Charlevoix county herald., 1921-06-10

that a railroad the size or the Short
Line can't run without an individual
head of the operating department"
Mr.. Van Britt laughed 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 handsprings
around the edges of the thing you have
come to say, Upton" he barked out
"Come to the point, can't your What
have you got up your sleeveT
Nothing that / could make you
understand in a month Of Sundays.
I'm sore on my Job and I want 10
quit"
Nonsense You don't mean thatr'
"Yes, l do. I'm tired Of wearing
the brass collar Of a soulless corpora
tion. What's the use, anyway found
a bunch Of dividend checks from my
bank at home In the mail to-day, and
what good does the money do met
/ 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 20
out In the garden and eat worms"
The boss was frowning thoughtfully.
You're not giving me show, Up
ton" he protested. "Can't you blow
the froth off and let me see what's
In the bottom Of the steinY'
"Pledge you my word, It's all froth,
Graham. I want to climb up on the
mesa behind the shops and take q
good deep breath Of free air and shake
my fist at your blamed old cow-track
OF a railroad and tell It to go to the
devil. You shouldn't deny me q little
pleasure like that"
1t was getting under the boss skin
at last. 81 can't believe that you
really want to resign" he broke out.
sort Of hopelessly. 'It's simply pre-
posterous! !"
Pull 1t down out Of the future and
put 1t In the present, and you've got
It," said Mr.. Van Britt. 81 have re-
signed. 1 wrote 1t out on a piece OF
paper and dropped it into your mail
box as came through the outer Office.
It's signed, sealed, and delivered. You'll
give me testimonial, or something Of
that sort, TO Whom 1t May Concern
won't you? I've been obedient and
faithful and honest and efficient, and
all that, haven't IT'
"Td like to know where you got your
liquor, Upton. That is the most char
liable construction I can put upon all
this. Why, man alive you're quitting
me in the thick Of the toughest fight
the grafters have put up!"
"Yes, I know; but mans got only
one life to live, and I've always had
a sneaking sympathy for the high prf-
vate In the front rank who didn't want
to- stand up and get himself shot full
Of holes. I'm running, and II you
should ask me why, I'd tell you what
the retreating soldier told Stonewau
Jackson; he said he was running only
because he couldn't fly" Once more
the boss grew silently thoughtful. Out
Of the digging mental inquiry he
brought this:
anything to do with Sheila Macras.
Uptonr
pledge you my word again. met
Sheila on the street today and prom
ised her that I wouldn't SO much
as tip my hat to her while Collingwood
is on this side of the Missouri river"
But If you quit, you'll go east your
self, won't your"
Maybe, after while. For the time
being, I'd like to loaf on you for
week or so and watch the wheels 60
around without my having to prod
them. It's running In my mind that
this newest phase of the G. s. & w.
business is going to sti4 up a mighty
pretty shindy, and had foolish no
ton that I'd like to stick around and
look on-as an innocent bystander."
''The innocent bystander usually
gets shot In the Leg" the boss ripped
out, with the brlttlest kind Of humor.
And then: II suppose / shall have to
let you do what you want to-and let
you pick your own time for giving me
the real reason. But you're Gripping
me most savagely, Upton-and at a
time when l am least able to stand It."
Mr.. Van Britt got up and edged his
way toward the door.
''It's a good reason, Graham; and
some time-say when we are walking
through the pearly gates Of the New
Jerusalem together-maybe I'll tell
you about 1t. If were really a good
scrapper, I'd stay and help you flght
1t out with Hatch; but you know the
old saying-capital Is always coward
ly; and my present credit at the Portal
City National is pretty well up to a
quarter of million, thanks to the
dividends I deposited today. Good
night. I'll see you in the morning-n
by that time you haven't decided TO
cut me cold"
I kept right busy over the INDEXES
after Mr.. Van Britt went away, just
to give the boss little chance to catch