The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-12-22
Smiled His Way to-
Success
BY HAROLD SINCLAlRE.

|
Sidney Ware started out in the bust
ness world with one sole asset. 1t was
smile. It was true that he possessed
a pair Of especially bright, merry eyes
to abet the effects of laughing re-
mark or cheerful greeting, and the
general expression Of his face was
frank and friendly.
Sidney smiled his way through the
shipping room Of the big merchandise
house Of Angel & Co., and left its
foreman disconsolate when there came
an office promotion. Inside Of week
he had even the icy, stately chief Ste
nographer In tolerant mood, and
the typewriteFs were all in love with
him. Two years later some one had
to fill the place Of an old veteran who
sold visiting country trade. Within
two months Mr.. Angel came to- Sid
ney, who had secured that position.
"See here, Ware" he observed,
"facts are facts, and you have doubled
the transient trade. How do you do
it?"
Sidney smiled in a modest depre-
eating way, and tried to sidetrack the
burden of compliment by telling a
clean humorous story that set the
usually majestic millionaire shaking
with laughter.
'You are too good man. for a Sec
ond-grade position" decided Mr.. An
CELL. Report for a managerial place
tomorrow, Ware"
1T makes me sick !'' observed
Claude Griffiths, head salesman, q
twelvemonth later-"that eternal grin
l. of young Ware. Why, say-it's I'M
dignified, 1t isn't business; tt's-ft's-"
"It's caught Miss Della Angel, just
as it has the whole of u.s." chirpe0
winsome Nettie Darling, typewriter,
who overheard Grifiths. "Sidney Is
everybody's friend and tries to be,
and you're old Gfooms,' and that's
why Miss Angelf Joined the golf club
Just to meet genuine smiling young
man once in while"
ooh, she did, eh?' snarled the jeal-
GUS rival. "Well. I'll bet old Angel
doesn't know It,"
Sidney never knew how much Della
was to him until she went away to
visit some friends at quite distance.
He kept on smiling. but there was a
vague longing in his heart that took
some Of the rare glitter from perfect
contentment. In business way every
thing was going more than we'll with
this fortunate young man. Mr.. Angel
had come to him one morning, as he
sat in his Office, with bulky envelope
in his hand.
"See here, Ware" he said, "I've just
received new audit Of the books for
the year and some system suggestions
and costs averages from our auditor.
I want to 60 over them quietly and
leisurely at home. Come up to the
house to dinner at six mo formality,
mind YOU"
| Sidney was immensely pleased at
the invitation. While on his way at
$50 that evening man rushed past
him as he stood waiting for long
freight train to pass. He carried a
satchel and was constantly glancing
apprehensively behind him. Suddenly.
as If fear-inspired, the stranger ran
to the moving train and swung up the
iron ladder Of freight car.
In getting a safe hold the satchel
slipped from his grasp. The man
made a movement as If to descend
after 1t. Then a glance around seemed
to impel him to the other alternative.
| A policeman fitted into view, disap-
, peared, and Sidney, after waiting for
a minute or two, picked up the satchel'
He placed the satchel unobtrusively
In a corner OF the reception hall as he
was shown into the house by serv-
ant. Then it dropped entirely from
his mind. A fine meal and the most
genial guest possible put Mr.. Angel
in his brightest mood.
When Sidney was shown up to his
room, to his surprise he found the
troublesome satchel on a chair. The
servant evidently had supposed 1t to
be an adjunct Of his all-night visit.
II wonder what's in it," mused Sid
ney. rs it. locked? No, ! declare =.
: He stared hard as the satchel came
open.
! "A burglars kit" burst forth Sid
ney.
Sidney put out the lights and sat al
the open window Of the dressing room
of the suite to think Of Della. He
must have fallen asleep unawares. A
CLINT Of light in the outer apartment
awakened him. Sidney saw two men
one holding dark lantern, Its ray:
focused down upon the open satchel
zone of our kind" spoke one Of thu
men.
"Say," broke in the other vehement
ly, II know who those tools belong
to-Dark Derry. He's here. or com
ing here, and it's his job"
"What about the booty downstairsT
Hands off won't interfere will
a king pal"
The two men left the room. A min
ute later Sidney saw them make of
across the lawn. He went down
stairs.