Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-07-21
]. Firing !; j !, j Old !: ] |,
\. Henry 4 /
By MATTHEW cLAYPoLE

1OuuS MI. Barrett didn't either.
His father had built up a nationwide
business In pickles, using a famous
recipe, and he had taken over the busi-
ness with strong ideas about efficiency.
There were half a 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
cfent and, incidentally, cheaper girls,
who hustled about their jobs in the
way young Mr.. Barrett liked.
Old Henry would have to 20. An
automatic mixer, of course, was what
they wanted, not doddering old man,
scooping up the ingredients out of
different barrels.
He talked it over with Claxon, the
manager.
1.-THE reduction in the wages bill will
look we'll to the shareholders" he
said.
shareholders? shifted Claxon.
"There amt none worth speaking Of,
except that old woman in the country,
who owns fiftyon per cent of the
STOCK"
"That's awkward" said Barrett. II
wonder why my father allowed the
majority to get out Of his hands,"
"Well, they say this old maid
financed him in his early days." said
Claxon. 'Nothing's known about her.
Nobody's ever seen her. No complaints
no! Just sits still and draws her
dividends, as she's done for more
years than I can remember"
"And about this man Henry" re-
verified 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, 1t
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 ideal" said Claxon. Eyes,
your father was queer, Mr.. Barrett.
He'd never write down that recipe;
guess he thought he'd live forever.
Only Old Henry knew"
"1'11 see the man now!' said Mr..
Barrett.
In a few minutes Old Henry stood
respectfully in front Of him, wiping
his hands upon pickle-stained apron.
"YOu wanted to see me, STRIP
"Well, yes, Henry. I-er-you see
we've decided Wen have to let you
60"
"Lemme go?' The look of panied
establishment on Old Henry's face was
ludicrous. "Let me go? Why, Mr..
Barrett, I've been with your father
ever since we started in together. You
can't let me CO."
Cant, eh?" snapped Barrett. swell,
that's just what can do, Henry. You
can draw your pay for a week ahead
and you needn't go back to the pickle
ROOM"
Old Henry trembled Tears rolled
down his cheeks.
'For the love of-Mike, Mr.. Barrett,
you don't mean that" he stammered.
''Why, there amt nobody but me
knows how to mix Barrett's Superfine
Pickles. I've got the recipe"
"That cuts no ice with me, Henry.
guess it won't take more than a few
days finding it out. However," he
went on, II 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 Henry's
forehead.
"You--you offer me bonus Of fifty
dollars for that!'' he shouted. 'You
think Barrett's Superfine Pickles is
worth fifty dollars?"
"Well, maybe a trifle more, but
that's all I'm offering you," said Bar
rett uneasily. $50 you can take it or
leave it,
Claxon, seeing the argument was
going hot, came round to reinforce
the director with his presence.
Come, make up your mind, Henry"
he said.
"Jest minute" sobbed Old Henry.
"Do I understand that if l don't let
you have that recipe for fifty dollars
you'll-you'n start making Barrett's
Superfne Pickles without it?'
"You d." said both men promptly.
'"Then you're fired, both of you !"
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
mixing pickles. and mebbe tasting of
'em now and again You're fired, and
I'll run this factory with Maggie un-
less-unless you change your mind,
gents.'' he added appealingly.
Claxon and Barrett stared at one
another.
"Eer-you'd better 60 back to work,
Henry" said Barrett feebly. "We'll
have to look into this, Of course, and
II what you say is true"
Old Henry is still in the mixing
room.