The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-11-02

ing from whose yawning portals men were
loading bales, cases and huge rolls upon
trucks. Mr.. Magee sidled up to a man who
stood upon the curb and with loud voice
delivered mandate and countermand.
Got Job for man?" demanded Mr..
Magee
The boss Of the operations wheeled and
stared at Mr.. Magee.
I'VE don't hire buns" he said CURLY. hts
swift glance taking in Mr. Magee and his
appurtenances Of apparel
"A most laudable principle" said Mr..
Magee cordially. "only--it doesn't apply
Just now True, my garb isn't all that
Where did you work last?" demanded
the boss.
"Reelton," said Mr.. Magee.
Got a reference?"
Mr.. Magee looked from the boss To the
packing cases Then he iexed his arm.
"rn promise not to put piano in my
pocket" he said. "And feel that arm,
Isn't that reference enough for the sort of
Job you'll give me7"
But a clumsy porter dropped a roll of
carpet to the sidewalk and the boss forgot
Mr.. Magee and his interesting manner of
speaking the while he painted, with a viz.
fdness that was not too impressionistic to
lack detail, the ancestry, present social
position and probable spiritual future of
the hapess workman. Than, still stirred
BY magnificent wrath, his eye lighted upon
Mr.. Magee.
Get. you panhandler, or I'll hang one on
your ear" he promised
The boss was surrounded by men who
depended upon his favor for their employ.
ment. They would not side with Mr..
Magee In the event of hostilities. Mr..
Magee turned away, yet pausing long
enough to announce blatantly:
AN right, my courteous friend. Just
for that I'm going to stick around this al.
legged imitation Of a town long enough to
buy this store and hand you a blue en-
velope, you replica Of a shame-faced.
swine!" q
The absurdity Of the feeble boast over
Swallowed the insult that accompanied It.
SSoS
Il suppose you'll buy It with part Of your
quarterly dividends from old man Blake.
eh?D
is that the name of the owner of this
establishment" inquired Mr.. Magee.
"siias J. Blake. Esquire: that's the
name" laughed the boss. This whole
sale furniture store is only worth about
two million dollars, but
Mr.. Magee bowed. 81 thank you. my
urbane and jocund friend / shall commu.
nicate with Mr. Blake and shortly have the
felicity Of attaching can to you. Good
morning."
The latter was delivered trife hastily,
for the boss, forgetful of the first law of
debate, that physical force is not argu.
ment, had picked up from the sidewalk a
loose cobbiestone, and the action was indi.
cative to the acute Mr.. Magee of the boss
WEAKNESS Of speech. Incontinently Mr..
Magee turned upon his heel and departed.
At other buildings. wholesale and retail
stores, Mr.. Magee stopped and asked for
an opportunity to earn money by manual
labor; but the citizenry Of Rockport were
as hard as their city's name. They did
not care to hire men whose shabbiness was
an afront to the whole garment trade.
They distrusted the freelance of labor.
They wanted family men.
DO you suppose" asked Mr.. Magee DO
litely Of one man. that quarrelling with
wife develops mans muscles and makes
MIN more capable OF tossing stoves
around?'
Beat it, was the answer.
This was the seventh place whereat Mr..
Magee had applied for work. The day was
waning; his fast had not been broken.
Westward, whence he had come, folks were
not particular. They did not demand a
belted earl or descendant OF John Alden
to cut the grass.
MT. Magee was no moral weakling, nor
yet did he err upon the side Of stubborn.
ness. Il want to 90 east" he said to him.
self plaintively, "but-three cents; no Job:
and hate this feeling that I'm a nut and
every cops squirrel. l hate to do It,
but
Toward the Union Station, despising his
failure to adhere to his determination to
visit the rising sun, yet well aware that
ferry hands are coarse, uncultured souls,
who have been known to find mirth In
pitching ride CRATER into the river. and
having become 80 hopeless Of attaining the
three cents needful to propitiafe those