Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-07

I'm bright COOL invigorating day in early October,
NJ the more fortunate to the golf links and to
motor into the relaxation of the alurng country Bob
Forbes vice president and general of of the
great oil companies surprisingly youngappearng for his
position of Responsibility, sat at huge mahogany fat
of one of Philadephia's skyscrapers
Before him were spread out production and refinery
nTns of sbps a9d most promnen as if most n
scheduling ocean shipments at anything like required
ssgesy sas to meet contract requirements o" hs other
1t was October of the year before the United States
entered the great The Teuton submarine warfare
merchant ships had caused freight rates to ad
by leaps and bounds until in 1915 they had reached
but the Scarcity of space on freight ships became so
pronounced that it was practically impossible to make
shipments at any price, except by limited alloments of
the various countries under which the few available ships
were operated.
more money than they originally cost. These conditions
each arranging themselves systematically in the
acve mind of Forbes general manager of the great oil
company.
Lesurely he Strengthened up. Then with his usual
nervous forcefulness he drew cigarette from pack
his desk, snapped safety match against its box,
drew deeply the cigarette, and viciousy twired the
match through open window Almost laziy he lolled
Then as unexpectedly he pitched forward to grasp his
telephone, and in low-spoken, staccato words called
ship broker. ~ '0' '''N'>N'O' ' " ~
Barely more than minute later Forbes clicked the
telephone receiver onto its noensive hook and pushed
button though the very pressure it could send
his forceulness and vry the wires to the buzzer
Instantly still younger man, whose whole atmosphere
radiated self-assurance and pronounced ability to
receive and execute ORDERS stepped hastily into the private
Office.
'Mac, how much Perfection oil have we at the Sea-
board plant ready to ship?" "There $500 barrels
there now and 500 in transit from Ttusve which should
be here by the end of the week. That will give 1000
barrels 5 to apply on our contract lot for France"
She's that tub that has been doing service between Africa
and the West @ IND Indies vrsbe ri able baEqe Shs 2S
weight tons, your 1000 barrels will just make up
cargo They tell me she has just been fitted out
oil burner twn-screw, and that she'll ambe
the pond about 38 days. Get ahod of the best inspector
you can find, and go over her But, We'll her any
way. We've got to get that oil in spite of HI"
Mac the "doer" of the Office and the envy of the
other young men who were jealous of his socalled pulp
One morning, (just ten days laer) he stepped into
the "chiefs office as his superior hanging up his
SWELL chief the Cupica' is loaded manned and clears
today for London chuck full of Perfection ubrcating
BY George I'll bet those boys will be glad her
tearstaned what they have their trucks
and ambulances because there isn't enough real oil
than keep the airmen up. Good God chief, you've
got to put Murray on the job l go and get
into that fight" Macs face was crimson with youths
fash of angered excitement he thought of the
men who took the necessities of over there of
the just as brave boys and who barred their
hearts to the deahdeang bullets and shells of Huns
until it gets to be your fight No doubt they need you
but SO do l. and your wife-now' Silently Forbes
pleased In fact he st had to encounter his first time
to be dispeased with the way Mac worked He started
tated because he knew Mac would be there in reason
able time He had not been disappointed.
Bob Forbes had always oved ships and ship men. He
knew lots Of bothhe associated with both when his big
business permitted. SO now, he knew the he wanted
20 take the "Cupca acrossthe he knew could take
epbmarine officers.
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