The Bossier banner., 1922-07-13

the aisle pushing huge DOx Oh
wheels. It was filled with shavfngs.
"Where's that stun golng" Ames
wanted to know. He stopped the boy
and reached his hand In the box.
.sTo the boiler ROOM" Tommy told
him.
Ames fished around in the shavfngs.
He brought out strip Of oak two
feet long, two inches thick, three
inches wide at the butt and an inch
wide at the point. He found three
others just like 1t.
'You send lot of these pieces to
the fire, suppose" he surmised.
"Stacks and stacks Of them," wof-
ried Tommy. sits the best oak we
can buy. and 1t seems criminal
waste: but It's apparently unavoid-
able. They're trimmed from the edges
of the slaves, and the lumber can't be
cut any more economically, because
we must have the grain running
straight"
"True enough" admitted Ames,
"but something should be made Of
these pieces"
II suggested that" and Tommy
wrinkled his brow. 1.-The superintend-
ent and the manager laughed at the
idea. They claim we'd scatter our
force in making q market for another
product. They've run this plant for
years and years, and they know all
about 1t. don't"
'They were in financial difficulties
when they got you, weren't they?"
"Yes, but there was time when
they made a good profit. They've
been cramped for capital here lately. !"
"Whyw asked Ames.
Il don't know" mused Tommy.
"The big cramp came right after
they enlarged the plant. guess
they oyerplayed themselves; then they
ran into heavy competition"
II understand 1t now," nodded
Ames. "They did all their big manu-.
featuring in this room. When they
enlarged the plant they didn't re
arrange the machinery"
A0 tuCy bO1ACu NV 0ye AAS OuPVAAh
tendent, a wrinkled-faced old man
with a white mustache, came up t.
them and Tommy introduced him.
"Mr. Ames is studying our method.
of production" Tommy explained
''Are you familiar with the churT
businessy inquired the superintend
| ent, with ill-concealed resentment.
Il never saw a churn factory be
FORE" confessed Ames with a laugh.
"Oh," said the superintendent will
q snort of amusement.
When Tommy and Ames returne,
from their inspection Of the plant the.
found the superintendent In the Offic
with the manager, large, retl-face'
man, who was addicted to shir
sleeves and who chewed cigars. Tn
superintendent was leaning on the
corner OF the managers desk and bot
turned with displeasure as Tomm,
came in. The superintendent nOdde
and returned to the factory. Tomm
a ah a}e tha hiahafel
giving Ames thorough sizing up
"Brinley has just been telling M
that you were giving Tommy SOM
! expert advice. What do you think o
our plant, Mr.. Ames?"
frankly. It's pretty bad" he began
You should shut down your shop TO
about q month and rearrange all you
effective machinery"
Tho m0nurow lcn~oI9 A,.p.
chair and looked at Ames through
heavy-lidded eyes.
do you like the color Of the new
rug Tommy put down" he insolentl,
inquired.
Ames rose.
Il came here to talk business" he
stated.
'Who invited your
Il did," unexpectedly declared
Tommy. There's something wrong
with this factory, Lasset, and I'm go
ing to find out why the Reverse Gear
people can undersell u.s."
"Mr. Ames Is as ignorant of a
churn factory as you are," retorted
Lasset. @You look after the finances.
Tommy, and we'll tend to the fac
tory"
Tommy studied the manager un-
smilingly.
I've made an unfortunate impress
sion on you, Lasset," he presently oh
served. you think I'm a saphead,
because you got my money into this
concern; but want you to always
remember that came along with the
money; and, by jfnks, I'm going to
see that get my moneys worth.
Come on, Ames, wen take spin. ]
want you to talk to me-"