The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-12
THE DAILY
SHORT s'TG::lR
Business-Firs Josiah
sy DORA MCLEAN

JOSIAH sMIrHERs was almost
as homely as his name. HIS

A WAIVhHu AhGhas AuSlklk6 AAC6t uAN hSAA
shlm so When he was very young.
But she gave him this consoling
? advice: Always look well TO the
freshness Of your linen, my son,
shine yont shoes, scrub your ears
4 and you will be acceptable in any
company
Then as Josiah's mother had de.
parted some years since to that
land where the good book tells Us
-at least inferentially-there is
peither shining OF shoes nor starch.
Rg OF collars, her son never for.
Il her sensible advice. Also dur.
the two decades which passed
bile Josia hwas growing to man
food; as the pendulum OF fashion
5wting from skirts which maintain.
i'd intimate terms with the ground
10 skirts which looked down on
terra firma as something far be
meath them, so popular fiction
changed It's favorite adjectIvcs,
when describing Its fayoritR he.
,oes, from .dashIng" and hand.
some" TO rugged" aud we'll.
groomed" Wherefore Josiah mad
better chance in the feminine
world than his mother had fore.
Seen for him.
In fact Josiah Smlthers had won
the gGirl Of his choice, and not
without competition. But also ne
had chosen to give her up-and
1uite voluntarily. That was during
ais second month In the employ OF
Big Man" who possessed tai.
ant for hiring brains and sQuecz.
Ing therefrom many dollars, lust
by the subtle flattery Of placing
aver increasing responsibilities up.
On willing shoulders. Little BY
little business became the A and
q OF Josiahfs existence. He aimed
q definite success, And he was
convinced that everything else, eS.
paeially fun and friends, must go
BY the board until success was at.
aimed.
Ioslah's chum, Vernon Butler,
get remained to be told OF the I'M.
pleasant fact that he was doomed
1s a sacrifice to the goddess OF The
sternal dollar. Perhaps because 10.
sab missed the girl so much more
han he had deemed II possible. he
had put off splitting bitches" with
Vernon longer than no Intended.
For tho deed he chose nopulari
soffee house.
When, inter their Second cun
Josiah did break the news HE com,
panion ,onrnesilv remorstratoJ
aBut can't Won soc" Toe anawsrsd
harshly, "that | am bound 10 getI
ahead and am willing 10 sacrifice
everything 10 III" Vernon stiften.
cd. aoh." he answered shortly, "Itl
that's the pay you look nj ii. III
have nothing further 10 say!"
Followed n silence hotwoor .ho
ywo friends RntIsE dirs"tInr HE
interest 10 his snrronndinss tool
aote Of a man and TiSS girI e.So T M
seated themselves alta table across
The aisle. The man he knew byI
sight as wealthy, unscrupulous
poseur:" one who affected dem.
acracy- particularly in the case
81 young and pretty girls. The girl
FButler was sure he had seen be.
fore-but where? 1t puzzled him
until her evident interest in 10.
sish recalled that Il was in the
latter's company he had once seen
nor. Subsequently rallied on the
nnlect, Joe had admitted that tho
gin was a pretty good pal OF his.
1hsn she, too, must have been In.
GUIDED In the everything" sacrt
4 iced on the altar OF busiress!
" II think" said Butler. chat the
Isgirl across the aisle is trying to
sttract your attention, Joe. doe
iatced around, answered the girls
Rnimated greeting with Il con.
strained nod and turned away
nsain, But there was flush on his
eheeks ard a trifle Of unsteadIness
IN his voice. who is the MANI"
silss asked.
Beverly" answered his com.
paalon. you've heard of him
surely? Bad rent" Josiah, scow,.
ing turned to look at Tho man
again, He was much older Than
the gIrl, and handsome WIN IN.
sinuatins caresslnE manner be
leaned across the little table. seem.
iugly ohli7ious to all else save his
fair companion.
Tentatively Butler nut ono or
two questions 10 Josiah nnes,jons
which had 10 do with the ali ah
sorbIps tonic Of business hui !,
soon BECAME nIain thai Tosish's
thoughts were engaged IN tenn,
work with his eyes and that tho