Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-19
THE BEAR
BY MARY E. TAYLOR.
Copyright. 1919. Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicate.)

When Tom Bradley. the general
manager, returned to the office after
his year Of service with the soldiers
If Uncle Sam he began Immediately
TO put the business on a new efficiency
basis. His military training had
taught him that for success In any
branch of modern life organization
and hard work are essential.
He shook hands all around and had
a friendly word for all, but his old
CHEEKY laugh was replaced by a tight
Tipped smile and his merry gray eyes
had a new, cold CLEAN. He was pleas
ant enough but strangely brusque and
businesslike. He told the office force
that he was glad to be back with them
and that now he was going to try to
speed up the business. He left them
shortly and they stared at each other
In amazement. This was rot the Tom
Bradley that they used to know. His
army life had affected him very vital
ly, 1t seemed.
Almost Immediately he sent for
Jlggs. the office boy. Just what was
said was never divulged, but II must
have been to the point, for when Jiggs
returned to his post his face was al
most as red as his hair and he began
to reform his young life forthwith.
"He thinks he's stin In the army, /
guess" he told his idol, Miss Hartly,
as he passed her desk.
Then jenkins, the office head, re-
ceived a summons to come to the pri-
vate office. That worthy was talking
baseball prospects with some of his
cronies at the time and was very leis-
urely In responding. He returned In
about five minutes. His friends were
still talking baseball.
whats up, JimT" asked n OF
them.
"Gh-r-rr-r," Jenkins growled. "Get
busy quick" The interview evident
1y had not been over-plessant.
Charlie Ryder, the firms star sales
man, was In town, and unwisely
dropped In to see his old pal, Brud-
ley. His assurance and noachalance
received a severe jolt by the chilly
reception he was accorded. And when
Bradley unearthed Charles rather
slim sales report Of the preceding
month and told him to hustle and
either look for new business or a new
Job Charlie almost collapsed with ~
prise. He did not stay long. He
stopped in the outer office just long
enough to christen the boss the
Bear"
All was strained industry. Pens
scratched busily. T~ypewriters clicked
as they had eve clicked before.
Bradley's new personality peryaded
the place. Even Jiggs, the office boy,
was doing something useful. Behind
the protecting walls Of his sanctum
the general manager was laughing ST.
lently, but very heartily. :.
The buzzer on Marion Hartly's desk
suddenly warned her that her turn
had come. Every one looked at her
pityingly and Jiggs began to murmur
sundry dire threats. Marion had
been Bradley's private secretary for
a year before he had enlisted, and
now with old conditions resumed she
was to continue her work with him.
She used to look forward to her work
he was always so courteous and
thoughtful; but now that he was so
different, she almost dreaded II. New
ertheless, she took her note book and
pencil, and hurried to the private Of
fee. Her heart was beating strangely.
"Sit down-ah-Miss Hartly," Brad
ley said shortly as she entered the
room. How he had changed Before
she had always been marion" to
him.
II want you to send an advertise
ment to all the evening papers, for a
stenographer, for secretarial work.
She must be accurate, faithful, and so
forth and must have good references.
"And after this week." he contin-
ned seriously, "we will not need your
services here. It is my aim to set a
high standard Of efficiency. and" but
Marion did not hear the rest.
Sire could not understand. She
knew that her work had always been
Of a high order. What could have
A~appened7 She did not look at him,
but bowed and rose to leave.
"Wait, Marionr !"
She stopped and looked mp, for that
was the voice Of Tom Bradley Of old.
Don't you understand, Marion y he
said, coming nearer to her. Don't
you understand how l have missed
you while l have been awayf l never
realized until / left here how much
you meant to my life. And now I
need you and l want you more than
eyer-not here In the office, but in a
home Of yours and NINE"
Marion smiled obviously. But I
thought | was discharged" she said.
mo. Marion, DEAR" he replied.
"You are not discharged You
have a permanent position" He put
his arms out to her.
"You big bearl" she said. but she
seemed content.