Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-05-27
The Bonus
By 7. B. ANDERSON
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper UniOno

scarcely joined in the general CONVEX
sation of a pleasant chatty coterie of
young people. He was so enthralled
with her gracious ways and rare beau
ty that he could only sit and drink in
her loneliness. She seemed to like him
greatly at their second meeting and
Walton left the elegant mansion of
his employer, John TyrOn, treading on
ali. That Miss Tyron was beautiful
and probably an heiress meant nothing
to him. He loved her for herself
alone.
Then came, not the evaporation of
his lofty dreams, but total demoraliza
ton of the same. The chief clerk in
the business establishment of Tyron &
Co. sent such shower of cold water
over his aspirations that they seemed
incapable of recovering from the
shock.
Hear you've been twice up to the
house of the boss" spoke this individ-
ual. PUT a peg there. Don't cross
the danger limit"
"Why, what 90 you meanT interro-
gated Walton.
Just this: Three times and out.
Miss Tyron is inclined to adhere to her
own preferences, but Mr.. Tyron has
his own ideas as to son-in-law. Two
likely young fellows, and both travel
ing statesmen like yourself, got going
too often to the Tyron mansion. They
were dropped from the pay roll sum-
marily."
81 see," nodded Walton, and went
away disconSolate and perturbed. He
tried to forget Miss Tyron.
Walton managed to live without a
broken heart amid engrossing road
work. In reality he was constantly
dreaming of making great selling
record, and did so. He had never been
so successful and he anticipated with
good deal of satisfaction the liberal
bonus which the firm annually award
ed its higher employees.
Reckoning up the snug sum that
would await him, Walton was getting
ready to terminate his trip at the end
| of the season, when he received q
STARTER, as he expressed it later di-
rect blow between the eyes. A tele-
gram arrived:
Full need of your extending your
trip thirty days. Regular bonus will
fidential."
"The mischief" commented Walton
in dismay. 1T can't be possible that
the house is weakeningw
Yet that was the suggestion of the
disappointing telegram. Walton kept
his own counsel. His heart was not
now fully in his work still he rolled in
some good orders. The thirty days
had nearly passed by when he was con-
fronted with second staggerer. 1t
was letter from an attorney in his
home town announcing the death of a
wealthy relative who had left large
| estate in which he was q beneficiary
to the extent of twenty-five thousand
| dollars.
1t was natural that Walton should
pay exclusive attention for the time be-
ing to this unexpected legacy He
L
vising headquarters of the fact. The
legacy was paid in cash as directed by
the testatOr and Walton left the ex-
ecutOr with a certified check in his
| pocket.
He arrived In the city at nine o'clock
in the evening. His way to his hotel
led by the establishment of Tyron &
Co. His curiosity was aroused as he
noticed light In the Office.
Walton peered through street win
dow. Mr.. Tyron sat at his desk. He
looked wan. worried, distracted. He
was gazing vacantly into space.
Abruptly he stretched out his arms
and his head fell across them in an
apparent state of collapse.
'There's trouble brewing, that's
sure!" reflected Walton. Maybe Mr..
Tyron is ILL.," and he shook, the Office
door. His employer started up rather
weakly, it seemed, advanced to the
door, made out Walton through it's
| glass panel and admitted him. Then
he unsteadily resumed his seat. Wal
ton sank to a chair opposite him.
$50 you're in off the road?" spoke
TyrOn, casually.
Eyes, sir, noticed a light here and
dropped In. Mr.. Tyron," he added, i'm
| PEELED to the outburst by the actions
and appearance of his employer whom
he really liked and respected, sis there
some trouble In the business? If there
is, let me help you, If can"
81 fear YOU can't do that in any prac-
teal way" answered Mr.. Tyron. you
may as well know, however, that if
the house fails to meet a pressing OBJ
legation by this time tomorrow we shall
have to close the doors. Collections
are slow, our credit at bank is fully
employed, rival house has bought up
an overdue note and it is question of
twenty thousand dollars at once or we
cannot tide over"
Walton Gresham reached over and
took up pen. He drew the certified
check from his pocket and Endorsed it,
MIR. Tyron," he said, with no sugges
ton Of Ostentation, use that the best
way you know how"
Two months later fellow salesman
hailed Walton on the street. II say,
Gresham. the house is going to pay
the passed bonus tomorrow" he an
nounced.
THAT soT' smiled Walton, and
passed on. I've got mine already J"
he whispered TO himself in sort of