The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-19
EUening Story
Both Ends Against the Middle

BY CORONA REMINGTON.
ST know I'll lake good in the end.
L have the ambition and the know
how-trouble is, it's going to take too
long, and I can't ask her before 1 get
there. With all her millions I've got
to have a pretty decent income before
my pride'll let me take her. Besides,
she's been accustomed to having
everything she wanted all her life, and
I can't expect her to take to the love-
in-a-cot stuff. A wrong start might
spoil our happiness forever"
Roland Fuller walked up and down
his apartment sitting room and Crap
well-chiseled face showed decided
worry frowns as he stared at the rugs
on the floor and lodged certain pat
terms on his wa up and down.
Under normal circumstances. it
would probably take two or three
more years to work his way up to
position in the firm where he would
feel justified in asking Josephine
Reeves to be his. And he could not
wait, and she probably would not.
There were altogether too many men
worshipping at her shrine for anything
like that. Somehow, he must get
things in shape so that he could pro-
pose within the next few weeks. If
he only had a little more weight or
influence, he would bring those peo-
pie around down at the store. Many
said that there was no such thing as
pull, but Roland Fuller was convinced
that it was fully half the victory.
Loads of people with brains and
power were holding down brainless,
powerless positions simply because
they didn't know how to get out of
their ruts. Hence, argued Roland, If
pull and influence would turn the
trick and you hadn't either, then the
hoe 10 would he fn create
them. But how, how on earth did
fellow work it, he wondered.
AS he paced up and down the
room, a vision of Josephine Reeves
fitted before his eyes. She seemed
to be standing so near him in all
gripped the coins in his pockets as
he made a silent vow to create pull
Ito get himself up in the world of
business. After a while he stopped
his tramping and absently dropped
into q Morris chair to work out a
plan.
Old man Reeves was one of the
biggest stockholders in the Morton
Store company, where Fuller was
manager of the third floor. He
wished theoretically that he were the
and Reeves the manager,
but wishing did not make it so. The
power of wishing may be great along
some lines, but Fuller decided that it
did little good in cases like this. Do
ing counted more than wishing and
weight counted more yet.
Walking down the street the fol-
lowing morning a. remark dropped by
a man in front of him somehow stuck
in his mind all day. Work both
ends against the middle, Charley. You
don't know how many business sue
cesses have been carried thru that
way"
The words formed themselves into
a little chant and went humming
thru Fuller's mind. Both ends against
the middle-both ends against the
middle. AT the close of the day, and
without any feeling of shock or fear,
Fuller found himself walking into
Mr.. Morton's office as If his mission
were a daily occurrence
oh, how are YOU, Fuller? % said
Morton, genially.
"All right" he answered, still calm,
but you're going to be surprised
when you hear what I came for. I'll
possibly get fired, but my motto's
always been: when you want a thing
go after it."
Fine mottoT" said Morton, heartily.
TITS the basis of all success
Well, I'm thinking of asking
] Josephine Reeves to be my wife, and
with all her millions I haven't the
nerve until I'm on a pretty good sal
Oil ,, 81 w d5 WA0Ln6E you
drop dead at the suggestion of making
me Junior partner"
A bucket of ice water in his face
would have surprised Morton less, but
shrewd business man that he was. he
never showed what he thought. In a
flash he took in the situation, and
realized that the man who married
only child would some day
use the Reeves millions in his own
business interests unless a will were
made tying it up for life; and that
was hardly probable.
Wen consider the matter at the
next directors meeting, Fuller. he
answered, after a while.
Thank you, sir"
That night Roland obtained an in
terview with Mr.. Reeves.
'Mr. Reeves" he began, ST have
great hopes of being taken in as junior
partner at Morton's so 1 now feel that
shall be able to support a wife and
II want to marry your daughter"
Reeves thought for a moment in
silence, then:
You're a likely young chap and I |
believe you can make Josephine happy.
Go ahead and try your luck" he end
ed as he gripped the young mans hand
in both of his.
When Fuller kissed Josephine good |
by for the ninth time that night she
smiled up into his face and murnured: |
always knew you'd make good, |
Roland, and I'm dreadfuI1y proud of
you"
Nonsense, dear, Simply a matter |
Of pull and weight" he answered |
modestly. ''And working both ends
against the middle"
And much to Josephine's bewilder- |
ment Roland refused to explain his re- |
mark. |
Copyright. 1922. by Mcclure News