The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-12-01
Old Jerry's
Contract
BY WINlFRED DUNBAR.

break a mirror, 1t was Walter Lane.
II was no ordinary six-by-ten look
ing glass that Walter had joggled
against and toppled to the floor. 1t
was an eight-by-sixteen-feet plate
glass mirror, one of the finest ever
turned out by Richland & Co., the big
glass firm of the city. In getting 1t
ready for delivery, some one stumbled
over a supporting frame and the costly
mirror was shive-ed to atoms.
Waiter Lane had been in the employ
q Richland & Co. for over a year.
He was held responsible for the dam
age, although personally he had no
hand in the disaster. There were
some hot words. Walter felt the In
Justice of burdening his shoulders
with the entire responsibility but he
was discharged, his accumulated wages
held back and threats Of suit to re-
cover the balance Of the damages
made.
"And about all I know is the kind
Of business the house does and, OF
course, they will blacklist me every
where with the trade,' mourned Wal
ter.
He felt pretty forlorn as he walked
slowly homeward.
There was notable operate event
on the books for Friday evening, only
two days ahead. He had invited Leah
Moore and. although abe had several
other invitations for that evening, she
accepted his own, 50 pleased and
pleasant that 1t had made his heart
bound.
"I can't face her." reflected Walter.
"Tn phone her this evening, and that
will mean-goodby!".
It was distressing to think Of 1t,
and Walters spirits sank lower as he
proceeded on his way. Then a sharp
slap on the shoulder brought him to
q halt, and turning, he faced bluff and
hearty grizzled old Jerry Gowan.
Old Jerry had been a veteran in
the mirror service. but for a year
classed as superannuated, and lived
In an old home some relatives had
left him. Walter had been his appren-
tice, in fact, and Jerry was quite fond
Of him.
"Well, my hearty" he hailed, "how
goes it?"
Bad" replied Walter, promptly and
truthfully. "Pm discharged" and he
told how.
Good! Grandw cried old Jerry. Il
don't mean because you lost your Job,
but because need hand and don't
know a better one than you. Lad,
I've got a big contract. I'll guarantee
at least 5000 for the year. What do
you say?"
"What do you expect me to dor
Walter asked.
"Buy broken mirrors from factories.
You just broke one. you say. Go and
buy the fragments"
"What are you going to do with
them?"
"Cut and fit them to small medallion
mirrors. I've got an unlimited or
der"
Somehow the optimism of the old
man inspired Walter with new cheer.
Somehow his hopelessness was dissi-
pated, and he mustered up courage to
call upon Leah and tell her every
thing. She not only accepted no other
invitation, but asked him to spend the
evening at her home, and evinced the
liveliest interest In his new prospects.
Somewhere old Jerry had purchased
an enormous number Of medallion
frames. His business was to fill them
with little mirrors made from the frag-
ments Walter purchased at bargain.
Then there was some rush business.
The medallion mirrors were packed
In boxes. There was nearly carload
Of them. They were shipped across
the continent. When they arrived at
the little town on the coast, they were
removed to the Lame Duck.
The Lame Duck was worthy Of her
name-an old shore liner owned by
old Jerry's backer and brother.
Then there was a cruise Of 800
miles south and then somewhere of
the Central American coast the Lame
Duck came to anchor in the port Of
the principal island Of vast archipel-
ago.
There were natives, thousands Of
them, and one king over them all. It
was with this potentate that Captain
Gowan did business. 1t seemed that
on previous voyage the captain had
pr" rnnted the king with the first hand
mirror he had ever seen. 1t set his
; i:iHgship wild with delight.
They had no money, no postage
stamps. nothing but banana trees and
shellfish on the island, sheep and birds.
Every native had a mattress Of the
softest down. AS to wool, the Islands
were covered with thorny bushes that
were Just loaded with strands Of pre-
cious wool torn from the passing
herds.
The Lame Duck came back loaded