Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-06-30
Mr. Van Britt hooked his thumbs

efficient operating outfit here, what
with Perkins and Brant and Conway
handling the three divisions as self
contained units. You don't need a
general superintendent any more than
a monkey needs two tails"
"What are you driving atT was
the curt demand.
We'll, suppose we say ~retrenchment,
for one thing. As I size 1t up, you
might just as well be saving my salary.
1t would buy a good many new cross
ties In the course Of a year"
"That's all bunk, and you know IT."
snapped the boss. "The organization
as 1t stands hasn't a single stick Of
dead wood in 1t. You know very well
that a railroad the size Of the Short
Line can't run without an individual
head Of the operating department"
Mr.. Van Britt laughed a little at
that.
IF you should get some one Of these
new efficiency experts out here he
would probably tell you that you could
cut your staff right in two in the
middle"
I could see that the boss was get
ting mighty nearly impatient.
"You are merely turning h~andsprings
around the edges Of the thing you have
come to say, Upton" he barked out.
Come to the poiht, can't you? What
have you got up your sleeve?"
"Nothing that I could make you
understand In a month Of Sundays.
Tn sore on my job and I want to.
quit"
"Nonsense! You don't mean that?''
Eyes, I do. I'm tired Of wearing
the brass collar of a soulless corpora
ton. What's the use, anyway? 1 found
a bunch of dividend checks from my
bank at home in the mail to-day, and
what good does the money do me?
I can't spend it out here; can't even
tip the servants at the hotel without
everlastingly demoralizing them. I'm
like the little boy who wanted to go
out In the garden and eat worms"
The boss was frowning thoughtfnlly.
"You're not. giving me a show, Up
ton" he protested. Cant you blow
the froth off and let me see what's
in the bottom Of the stein?"
"Pledge you my word, it's all froth,
Graham. / want to climb up on the
mesa behind the shops, and take a
good deep breath of free air and shake
my fist at your blamed old cow-track
Of railroad and tell it to go to the
devil. You shouldn't deny me a little
pleasure like that"
1t was getting under the boss skin
at last. II can't believe that you
really want to resign he broke out,
sort Of hopelessly. tits simply pre-.
posterousw
"Pull it down out Of the future and
put it in the present, and you've got
It," said Mr.. Van Britt: 81 have re
signed. I wrote it out on a piece Of
paper and dropped it into your mai
box as I came through the outer office
It's signed, sealed, and delivered. You'll
give me a testimonial, or something o.
that sort, ITO Whom 1t May Concern,
won't you? I've been obedient ant
faithful and honest and efficient, ant
all that, haven't II"
"Td like to know where you got you
liquor, Upton. That is the most char
table construction 1 can put upon al
this. Why, man alive! you're quitting
me ia the thick of the toughest fgh
the grafters have put up"
'Yes. I know; but a mans got onl,
one life to live, and I've always hat
a sneaking sympathy for the high pri
waite in the front rank who didn't wan
- stand M and get himself shot full
# holes. I'm running. and if yol
.H.'. ask me why, I'd tell YOU wha
;s.:e rt,rearing soldier told Stanewal
jackson; he said he was running onl,
because he couldn't fly" Once more
the boss grew silently thoughtful. Gu
of the digging mental inquiry HI
) brought this:
HAS this sudden notion of yours
anything to do with Sheila Macrae
Upton?'
! pledge you my word again. | me
Sheila on the street today and prom
t ised her that l wouldn't SO mucl
as Tip my hat to her while Collingwoo'
is on this side of the Missouri river.
] but if you quit, you'll so east your
Il self, won't you?"
Z Maybe. after a while. For the Tim
being, I'd like to loaf on you for
week or so and watch the wheels g
{ around without my having to pro
!, them. It's running i'm my mind tina
this newest phase of the G. 5. s w
$ business is going to stir up q might,
$ pretty shinds. and had a foolish nc
t ton that I'd like to stick around an
look on--as an innocent bystander."
.sThe innocent bystander usual
gets shot in The leg, the boss rippeN
out, with the briftlcst kind of humel
And then: 81 suppose ] shall have 4
let you do what you want to-aDd le
you pick your own time for giving M
q the real reason. But you're cripplin
I me most savagely. Upton-and at
stime when / amsleast able to stand it.
ell Mi. Van Britt got up and edged hi