Evening star., 1922-08-20
By Ben Ames Williams

with d:staste and clap his hands to
his ears, Will stood still, waiting
for the other to speak; and his en-
ployer barked:
whats the matter with you. any
way? Come here"
VIII moved slowly across the ONCE
till he faced Jasper across the others
immaculate desk. He rested his nm
ger tips on the polished surface,
standing uneasily under the older
mans glare. we
r Abruptly Jasper cried: where's
your cravat. Matthews? You're not
half dressed. man. =. What's got into
Fyou?"
Wills hand few to his collar.
why, IL must have forgotten 1t"
he lamely apologized. I'm very
sorry. sir"
Jasper snorted. and Wills hands
fdgeted nervously about the tall. old
fashioned ink bottle on the desk be-
fore him. The other seemed to hesi-
tate: he cleared his throat impor-
| family. At last he said:
Well. for Gods sake look out >for
your appearance better than that
hereafter. sent for you to
Will heard him in something like
| despair. The slammed door. the lost
cravat, these had not been sufficient.
He set his teeth hard and one Of his
nervous, hands touched the high Ink
bottle. 1t tilted dangerously. He
seemed to try to catch 1t, but the
| thing escaped him, was overturned.
Across the spotless blotter spread a
widening block flood. and as Jasper
pushed back his chair with awkward
haste those few drops which the blot
ter had not absorbed flowed over the
edge of the desk and descended upon
the rug.
The storm broke upon Wills devot-
ed head; and he stood with burning
! cheeks under the old mans profane
and scourging tongue. till the first
force of Jasper's anger was spent, and
he cried:
Damn 1t, ought to kick you out
for good and all. But you never did
thing like this before. YOU
He fell silent, stumped away across
! the room as though i'll at ease. !
meant to-" he began. then stopped
again. Stood moment by the win
dow, looking out: swung back to
where Will stood.
Look up the Fosdick account fol-
me-" he said with averted eyes
Give me the figures on it. That
iau. Get out of here"
Will got out. In the corridor n
l cvHlo
cravat, swiftly fitting the stif end
under the wings of his collar. H
was back on his high stool before tn
first of the other bookkeepers ar
rived.
When Homer Dean came in. tel
minutes late. Old Jasper's office no!
was in the room looking for him
The boss wants to see you, Homer,
he said, right away"
Il X
400" said Homer Dean the million
~ aire, to Jenkins. the reporter
so I got the Job, went on the road
my luck began"
Jenkins had listened without inter
ruption; now he nodded slow acqui
escence. And he handed it to you
How did you find it out?"
I'm ashamed of that part" Home
admitted. 'win and talked 1t owe
at the time, decided Charlie had beel
mistaken. Old Jasper came In toda
to talk about old times I'd neve
asked. him before; today i did as'
why he gave me the Job. And he toll
me what VIII did that day"
Think it was an accident" Jenkin
asked curiously.
Dean shook his head. Il know Wi
too we'll. Besides, the ink might hav
been an accident, but not the crava'
for he had his cravat on when cam
in that morning. No. I can see 1t be
yond any doubling now"
The writer nodded. "A pretty de
cent thing" he commented. VIVA
became of Matthews?"
Hes our head bookkeeper at tn
ONCE downtown. I was going straisn
to find him when you came.
Jenkins reached for his hat. HI
words were commonplace enough ou
there was eloquence in his tone.
Don't let me keep you. Mr.. Dean.
he said.
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