Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-04-03
CHAPTER V-Continued.

8
Dawes energy and enthusiasm In
he warehouse soon brought him pro
motion from truck hand 10 shipping
Jerk. with an advance in wages tC
siXty-five dollars Il month. He was
prepared TO remain in this position fOl
some time, as he knew that promotion
depends on many things besides ahil
ty. Mr. Duncan had warned hin
@ainSt the deiu>ion that man is en-
rely master Of his destiny.
But Dave was not To continue in
he grocery trade. \ few evenings
later he was engaged in reading in
the public library. Mr.. Duncan had
directed him into the realm of fiction
and poetry, and he was now feeling
his way through Hamlet" On the
evening in question an elderly man
engaged him in conversation.
you are IA Shakespearean student
! see?"
Not exactly. read n little in the
evenings"
Il have seen you here different
times. Are you well acquainted with
the town.
Pretty WE'LL" said Dave, seeming
that there might be n purpose in the
questioning.
Working now?'
Dave told him where he was en-
plOyed.
II am the editor of the Call" said
the elderly man. 1--WE need another
man on the street; a reporter, you
know. We pay twenty-five dollars a
week for such a position. If you are
interested you might call at the Office
tomorrow"
Dave hurried with his problem to
Mr.. Duncan. 81 think I'd like the
work." he said, "but l am not sure
whether | can do IT. My writing is
rather-wonderful."
Mr.. Duncan turned the matter over
in his mind. yes" he said at length.
''but notice you are beginning to use
the typewriter. When you learn that
God gave you ten fingers, not two, you
may make a typist. And there Is
nothing more worth while than being
able to express yourself in English
They'll teach you that on a newspaper
| think I'll take it.
Not on account of the money" ne
continued, after a little you would
probably soon be earning more in the
wholesale business. Newspaper men
are about the worst paid of all pro-
fessions. But it's the best training in
the world not for itself but as a step
to something else. The training is
worth while and it's the training you
want, Take it,"
Dave explained his disadvantages Ia
the editor of the Call. 81 didn't want
you to think" he said, with great
frankneSs, That because | was read
ing Shakespeare | was master of
English. And | guess if | were to
write up stuff in Hamlet's language
I'd get canned for It,"
Wed probably have a deputation
from the Moral Reform league" said
the editor with dry smile. Just the
same, if you know Shakespeare you
know English, and Wen soon break
you into the newspaper style"
So almost before he knew II Dave
was on the staff of the Call. His beat
comprised the police court, fire depart
ment, hotels and general pick-ups.
Dave almost Immediately found the
need of acquaintanceships The iso-
lation of his bOyhoOd had bred i'm him
qualities of alOOfncss which had now
to be overcome He was not naturally
Il good mixer" he preferred his own
company, but his own company would
not bring him much news. So he set
about deliberately to cultivate ac-
QuIintance with the members of the
police force and the fire brigade and
the clerks in the hotels. And he had
in his character a quality of sincerity
which gave him almost instant admis-
sion into their friendships. He had
not suspected the charm of his own
personality, and its discovery. feeding
upon his new born enthusiasm for
friendships, still further enriched the
charm.
As his acquaintance with the work
of the police force increased Dave
found his attitude toward moral prin-
cipies in need of frequent readjust-
ment. BY no means Puritan, he had
nevertheless two sterling qualities
which so far had saved him from any
very serious misstep. He practiced
absolute honesty in all his relation
ships. His father. drunken although
he was in his later years, had never
quite lost his sense of commercial up
rightnesS, and Dave had inherited the
quality in full degree. And Reenie
Hardy had come into his life just when
he needed a girl like Reenie Hardy
10 come into his life. He
often thought of Reenie Hardy, and
of her compact with him. and Won
dered what the end would be. He was
glad he had met Reenie Hardy. She
was an anchor about his soul.