Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-03-21
UP THE LADDER
BY EMILY WARRINGTON.
tCNpynght, 1917 Western Newspaper Union

mer was merely an underpaid clerk In
big dry goods store. Trask was
manager of a department.
The latter loved to lord itover those
he considered and treated as his in
feriors. He strobe into the room
where Sidney was marking some rugs,
assisted by several fellow workers.
Special matter for you, Bruce" he
announced in sharp mandatory way.
Every well, SIR
Trask always took the "Sir'' for
mark OF obeisance and acknowledge
ment of his superiority, whereas Sid
ney used it as barrier to prevent
familiarity, for he did not like the
man.
"Errand boys all out and this Is
rush order. It's part Of a wedding
trousseau for the rich Miss Delby, over
at Acton"
"There are no trains until after
noon," suggested Sidney.
II have thought of that and duly
provided" Trask caught him up by say
ing, in his wise grandiloquent way.
"Our buyer has his horse and gig
here. Says he won't use it this after
noon, and you can spin over to Acton
and back in two hours"
There was no doubt that there
would be some spinning" for the mo-
ment Sidney went down into the court
where the rig was, he noticed the fire
In the eyes of the steed. Sidney took
firm grip on the reins and by the
time he reached a clear road had the
animal well under control.
An automobile flashed past at a
sharp curve in the road, and the horse
reared, curved and gave the gig a
swing that carried it off it's balance.
Sidney was thrown clear of the We
hicle, the lines torn from his hands
and when he recovered his scattered
senses the rig was out. of sight.
1t was late in the afternoon, fully
twenty miles from the spot where
Sidney had been thrown out of the
vehicle that automobiles came
across the horse and gig, the former
done out and cut with flying flints at
the fetlocks, and the gig minus q
wheel and a wreck. The box contain
ing the wedding dress had disappeared.
Pretty well depressed, Sidney reached
home to report his mishap to Trask.
What mighty Importance did Trask
assume in adjusting the scattered is
sues of the case! He reasoned like a
lawyer and pronounced his verdict
like Judge. Sidney had to pay for
the dress, a matter of over one hun
dred dollars. That sum used up six
weeks salary. When the last dollar
of the cost Of the dress had been paid,
Sidney babe his employers a dignified
farewell and started with bare sails
to further exploit his craft on the un-
certain sea of business.
A new enterprise had been started
In the town by man named Greeley.
He had gone into the finer grade Of
house furnishings. AS Sidney was
passing the store Greeley called him
in.
i've wanted to speak to you for
some time" he told Sidney. 81 knew
IT was no use while you were working,
for you're not the kind that leaves an
employer in the lurch except for a
just cause"
II am looking for an opening" Sid
ney frankly admitted.
VERY well. Here is my proposition:
A reasonable drawing account, five per
cent commission. and if you can work
up an average of fifty thousand dollars
a year will take you in as part
ner."
Sidney Bruce started in his new
sphere of business activity with vim
and confidence. There were many
wealthy people scattered through the
district and within month he had
brought in quite q number of orders.
One day he learned Of Mr.. Wardell.
who had just moved into a fine man
sion that, had been vacant because of
litigation for years.
Sidney found Mr.. Wardell W In
the market for complete renovation
and furnishing Of the house. He
started to take Sidney through the
place, jotting down the suggestions.
| ,ar AACA . 10 ftAC2AuQSlC IOOlu ana OaQC0
hail. spoke Mr.. Wardell, coming to
an open archway. "a visitor, daugh-
ter" he called out.
t Sidney had observed graceful fem
mime figure standing before great
pier glass, posing, swaying, arrayed
in the wedding dress that had cost
him position and money. The girl,
beautiful in the extreme, turned quick
ly and then ran from the room. Her
father laughed freely.
"One of the servants found q bog
containing that dress in the woods
some time ago." he explained. N"We
could not discover the owner and
Italia seems to enjoy dressing un-
til her own wardrobe APPEARS
Sidney amazed Greeley by turning
in an eight thousand dollar order and
was busy off and on for month at
the Cedars, giving the workmen in
structions.
Now Warren Trask overstepped his