Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-09-15
John Smith"
By Alv.h ). Garth

ia
family Hill. If some one had dropped
q bomb into the one Industrial plant
ar Crofton it could not have caused
more general disorder. For twenty.
i've years manager for John Rolfe, q
city millionaire, James Dustin had
lied, 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
IN Investment Of the Rolfe family, to
which, amid multifarions holdings,
they paid little attention. James Dust
In was a relative Of the family, and
The business was started primarily to
IND place for him. He had filled 1t
well, ne had poured liberal dividends
unlnterruptedly into the. Rolfe Golfer.
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 dissatisfac.
tiOn among the employees for q 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.
Ave-, with shrewd, foxy face, shifty
eyes and boastful. overbearing man.
aer that awed the timid and irritated
those who saw deeper into the shall.
lpw nature. Greg Varney was able
% influence some big orders for the
concern. but outside Of that did little
but disturb the perfect system that
Dustin had inaugnrated.
Too slow, altogether too slow" Var
ney had commented. "This has got
10 be regular Rip Van Wrinkle es.
tablishment. I'm the one that put
Ne FISH into efficiency In the niggest
wholesale fur house in Chicago. and
I'd like now to put man into
management here. You've got too
nany fossils on the payroll. I'd do big
thInss II I was In charge"
There was only one possible rival In
ne race for 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
spa had filed his place after his death.
Dustfn had advanced him rapidly
and but for his youth he would have
Aeen selected as assistant instead Of
varney. His sister, Gloria, beautiful
xIsi Of eighteen, had been his guide
md genius In home life and In en-
eouragfng his laudable ambitions to
ri on In the world. WY
y Gloria Barton had little interest in
those OF the opposite sex. One day
however. there was token Of more
shnn ordinary interest In her eyes as
walter came into the house. bidding
xood-by to a young man whom she had
sever seen before.
"Who was that?" she inquired.
'John Smith, representing Mr.. Rolft
through his lawyers" replied Walter
HE has just come to look over thu
mills He has been asking about thu
Ansiness two hours with Varney. y
The information stirred up Gloria
nssae than she betrayed. Perhaps ths
whole future business career Of hel
BssOved brother depended upon the de
esssoa Of this very uncommon stranger
With . very common name. She was
openly surprised and secretly glat
when there appeared at the little cot
saee the next morning John Smith II
pe44an.
He introduced himself In a friend
u. pleasant manner that impressed
Aer sf once. She invited him init
the house and was almost dumbfound
Cd as he said at once:
@8iiss Barton, feel that ! can trus
you with a secret and must Impair
me same to you. In order to obtail
yoar counsel and cooperation, which
very much need. I am not Mr.. Johl
Smith, but Allen Rolfe, the son O.
the owner Of the mills here. Ny pur
pose in coming under false name !,
10 learn Just how affairs stand here, q!
IN outsider. I must tell You tina
Crofton has been a sort of hobby Will
my father. He loves to dream Of thi!
sutet, happy little community Of work
ers whom he has benefited, and per
Aaps some day he may retire to 1t as {
sort Of Arcadia in his old age
The. financial end is substantial; 1t ha!
always been so. His main thought 1.
>f preserving the business with happy
eontented workers; sort Of oasis IL
ti1a, midst OF the usually arid business
lesert. Your father was pioneer II
sur service. Your brother and yourself.
are probably more familiar with thu
situation than any others. Please b
fsank and open with me In advising
entirely on the side Of those in oul
service"
II was three hours later when Allei
Rolfe left the Barton home. He hat
Deen charmed by the intelligence ant
strsfghtforwardness Of this Lowell!
hostess as he contrasted her kindly
anselfish regard for the wellbeing O
1he mill workers with the prejudice'
M personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of Var
ney. The young man made up hi
hind fully as to what he would decid'
regarding the new management.
Blunly he told Varney that b.
would recommend Walter Barton TO
4 he vacant post. The outwitted schem
n submitted to the fates with his usu
r self-audacity. He glanced out a
his diminutive car on the street.
aAll right" he observed. Il fame.
HAD better put the run into my run
shout, and hunt new job"
and Allen Rolfe turned his thought
AAp now direction, "Im glad came,