The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-15
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde

Continued From Yesterday,

~ 3NN tbNhft htR r'hAN WV -
these new efficiency experts out
here he would probably tell you that
you could cut your staff right TN
two In tho middle"
l could see that the boss was set.
ting mighty nearly impatient
You are merely turning hand.
springs around the edges OF the
thing you have come 90 say. Up.
ton" he barked out. Come 10 the
point. can't your What have you
got up your sleevef''
Nothing that ! could make you
understand in month OF Sundays.
I'm sore ON my Job and ! want to
quit
-Nensense' You don't mean
thatY-
-yes do. I'm tired Of wearing
the brass collar Of a souiicss cor
poratien. what's the use. any.
way, found a bunch OF dividend
checks from my bank az home In
the mail today. and what good does
tho money do mel can't spend
II out here; can't even tip the srrs-
ants at the hotel without evcrlast
ingly demoraiizing them. I'm like
the little boy who wanted TO 20 out
In the garden and eat wormA."
The boss was frowning thought
fully.
You're not giving me . show.
UPTON" he protested. Cant you
blow IN, roth or and let me SEQ
what's In the bottom OF the stelnT-
Pledge you my word. it's all
roth. Graham. I want 10 climb up
on the mesa behind the SHOPS and
take a good deep breath OF frue air
and shake my fist at your blamed
old cow-traek % railroad and tell
II to so to the devil You shouldn't
deny me a little pleasure like that
IL was getting under the boss
skin a, last. Il can't believe that
you really wan, to resign he broke
out. sort Of hopclessly. '1t's sim.
ply prepostcrous~
Pull II down out OF tn. future
and put II In the present. ard
you've got H. said Mr.. Van Britt.
Il have resigned. wrote IL out on
a piece OF paper and dropped Il in.
TO your mail box ,as I came thru
the onfsy office. It's signed. sealed.
and delivered. Youll give me a tea.
umontaf or something OF that sort.
To Whom II May Concern won't
souf Two been obedlent ana faith.
fu and honest and efficient and
all that. haven't II.
I'D like to know FIRST where you
got your liquor. Upton ina, Is the
most charitable construction can
put upon all this. Why. man aiive'
you're quitting me in the thick Of
the toughest fight the wrafters have
put up
Yes. ! know. but a mans got
only one life to live. and I've al.
ways had sneaking sympathy for
the high private In the front rank
who didn't want 10 stand up and
sc, himself shot full OF holes. I'm
running. and II you should ask me
why, ia tell you wha, the retreat.
ing soldier told Stonswai jackson:
he said he was running only be-
N-~"' eR N@4$1A Akts
Once more the boss grew silently
Out Of the digging
mental inquiry he erouxh; this:
HAS this sudden notion Of yours
anything to DO with sheila Macrae.
UptonY.
Pledge you my word again. I
met shena on the street today and
promised her that ! wouldn't 20
much as tip my hat to her while
coIllngwood IL on this side Of the
Missouri river
But IL you quit. you'n 90 East
yourself. won't your"
Maybe. after n while. For the
time being. Id like TO loaf on you
for week or 30 and watch the
wheels go around without my hav-
ing 10 prod them ft's running In
my mind that this newest phase OF
the C. s. a w. business IL going 10
stir UP a mighty pretty shindy. and
I had foolish notion that ia Ike
to stick around and look oD--as an
innocent bystander."
The innocent bys,snder usually
gets shot In the leg" the boss rip
ped out, with the brituss; kind OF
humor. And then: Il suppose ]
shall have TO let you DO what you
want to--and let you pick your own
time for giving mo the real reason.
But you're Gripping me most saw
agely, Upton--and at a time when
I am least able to stand IL
SIR. Van Britt got up and edged
his way toward tho door.
ITS a good reason. Graham. and
when we are walk
ing thru the peariy gates Of the
New Jerusalem together-rnaybe
IN tell you about H. III I were
really a good scrapper. I'd stay and
help you fight u out with Hatch.
but you know the old saying-cap-
itai Is always cowardly. and my
present credit at the Portal City
National is pretty well up to a quar-
ter OF a million. thanks To the divi-
dends deposited today. Good
night I'll see you in the morning
II by that time you haven't de-
cided 70 cut me cold"
kept right busy over the indexes
after Mr. Van Britt went away, just
to give the boss a little chance TO
catch up with himself He sure
was catching II hot and heavy on
ali sides The way things had
turned out, he couldn't go TO the
majors any more. and now his rail.
~1-S cw~.nf1a tim mas hgUtnuluU IN
20 20 pieces on him. II certainly
was tough. All we needed now was
for President Dunton 10 come
smashing in with one more good
Jolt and II would be all over but
the obseauies, the monument and
the epitaph- At least that Is the
way IL looked 70 me.
Continued From Yesterday
No cure for Il. but welcome