The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-01-31
Ambition
and Ability
BY r. RAY BAKER
Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Byndicato.)

ssssaeeeessseeessesecseeS
Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
syndicate)
Ralph Long lacked two essentials to
success-ambition and business abil-
ity. At ieast his fiancee. Esther Rem
ington, said he didn't have them. And
those two essentials were among the
things she admired most in men.
"How do you ever expect to get mar
J ried on $1S week?" she wanted to
know when they had their final reck-
oning" on the night he asked his EN-
ployer for a So raise and was told "the
firm can't afford 1t /; besides. you're not
worth It,"
ut can't be donc," Esther went on.
jabblng loose'pin back into her fluffy
red hair. ''If old Wilbur won't give
you a raise, why doa't you dig out and
| try New York? Cut loose from this
dead town, Ralph, and show them
what you're made OF In a regular city.
you've been holding down that Of
| fee job In Wilbur's canning factory
five years for that same measly $1S a
week. and II you'd lad any ambition
you would be manager by this time
or you wouldn't be there at ALL"
Ralph demonstrated. He had worked
hard, but simply had been unable to
make the grade" he asserted This
is pretty good job. anyhow" he said.
"and might not be able to get any
where In the big town."
Esther's attractive red lips curved
downward In disgust. and she forth
with severed relations. There was no
ring to hand back. because he had not
been able to procure one, but she let
him know In words that could not be
misinterpreted that their engagement
was thing Of the past.
"You can keep your good job for
ten years more II you like" she said.
"but I'm going to the big town myself.
and I'm going to make good In a regu-
lar position"
She resigned her place as saleswom-
an In Boorbon's department store. and
week later carried handbag and
suit case to the railroad station. re-
solved to bid Brown City good-by for
ever. Ralph was there to see Off and
to ascertain II her decision was ire
vocable.
"Come on. Es; forget that big talk
and settle down here" he pleaded.
Never" was her reply, steely gilt
ter in her blue eyes. 'It's all over be-
tween US. Ralph. like you; in fact,
I'm very. fond of you. but must for
get you. because my husband must be
a man who has enough ambition and
ability to get to the front In the busi-
ness world"
He set his lips firmly and shook
hands with her and went back to his
desk in the canning factory, but made
miserable failure of his work that
afternoon and for several days there
after. He did deal Of serious think
ing, and his jaw seemed to become
frmer and resolute light shone from
his gray eyes.
Things went wrong with Esther. She
arrived In New York with thirty dol
lars in money and fortune in ambi-
tion. In one month the thirty had
dwindled and the fortune was ebbing.
II she had had folks at home" she
would have written for assistance, but
her parents were dead and the only
relative she could claim was an uncle
whose address was somewhere in
America. just where she could not tell
because he was wanderer.
True. there were many good friends
back home-Ralph among them-but
she preferred starvation to letting
them know that her prospects. which
had been so allurlng from a distance.
had turned out to be mirage.
For there seemed to be no position
not even a mere job--for Esther
Remington in all New York. Her writ
ten recommendation had no effect, be-
cause experience was what counted.
and experience in Brown City was not
the same as experience In New York.
Although she answered every help
wanted" advertisement that seemed to
fit her abilities even remotely. she
could not find work. Either she was
too late with her application or she
lacked training for the job. Thus, at
the end Of a months weary search,
Esther was In dire straits.
Before long. however, fortune ia
,ored her. The goddess didn't smile
at her, but she did lend helping
hand. and Esther obtained work IN a
laundry-sorting dirty clothes!
She kept this job month, In lieu of
something better. and lived from hand
to mouth on SO week, eating cold
food in her dlngy room In dilapidat-
ed house on dismal street.
Then something better turned up. 1t
was So a week, with meals thrown In,
as waitress In restaurant. where the
food was given O, liberal coat of grease
to make 1t slip down easily, instead of
being cooked. However. the patrons
Of the place appeared to like II that
way, for they came back for more
each day. Esther was allowed to keep
all her tips. but the tips were ingrnt-
iating smirks from the male giuttons
and an occasional cold "thank you" or
pleasant day" from the feminine