The Crittenden press., 1920-08-06
"John Smith"
By Alvah J. Garth


Copyright. tsN Western Newspaper unionD
II was like q colony Of ants sud.
denly disturbed by an upheaval Of the
family hill. II some one had dropped
q bomb into the one Industrial plant
Of Crofton II could not have caused
more general disorder. For twenty
hve years manager for John Rolfe, \
city millionaire. James Dustin had
died. and there was not an employee
who did not feel that the even, pleas
ant tenor Of his life was about to be
disrupted.
The Star Cereal Mills represented
an investment OF the Rolfe family. 10
which. amid mutfarious holdings,
they paid little attention. James Dust
In was a relative OF the family, and
the business was started primarily TO
find a place for him. He had filled II
well. he had poured liberal dividends
uninterruptedly into the Rolfe coffer,
Possessed OF helpful, sympathetic
spirit, he had built up about him
homes that were happy. hearts that
loved and reverenced him.
There had been some dlssatisfac-
tion among the employees for a year
preceding the death OF Dustin. He
had been falling for some time and
had TO take long vacations A dis
tant relative haa appeared on tho
scene. He. was man about thirty
Ave. with a shrewd foxy face, shlfty
eyes and a hoastful. oyerhearing man
her that awed the timd and irritated
those who saw deeper into the shall
low nature. Greg Varney was able
TO influence some big orders for the
concern. but outside of that did little
but disturb the perfect system that
Dustin had inaugrIrated.
"roo slow, altogether too slow" Var
ney had commented. This has got
TO he regular Rip Van Winkle 90
Enlistment. I'm the one that put
the 'fish' into efficiency IN the biggest
wholesale FUR house In Chicago. and
I'd like now to put man into
management here You've got too
many fossils On the payroll I'd do big
things II | was In charge"
There was only one possible rival In
the race for promotion. and this was
Walter Barton. He was Just of age,
his father had-bee one of the first
employees. In the business, and the
son had filled his place after his death.
Dustin had advanced him rapidly.
and hut for his youth he would have
heen selected as assistant Instead of
varney. His sister, Gloria. beautiful
girl Of eighteen. had heen his guide
and genius In home life and In en-
cOuraging his laudahle ambitions 10
get on In the world.
Gloria Barton had little interest In
those OF the opposite sex. one day.
however. there was a token of more
than ordinary interest In her eyes as
Walter came into the house. bidding
good-by TO a young man whom she had
never seen before
'Who was thati" she inquired.
"John Smith. representing Mr.. Rolfe
through his lawyers" replied Walter
"Hr has just come Ia lmpk over the
mills He has been asking about the
business two hours with yarney.
The Information stirred NJ Gloria
more than she betrayed Perhaps the
whole future business career ~ her
beloved brother depended upon the lie.
cision 0f this very uncommon stranger
with a very common name. She was
openly surprised and secretly glad
when there appeared NJ the little cot.
tage the next mornlng John Smith In
person.
He introduced himself In n friend.
~, pleasant manner that impressed
her at once. She Invited him Into
the house aud was almost dumhfound.
ed ~ he said at once:
Miss Barton. | feel that I can trust
you with n secret and ! must lmpart
the same 10 YOU. In order Ia obtain
your counsel and cooperation which
very mucn need. am moi Mr.. John
Smith. h,t Allen Rolfp. The son "
the owner NJ the mills here. Ms pur.
pose IN coming under false name Ia
10 learn lust how aTalrs stand here. IA
an outsider. must tell YOU that
CroflOn has been n sort ~ hobby with
any father lie loves 10 dream of this
quiet happy little community Of work.
ers whom hp has benefited. and per
haps some iny he may retire to II az u
sort Of Arcadia IN his old age
The financial end Is sui Slantlal II has
always been 81. His main thought IL
OF preserving The business with happy.
coni.nird workers; n, sort NJ Oasis In
the midst ~ the usually arid business
desert Your father was n pioneer In
our service Your brother and yourself
are probably more familiar with the
situation than any others. Please he
frank and open with me In advising
entirely on the side Of those IN our
service"
II was three hours later when Allen
Rolfe left the Barton home. He had
been charmed by the intelligence aud
stralghtforwnrdness ~ this lovely
hostess ~ he contrastrd her kindly.
unselhsh regard Tor the wellbeing of
the mill workers with the prrJudlces
and personal aggrsndl1emeni ~ Var.
ney. The young man made up his
nhgd fully as to what he would decide
regarding the new management.
Blunly he told varney that he
would recommend Walter Barton for
the vacant post The outwliieh schem.
er submitted to the fates with his usu.
al selfaudaclty. He glanced out Al
his dimlnutlve car on the street.
"All right" he observed. II fancy
! had better put the run into my run.
about and hunt n new Job"