Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12
The Adventures of JabeZ Bunker El[

Blodgett isn't here 1t saves time. and
time is mighty valuable around here"
reckon il is" said MT. Bunker.
"Nwfully." said Mr.. Nollor. "A minute
wasted here may mean battle lost in
Europe Fifty thousand
shells needed over there on the Marine.
and a letter gets into the mail one train
late. Letter reaches munition factory
one train late. Munitions reach the dock
here one day late and miss steamer.
The shells reach the Marine one week
late. Battle lost because somebody here
wasted a minute"
Mr.. Bunker seated himself in the re-
volving chair
sails down that bay carries something this
office had something to do with, amt il -
said Mr.. Nollor and he seated himself
beside MIR Bunker. THAT one sailing
now-she has munitions. They all have
munitions
Mr.. Bunker removed his hat and wiped
his bald head. He placed his hat on top
OF Mr.. Blodgett's desk.
II tell you. MIR. Bunker" said Mr. VOL
Tor. I'VE have made a great change in
There's no graft now. They tell me the
graft used TO be something frightful.
Every purchasing agent expected his
graft
While Mr.. vollor talked. Mr. Bunker
was looking out Of the low window upon
the busy scene the bay presented. Mr..
Nollor stood at his side holding the let
tiers and looking at the bay also. The
door leading TO the corridor opened ever
so slightly. and Mr.. Gorringe's face peered
into the room. AS Mr. Eollor had told Mr..
Bunker the night before at dinner. Mr..
Gorringe was most suspicious man. He
doubted every one and everything. He
was the sort of man who speaks OF plac-
ing contract as putting something
over" or putting something across" II
he had an apple to sell for a cent he
would go about it in mysterious manner,
and if he finally sold it to some starving
man who would willingly have paid dol
lar for the apple Mr.. Gorringe would have
said he had put something across" 1t
was natural. therefore. that he continually
suspected others of desire to. put some
thing across on him. He would not be-
lieve Mr.. Blodgett was in Europe: he
would not believe Mr.. Blodgett was COM
ing back. He would not believe anything
or anybody.
"a rake-off on every contract con-
tinued Mr.. Vollor. further explaining con-
ditions as they had once been. "Abso-
lutely /no contracts made without the
rake-of. Blodsett said that most posi-
lively. Now. / was talking about Cor
ringe last night. Gorringe can't under
stand why his contracts are not accepted
by us. When it comes to Gorringe. you
needn't mention rake-off. Just hold out
Softly. Mr. Gorringe closed the door.
He had heard enough. His suspicious
were confirmed. What he had herd was
this: "A rake-of on every contract Alb
solutely no contracts made without the
rake-off Now. l was talking about Cor
ringe last night. Gorringe can't under
stand why his contracts are not accepted
needn't mention rake-off. Just hold out
your hand Mr.. Gor-inge. as he softly
closed the door, felt that he now under
stood why his shell contrarts had not
been snapped up Graft wanted!
"Ju:t hold out your hand. and Cor
ringe would grease it in minute con-
tinued Mr. Vol!or, but nothing OF that
sort goes here. Since Blodgett took over
the muntion purchases there has not
been a cent of graft and there won't be.
Gorringe, the day Blodgett gets home.
will turn over his contracts. and he won't
haze to pay anybody cent for graft :"
Mr. Gorringe. not hearing this. walked
slowly toward the elevator and pressed
the button. He was thinking deeply. He
believed he had seen a great light. This
quaint. farmer-looising old fellow with
the baby face was the secret agent Mr..
Blodgett used as his medium for accept
ing graft. Mr. Gorringe went down in
the elevator and waited in the corridor
on the street floor.
In Mr. Blodgetts office Mr. vollor hesi-
tated. and then spoke with reasonable
gentleness.
Il don't like to say it Mr. Bunker" he
said. but l think you had better go.
Nobody IS supposed TO come into this
room at all cxcer. through the side Of
fees, and if anybody saw you here and
found out I knew you l might lose my
job. You know how it is in place like
tlfis'
Mr. Bunker reached for his hat and
placed it on his head.
II wouldn't make you lose your job for
ncthin' in the world. son. he said. pleas
antly. Maybe some day I'll be comm
around with some munition contracts my
ale %;y,s ;y,t~N tn Nr
Blodgett Or nobody
And I'll be glad to- said Mr.. Vollor.
with which Mr.. Bunker. well pleased with
his success. departed. He felt he had done
as much as he could toward concentrating
circumstances until Mr.. Blodgett returned
from Europe.
Mr. Bunker. in this pleasant State IF
mind. went down in the elevator and
stepped out on the street floor He looked
>to right and left and observed a cigar
stand. On top of the case were piled
bundles of chewing gum. and Mr.. Bunker
walked to the stand and leaned his ell
bows on the glas" case Mr. Gorringe
tingled as he watched this. Mr. Bunker
had all the manner of man waiting to
be approached by Whenever might wish
to open conversation. Mr.. Gorringe
:,trolled over to the cigar stand and bought
a cigar.
Nice day." he said./