The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-07-21
Firing Old
Henry
BY MATTHEW cLAYPoLE

lien, we calls him mere. WORK. Nav,
Hen don't work What'd he want to
work for when he's been here nigh
upon forty years? No, he jest peters,
Hen doesW
Young Mr.. Barrett surveyed the dod.
derlng old figure with frown.
Doesn't he do anythlng?" he asked.
"Oh. well, If you call mixing the
pickles after they've been prepared
well, yes, Hen does that. Won't LET
no one into the mixing room, neither.
But don't call that work.
Young Mr.. Barrett didn't either.
His father had built up nationwide
business In pickles, using a famous
recipe, and he had taken over the bust.
ness with strong ideas about efficiency.
There were half dozen old men pot.
tering about the place, doing nothing.
His father had not had the heart TO
discharge them, because they had been
his earliest hands. Young Mr.. Barrett
showed less conjunction. Out they
went, to make way for young, eff
Client and, incidentally cheaper girls.
who hustled about their Jobs In the
way young Mr.. Barrett liked.
Old Henry would have to 90. An
automatic mixer OF course. was what
they wanted, not dodderlng old man.
scooplng up the ingredients out OF
different barrels.
He talked 1t over with Claxon, the
manager.
1.-THE reduction In the wages bill will
look well to the shareholders" he
said.
Shareholders" shifted Claxon.
"There amt none worth speaking OF.
except that old woman In the country.
who owns fiftyone per cent Of the
stock"
THAT'S awkward" said Barrett. ~
wonder why my father allowed the
majority to get out of his hands"
well. they say this old maid
financed him In hfs early days" said
Claxon. "Nothlng's known about her.
NQbody's ever seen her. No complaints
mol Just sits stlll and draws her
dividends, MS she's done for more
years than I can remember"
"And about this man Henry" re-
yerted Barrett. "They tell me he's
got the secret for mixing the pickles
In Just the right proportion I've got
an idea about that. OF course, II
doesn't really matter Pickles are
pickles, anyway. But I've thought Of
firing him, and then. when he's thor
oughly scared. and down and out, Of,
fering him fifty for the recipe. Won
der why my father ever allowed him
TO retain the sole knowledge of it?"
Fine ldeal" said Claxon "Yes.
your father was queer. Mr.. Barrett,
He'd never write down that recipe
guess he thought he'd live forever.
Only Old Henry knew"
'I'll see the man noww said Mr..
Barrett.
In few minutes Old Henry stood
respectfully in front of him, wlpng
his hands upon pickle-stained apron,
You wanted to see me, sit?'
well yes, Henry. 1--er-you see
we've decided well have to let you
GO"
Temme go?" The look of panied
establishment on Old Henry's face was
ludlcrous. Let me so? Why, Mr.
DO ItHn g.,
ever since we started In together. You
can't let me go"
Cant, eh?" snapped Barrett. well
that's just what can do, Henry. You
can draw your pay for a week ahead
and you needn't so back to the pickle
room"
Old Henry trembled. Tears rolled
down his cheeks.
For the love of--AIlke, Mr.. Barrett,
you don't mean that !" he stammered
"Why. there aln't nobody but me
knows how 10 mix Barrett's Superfine
Pickles. I've got the recipe"
THAT cuts no Ice with me. Henry
guess It won't take more than few
days finding 1t out However" he
went on, 81 don't mind giving you a
bonus of fifty dollars for that recipe
although really we don't need It,"
The veins stood out on Old HenryG
forehead,
"You--you offer me bonus Of fifty
dollars for thatl" he shouted, "You
think Barrett's Superfine Pickles Is
worth fifty dollars?"
well, maybe trlhe more, but
that's all I'm Offering you" said Bar.
+ rett uneasily. $50 you can, take 1t OF
f leave It,"
Claxon, seeing the argument was
/ going hot, came round to reinforce
4 the director with his presence.
"Come, make up Your mind. Henry"
he said. L4RS
Jest a minute" sobbed Old Henry
"Do ] understand that If l don't LET
you have that recipe for fifty dollars
you'll-youll start making Barretts
] Superflne Pickles without it2"
"You do" said both men promptly.
"Then you're fired, both OF you IT
shouted Old Henry
. "The mans gone mad!" said
ClaXon.
Mad Ell? Who owns the majority
of the stock? My wife Who started
your father in the business? Me and
my wife Why? Because we hadn't
no heads for business, and because
/ IT'D been the dream Of my life TO set