The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-07
"Verv truly.
"BuRNETT q nm

IN q daze OF unbelief Tom stared
ats the letter. 1t came from MIL
Ssgaukee. he saw, but who on earth
was Harold Carpenter? Then he
remembered, that Carpenter was
hts Smother's name before she mar.
ried; some relative of hers, no
doubt. Slowly the situation began
70 grip him.
He, Tom Haiton, was about to
5nherit a fortune! Now, he'd show
hose people down at the store. He
jumped up and paced around the
room. two strides forward then
two back, then forward again, His
head was whirling with plans Us
no muttered Vindictively to him
sell. At first he thought he'd
phone Flo, then changed his mind,
and decided to- keep 1t quiet until
he'd won her.
Late in the night he began pre-.
pairing for bed. With a toss he
pitched his old suit into a corner
pf the room; the janitor could
shaye It., Tomorrow he'd wear his
tbest and buy a new one to take
< is place Accordingly, he appeared
! She next, day looking more like
the owner of Adler's than one of
the statesmen, He greeted his fel.
low workers with patron,zing
wave Of the hand and jauntily
started TO arrange his stock.
Hey, Tom" called one Of the
men, "the managers out OF town
for two days. We've got to run
things ourselves.
%sout Of town. Is he?" asked Tom,
SIS the boss In his office now7"
Sure; what're you going to dor"
Don't know YET he answered,
atarttng toward the elevator.
Whats struck him?" they muir
INJURED among themselves.
Morning, Mr.. Adler" sad Tom
rather breezily a moment later.
Good morning, Halton, what can
lido for your
a came up to say. that since the
managers out OF town for q couple
so' days ! wish you'd let me take
his place for that long. l have
some selling plans in my head to
X ASfA9ANtF1
It isn't customary, You know"
stammerad the boss, totally taken
abaek blythe nerve of the man.
Customary or not. you're in a
r,t down there and you need some
pep and new blood. I'm tired Of
having my hands tied, and II you
DON'T care to give me this chance
guess I'd better resign and try!
my luck some where else"
The boss played with his letter
OPENER for while and then ans
wered;
You can't do much harm in
that time; 90 ahead" III
With elation Tom almost skipped
back 70. the elevator and down to
S6ia department.
saWhat'd you do" the salesmen'
asked as he returned.
I'm manager while Rollins Is
away, and were going to make a
whoop.ng success Of H." he an.
nouneed Come here, Turner. I
want to dress you UP and put you
in that window. Two hours street
dress, two hours loUnging rig
you can smoke and read your
paper then-and two hours evening
clothes. That's all pretty easy, but
walt until you have TO wear an
oyercoat Now, get busy and put
Nm that hundred and twenty five
tweed. I'll choose the tie. We're
going TO make Rome howl all
noht
q was 30 enthusiastic and not
bLt patronizing or condenscend-
ling, sotell the statesmen fell In with
his plans and cheerfuliy obeyed the
! orders he gave without a Hurmur.
Turner had a splendid figure and
y always wore his clothes we'll, Con.
sequently the window was sur
rounded from morning to night
udmany Of the spectators came in
10 buy,
When the manager returned Hal.
ton went back to his old post with.
out 9 mprmur. but he was a chang
ed man, and he waited on his Gus.
toners with little song OF tri.
umph n his breast, for he kew
thai no had made a success.
The following Saturday Adler
sent for him and started right in
10 the business on hand.
How'd you like TO be manager
81 the storeSwe're opening at Akron
the first Of the year?"
Time Il the salary's enough
no answered non omittallY.
49, f.