Evening star., 1922-08-20

His prejudices were tradition. While
Will and Homer were still in the
shipping room they heard how he had
scorched Charlie Dunn with many
words over the mere slamming of
door. And how he had reduced
Luther worthing from salesman to
bookkeeper again because Luther
faced him one morning with waist
coat half unbottoned. And how he
had summarily discharged Jim Por-
ter for carelessly rumpling the corner
of the Office rug. Noise he hated,
neatness and order he demanded and
revered; and more than one ONCE
boy had lost his job for scanting his
daily task of putting a fresh and
spotless blotter on the broad pad
upon Old Jasper's desk.
THESE likes and dislikes Homer
and Will respected; to legitimate
extent they catered to them: and thus
they attained a certain eminence In
their employers eyes. He had been
known to refer to them as promising
young men. They knew this as we'll
as others did. and there was 4 good
natured rivalry between them to see
which should distance the other on
the upward way.
This was not the only rivalry be-
tween the two young men. Her name
was Annie Cool. and she was four
years younger than either. They be-
graduation from high school, when
she let down her skirts and put up
her prettily luxuriant hair and ceased
to be that Cool kid" in their eyes.
There Is wide gulf between twelve
and sixteen: there Is even a gulf be-
tween sixteen and twenty. But when
the signs are right, there Is no gulf
at all between, say, eighteen and
twenty-five.
Annie was eighteen and they were
twenty-five. Presently she was nine
teen and they were twenty-three, and
a little after that she was twenty and
they were twenty -four.
BY this time each of the young men
was conscious Of much more than a
pleasantly intense delight m Annie
Coos icompanionship. Will Matthews
was always somewhat more, mature
than Homer Dean; he took Annie
more seriously. He wooed her gently,
with kindliness and much persistence;
and Homer wooed her laughingiy,
with raillery and the rough teasing
that goes with youth. There were
times when she liked to be with
Will; there were other times when
she liked to be with Homer, but most
of theftime she liked to be with both
Of them, and said so. Other young men
of tho community knew the useless
ness of intrusion on their intimacy.
It had not come to the point of
marriage talk, for Will and Homer
were getting only a matter Of SIS
weekly wage and even in those days
SIS a week was not considered a com
petence. But Jasper never paid his
bookkeepers more, A. salesman, now,
was another matter: beside those of
a bookkeeper his wages, were munifi-
cent. Enough, that is to say, for mar
rying. 81.
In the fall Of the year, when they
were twenty -four and Annie Cool was
twenty; Steve Randall was killed In
a train wreck. Steve was salesman
In the-southern territory, and Old Jas
per was accustomed to fill vacancies
in his selling force from the men who
worked upon his. BOOKS. Both Will
and Homer were, ins line for the Job.
For three days till ), after Steve's
funeral. every ono ignored this fact;
then a:certain atmosphere Of expec-
fancy began to develop In the office.
Old .Jasper was In bed at home with
q shaking cold, but on the: fourth day
word came that i1ext.morning would
see him 1T the ONCE. Every one knew
his choice would be~either~ Homer or
Will. -, ~. - - -.
On their way home together after
work that day these two met Charlie
Hopkins, the oldeman's son; and Char
lie stopped, smiling like a bearer Of
good news. " I've. just come from
father. he told them. and he added
Homer, you've got to congratulate
VIII this time
> He shook will by = the hand and
\ Homer: Baid:
YOU'RE going to get 1t. Will. Good
for you. ! sure am glad"
Will looked at the other and there
wasia faint mist in his eyes. II know
you are. Homer" he said. "Td, have
been just as glad for YOU" ="
Nevertheless, both knew that this
moment must always mark tho part
ing Of their, ways. Thus far they
had gone shoulder to. shoulder; shere-
after. one would lead. g A10. both