The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-16
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1923
He Was b
1 Dreamer
By ANTHONY RE1MERT

|
desk"
"rd like to know Why" said
johnson holly.
"Since you ask me-" replied the
manager. suavely, II will explain
that you are q dreamer, and q
dreamer, Mr. Johnson, has no place
In business organization" I
That was perfectly true. Johnson
was, in his of hours, an aspiring
novelist. He was always dreaming
plots instead Of attending to his
/. duties as $25 clerk.
n The least thing started the
wheels whirring In his head. And
now, in consequence, he was fred.
And he had just $500 in the world.
And even that was only luck. "A
maiden aunt had left It to him .
week before, and that was the sole
reason why 1t still resided In -
bank.
I'm through" said johnson, -
he went down the stairs into the
street. "But I'm going to see my
moneys worth"
He drew his $500 out Of the bank
that afternoon. He meant to have
a royal time on It, and then either
to become a tramp or to shoot HIM
self-he hadn't decided which.
He moved to the Ritz-Vander-
pool, which everyone knows Is the
fashionable hotel par excellence.
He bought q ready-made dress suit
and q stiff white shirt and put
them on. He mingled among the
crowds. Nobody would have guessed
that he was just discharged clerk,
with exactly a. hundred and thirty
two dollars and twenty three cents
In the world.
"What's all the crowdr' he asked
one of the desk clerks.
"Public banquet Of the Red
Cross association" the clerk re-
piled. "Tickets flfty-dollars."
johnson bought one and was as
signed to q table In the Venetian
dining room. On his left was the
most beautiful girl he had ever
seen. On her left was portly old
gentleman-but johnson paid little
attention to him.
In q few minutes he had fallen
into conversation with the girl. BY
|. the time the entree was served he
had told her his life history-all ex-
cept the part about being fired. Be-
fore the joints had yielded to the
game he had pressed her hand
!, under the table. Never before had
he been so passlonately In love.
And she was in love with him.
That was the miracle Of It. They
knew from the first glance that
they were made for each other.
II must see you again."
"You must call next Sunday" She
whispered. 1--WE live at"
Suddenly shots were heard. a
haggard, wild-eyed man staggered
down the hall, waving a couple Of
automatics, which he presented at
various persons Unfortunately.
So paralyzed were all BY this
outbreak that the diners sat as II
petrifed. The wild-eyad man
stopped in front of the old gentle
man on the girls left.
: ''Bourgeoisie! You diel" he
howled, aiming the weapon at bis
breast. -,Sss
In an instant johnson had leaped
at him and wrested the weapon
away. A moment later the attend
ants had him In charge.
The girl was clinging round the
old gentleman's neck. "Oh, Daddy,
he's saved youths gentleman"
she stammered incoherently.
Then johnson had the shock Of
his life. He recognized the, old
gentleman as Mr.. Briggs. the head
Haven't 1\seen you before,-
! asked Mr.. Briggs, q little later,
when the three were seated In the
lobby of the hotel. and the hubub
was over.
I'll formerly was employed
With your Arm" johnson STAN
mered.
& "Formerly7 Do you mean to say
Nthey let you GOT" demanded Mr..
Briggs.
II had a little misunderstanding
with Mr.. Simpson"-Johnson began.
Nonsense, nonsense" said the
old gentleman. II don't allow mis-
understandings in the Office.
shall see Simpson In the morning.
AS a matter of fact, my confidential
Z secretary Is leaving me. and the
least I can do"
"That will be all, Mr.. johnson, !"
said the manager. # i'>. a,
johnson shook himself free from
his dream. He turned and made his
way toward the cashiers desk. He
was glad Of his salary, for he had
only two dellars In the world, and
he had never had an aunt.
O. 1873. Westsrn Nswspspsr Ualonl