sheen its fourth year of continuous
service. Black, low-heeled shoes and a
white lawn waist completed the busi-
nesslike severity of her costume, re-
heved only by n small amethyst brooch
fastened to the throat.
Fright you are, Rodney" she re-
piled, but her voice did not have its
usual buoyancy. The man noticed it.
"What's the matter, old scout?" he
asked consolingly, getting up from his
chair and proffering her a bag of cara
mels. She refused the CONNECTION.
"Tired. Helen"
Eyes, I am-tired to think that
you've got to hide a cigarette in your
nnnHaf nc ~ unr1 uyarn N 1fftIa lid on1
tired of that" pointing contemptuous-
ly to the door marked Private" "old-
maid teacher"
Rodney smiled. let up on the old
maids. Helen. You're living in a glass
house all your own"
"Oh, but I'm a woman and 1t makes
no difference If I push the keys Of this
comptometer forever. But you're sup
posed to be a man and make a name
for yourself in this world. Does the
prospect Of smoking when 1t pleases
the other fellow appeal to you for the
rest Of your life?"
Rodney stood silent. This was a
new Helen.
Look here, Helen, we've been work
Ing together now for nearly ten years
right in this office, and you've never
talked this way before. You know I've
eve dared risk starting something
for fear I'd fail. So I've been content
to put up with the old man."
"Well, you've got to take a chance
some time. Shame, that for the Sc
curity Of three meals a day you've been
content to lodge in a rutl Don't fol-
low my example. Here / am well along
In the thirties, and still letting this
thing think for me-" and she gave the
comptometer a vicious shove. "You
get out, Rodney, and take a chance.
A man at forty is still young these
days."
their conversation and her new role
Of adviser. She couldn't help smil-
Ing.
"well I'll tell you what" he an
swered, as he clapped his hands to-
gether to seal the bargain, "you sug-
gest the venture, and I'll do tor
bust"
Helen laughed out loud. "Foolish,"
she said, without serious intent, Ego
buy a delicatessen."
Rodney's mouth closed with q snap.
~"Jiggers, the bossT
And as Mr.. Joseph Q. Hattisbury re-
entered the outer office he found his
employees zealousIy performing those
duties for which he let them for
get he paid them. He tramped noisily
over to Helen's desk. Despite her dis
like for him, she could help but
feel that he treated her just a little
more considerable that he did the 9TH
ers.
I'D like to e those totals. Miss
Bently," he said In stentorian tones,
and Helen shivered as he leaned his
portly frame over her. He did not
seem to be paying much attention to
the figures as he n%ervously fingered his
| watch charm. "Come into nv ofice.n