Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-11-30
"John Smith"
By AIv.h ). Garth


It was like a colony Of ants sud-
denly disturbed by an upheaval Of the
family hill. II some one had dropped
a bomb into the one industrial plant
Of Crofton It could not have caused
more general disorder. For twenty
five 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. to
which, amid multifarious holdings,
they paid little attention. James Dust
in was relative Of the family, and
the business was started primarily to
find a place for him. He had filed 1t
well. he-had poured liberal dividends
uninterruptedly into the ROlfe Golfer.
Possessed of q helpful. sympathetic
spirit, he had built up about him
homes that were happy. hearts that
loved and reverenced him.
There had been some dissatisfac-
tion among the employees for year
preceding the death Of Dustin. He
had been failing. for some time and
had to take long vacations. A dis
tant relative had appeared on the
scene. He was man about thirty
five. with shrewd, foxy face, shifty
eyes and a boastful. overbearing man
ner that awed the timid 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 inaugurated.
"Too slow, altogether too Slow" Var
ney had commented. "This has got
to be regular Rip Van Winkle es-
tablishment. 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 fgr promotion, and this was
Walter Barton. He was just Of age,
his father had been one Of the first
employees in the business, and the
son had filled his place after his death.
Dustin had advanced him rapidly.
and but for his youth he would have
been selected as assistant instead Of
varney. His sister, Gloria. beautiful
girl of eighteen, had been his guide
and genius In home life and In en-
couraging his laudable ambitions to
get on in the world.
Gloria Barton had little interest In
those of the opposite sex. One day,
however. there was 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 that" she inquired.
"John Smith, representing Mr.. Rolfe
through his lawyers" replied Walter.
"He has just come to look over the
mills. He has been asking about the
business two hours with Varney.
The information stirred up Gloria
more than she betrayed. Perhaps the
whole future business career OF her
beloved brother depended upon the de-
cision Of this very uncommon stranger
with very common name. She was
openly surprised and secretly glad
when there appeared at the little cot.
tage the next morning John Smith In
person.
He introduced himself in a friend
ly. pleasant manner that impressed
her at once. She invited him into
the house and was almost dumbfound-
ed as he said at once:
"Miss Barton, I feel that I can trust
you with secret and must impart
the same to you, in order to obtain
your counsel and cooperation, which
I very much need. am not Mr.. John
Smith, but Allen Rolfe, the son Of
the owner Of the mills here. My pur-
pose in coming under false name is
to learn just how affairs stand here, as
an outsider I must tell you that
Crofton has been a sort of hobby with
my father. He loves to dream Of this
quiet, happy little community Of work.
ers whom he has benefited, and per-
haps some day he may retire to It as a
sort of Arcadia In his old age.
The financial end Is substantial; 1t has
always been 80. His main thought is
of preserving the business with happy,
contented workers; sort Of oasis In
the midst of the usually arid business
desert. Your father was pioneer In
our service. Your brother and yourself
are probably more familiar with the
situation than any others. Please be
frank and open with me in advising
entirely on the side of those in our
service"
It was three hours later when Allen
Rolfe left the Barton home. He had
been charmed by the intelligence and
straightforwardness Of this lovely
hostess as he contrasted her kindly,
unselfish regard for the wellbeing Of
the mill workers with the. prejudices
and personal aggrandizement Of Var
ney. The young man made up his
mind fully as to what he would decide
regarding the new management.
Bluntly he told Varney that he
would recommend Walter Barton for
the vacant post. The outwitted schem-
Ell submitted to the fates with his usu-
al self:audacity. He glanced out at
his diminutive car on the street.
"All right" he observed. II fancy
I had better put the run into my rum
about, and hunt new job"
And Allen Rolfe turned his thoughts
in a new direction. I'm glad came,"
he told himself-"glad for fathers
sake, and that Of the pretty sister Of
our new manager"
Precious Mat
We are told that there are but three
mats Of ivory In existence. The larg-
est one measures eight by four feet,
and, although made In the north OF