The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-09-06
TAKING A
CHANCE
81
By LINCOLN RoTHBLUM

u ----~-------------- -s--~-.-----------------s n
kssSSssSsssssssssssssesee sssssssss ssssssssssss3
copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SynGicate.)
"Jiggers, the boss !"
And upon the heels of the whis-
pered warning Mr.. Joseph @. Hattis-
bury, heayy-footed and always sober,
entered the sanctum of his private Of
fee.
The 40" it must be stated, had
been added to his name coincident
with his appointment to the vacant
presidency of the Consolidated Metals
corporation, marking 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 60" which stood for nothing, add
ed a unique dignity to his name, as for
his idea, assimilated through the
course of his career, that heavyfooted
walking was an Indication of a "dom-.
inant personality" OF course Mr.. Jo-
seph Q. Hattisbury would not have
characterized it so, principally for
the reason that 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,
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 relievedly. His thin
ming hair and the telltale crows feet
about the eyes seemed to vie oddly
with his boyish mannerisms.
eff it hadn't been for your .jiggers,
Helen, I'd We been caught that time
sure"
Helen rested her hands, with their
network of blue-veined ridges, on the
keys of her comptometer Helenscould
no longer be called exactly young, but
an indefnable happy turn to her lips
reflected q never-absent sense OF
humor. She was conservatively and
economically dressed in dark serge
skirt which eloquently testified by its
sheen its fourth year of continuous
service. Black, low-heeled shoes and 6
white lawn waist completed the husi
nesslike severity of her costume, re
lieved only by small amethyst brooch
fastened to the throat.
fright you are, Rodney" she re
piled, but her voice did not have it,
usual buoyancy. The man noticed it
whats the matter. old scout?" hi
asked consolingly, getting up from hi:
chair and proffering her bag of cara
mels. She refused the confection.
Stirred, Helen?
s'Yes, I am-tired to think tina
you've got to hide cigarette in you
pocket as If you were a little kid, ant
tired of that" pointing contemptuous
ly to the door marked Private sold
maid teacher"
| Rodney smiled. 'Let up on the oil
maids, Helen. You're living in glas
house all your own"
ooh. but I'm a woman and it make
no difference if push the keys of thi
comptometer forever. But you're sur
posed to be man and make q nam
for yourself in this world. Does tn
prospect of smoking when it please
the other fellow appeal to you for tn
rest of your life?" s4s
Rodney e Stood silent. This was +
new Helen.
'Look here, Helen, we've been worl
I ing together now for nearly ten year
right in this office, and you've neve
, talked this way before. You know Tv
never dared risk starting somethin
for fear I'd fail. So I've been conter
to put up with the old man.
swell, you've got to take a chanc
some time Shame, that for the 81
curity of three meals day you've bee
content to lodge in rut !! Don't 70
low my example. Here I am we'll alon
in the thirties, and still letting TIL
thing think for me-" and she gave til
conlDtonleter a vicious shove. "Yo
get out, Rodney, and take a chane
A man at forty is still young thes
days." ~ i-
Helen smiled at the unusualness I
their conversation and her new ro
of adviser. She couldn't help smi
ing.
"WelI, I'll tell you what" he a
swered, as he clapped his hands t
gether to seal the bargain, ''you su
gest the venture, and I'll do it
bust" fs
Helen laughed out loud. 'sFoolish
she said, without serious intent, 8:
buy a delicatessen."
Rodney's mouth closed with a sna
"Jiggers, the boss!"
2 And as Mr. Joseph @. Hattisbury T
entered the outer Office he found h
employees zealousiy performing tho
duties for which he never let them ft
get he paid them. He tramped noisi
over to He1en's desk. Despite her d
like for him, she could never help b
feel that he treated her just lit
more considerate that he did the OF
ers. 1855 s
sI'd like to see those totals, Mi
Bently,' he said In stentorian ton
and Helen shivered as he leaned
portly frame over her. He did T
seem to be paying nlnch attention
the figures as he nervously fingered
watch charm. "Come into my offic,
he ordered peremptorily.