The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-12
THE DAILY
[sEIOR STORY
Business-First Josiah
aY poRA MoLLAN

him 80 When he was very young.
But she gave him this Consoling
advice: always look well TO the
freshness Of your linen, my son,
chime your shoes, scrub your ears
aud you will be acceptable In ans;
company"
Then as Josiah's mother had de.
parted some years since to that
land where the good book tells Us
-at least inEerentially-there IL
neither shining OF shoes nor starch.
ag OF collars, her son never for.
u her sensible advice. Also dur.
the two decades which passed
lille JoSia hwas growing to man.
food, as the pendulum of fashion
jlswtipg from skirts which maintain.
I'd intimate terms with the ground
70 skirts which looked down on
terra fifma as something far be
meath them, so popular fiction
changed its isvorite adjectiyes,
when describing Its favorite he.
soes. from "dashing" and hand.
some" to rugged" and we'll
Sgroomed." Wherefore Josiah had
better chance in the feminine
world than his mother had fore.
Seen for him.
IN fact Josiah Smithers had won
me girl OF his choice, and not
without competition. But also he
had chosen to give her up-and
1uite voluntarily. That was during
his second month IN the employ OF
big Man" who possessed tai.
ant for hiring brains and squecz.
ING therefrom many dollars. Just
by the subtle flattery Of placing
eyer increasing responsibilities up.
On willing shoulders. Little BY
little business became the A and
of Josiah's existence. lie aimed
~ definite success, And he was
convinced that everything else, es.
peeially, fun and friends, must 30
pygthe board until success was at.
aimed.
loslah's chum, Vernon Butler.
fet remained to be told OF the I'm.
pleasant fact that he was doomed
assa sacrtfico to the goddess OF the
atsrnal dollar, Perhaps because 10.
sab missed tho girl so much more
han he had doomed II possible, he
hadi put off splitting bitches" with
Vernon longer than he Intended.
For tho decd he chose popular
office house.
When, inter their second cup,
Josiah did bleak tho news his com.
pa1ion earnestly demonstrated.
sept can't you see." Joe answered
hsrshly, that AM bound TO get
ahead and am willing to sacrifice
everything to it," Vernon stiifon.
ed a0h," he answered shortly, "It
that's the Way you look at 1t, !
have nothing further to say!"
Followed a silence between the
swo friends. Butler, directing his
interest to his surroundings, took
note OF a man and girl who hid
seated themselves alta table across
lhe aisle. The man he knew by
light as wealthy, INSCRIPTIONS
noseur;" one who affected dem.
leracy-p particularly in the case
e young and pretty girls. The girl
4 Butler was sure he had seen be.
tore-but where? 1t puzzled him
until her evident interest in 10.
siah recalled that Il was In the
latter's company he had once seen
ssher Subsequently rallied on the
@!suhject, Joe had admitted that the
girl was pretty good pal OF his.
Then abe. too, must have been in.
rluded In the everything" sacrk
Eicod On the altar OF husircss!
v Y think,' said Butler, that the
\ Sgirl across the aisle Is trying to
Ssettraet your attention, Joe. DOE
Rnced around, answered the girls
ahtmated greeting with con,
strained nod and turned away
nGain, But there was flush on his
eherks ard a trifle Of unsteadiness
N his voice. "Who Is the MANI"
~ asked.
Beverly" answered his com,
raaion. you've heard OF him.
surely? Bad rep!" Josiah, scowl,
ing turned to look at the man
again, He was much, older than
the girl. and handsome. With IN.
Ssinuatins caressing manner he
leaned across the little table. seem.
ingly obliyious to all else save his
fair companion.
Tentatively Butler put one or
two questions TO Josiah, questions
which had to do with the all alb,
sorhing topic OF business, but Il
soon became plain that JosIah's
thoughts were engaged in team
work with his eyes and that the
latter were occupied with the cou.
nle across the aisle.
Then, as though from sheer i'm.
pulse the girl suddenly deserted
l.er COMPANION and came and seat.
4 cd herself beside Josiah. Her es.
scort trailed along with no very
good grace. Jrtroductions ali
around were in order, OF course, Sc
Vernon Butler learned several
things. One was that the girls
! name was Eba Slbley; another that
she and Joe possessed many mem
cries in common which she now
brought up, in contrast with other
memories which 1t seemed, she
held in common with Beverly.
1t became as plain as the nose
on his face to Butler that Eba Sib,
ley was cleverly playing a part.
h Taking no part in the conversation
himself, save when some polite re.
joinder seemed required. he looked
on with absorbing interest. Then,
+ abruptly, the curtain fell. The cir,
stood up, exclaiming to Beverly,
why, we shall be late for the