Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-07-05
The Case of Bill
Benson
By JANE OSBORN
%. 1919. By Mcclure Newspaper syndicats',

20. 1923. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
Mildred Harold had been home from
college exactly two days when she
went to the office of her uncle.
I'm tired of idleness," she told him.
looking very serious. Now I've
earned my degree / want to make use
OF 1t. Can't you get a job for me? |
don't care about the salary, Of course,
though there'd be some incentive If /
didn't work for nothing. Haven't you
some sort Of work in your office
Uncle Tenny shook his head, trying
not to show the amusement that this
speech of his pretty little niece caused.
You're not trained for office work,
and anyway there are no vacancies.
But, let me see-Tve good many
IRONS IN the fire. Let me see-did you
take any education in college?"
Education IL, and twelve B." said
Mildred very proudly.
Him." mused the uncle. 81 guess
that would answer the requirements.
Well, Ill tell you what you do-and
what say now Is quite confidential.
Among other things I'm chairman Of
the board of education. 1t was In
measure a political appointment, but
my ambition is to take the whole mat
ter OF education out of the realm of
politics in this town. Up at School "a
there's young fellow-principa I'D
there. l know something about him,
but want to know more, a whole lot
more That's bad section up there
the worst in tOwn-rough crowd Of
children. Now, 1t happens that the
woman that had been holding the job
OF substitute and clerk to the princi-
pal up there died or got married or
something l can't remember the de-
tails. The salary doesn't amount to
much-and substitutes aren't put on
the schedule for yearly increase in
salaries, so college girls usually prefer
to get regular appointment. The re-
suit is that the principal usually hands
out the job to some incompetent poor
relation who can't qualify for any
thing else"
"You don't put me in that class ?"
asked Mildred, with an embarrassed
and annoyed little laugh.
"Wait till finish my story" smiled
the deliberate unIe. 1--WE heard things
about this Bill Benson. He's a big
brawny chap, played professional
baseball one season-not the sort of
man who would be content with a
principals job or principals salary
If there wasn't something in it for
him. He got his appointment when the
other party was in-and they chose
to overlook the fact that his college
wasn't quite UP to standard-over-
looked a lot of other things l guess
that ought to have stood in the way.
Now, | want you to go up to the
school and apply for the job. It's the
first of June nowhere will be four
more weeks of work, and busy weeks,
too, with promotions to record on the
card catalogue. l want you to apply
for that job-and get it. But I don't
want you to mention my name or let
on you know me. He's probably had
other applicants, but if you look pleas
ant guess you'll get the job. Start
in at work, and keep your eyes open
and mouth shut. You may not be able
to answer my question before school
closes this year. Then you'll have
to go back next autumn. There's
reason why Bill Benson is holding
down that job and you've got to find 1t
OUT
Mildred had been listening with
growing interest. The scheme ap-
pealed to her-there was an element
of hazard involved that brought her
to quick decision. 1t was decided be-
tween uncle and niece that she would
have to use her own name because
she would need to show her degree in
order to get the position. But the
principal would not have any reason
to believe that the newcomer, Mildred
Harold was niece of Tenny Saun-
ders, president Of the board Of educa-
ton. And Of course she'd keep her
affairs strictly to herself
! The next day Mildred walked into
the waiting room next to the private
OIuCG VI Wlllldm DcuSOu, principal Oh
School "a. and sat waiting her turn
with a red-faced woman in shawl
sobbing mildly at having been ordered
to the school by the truant officer and
smelling strongly of bad whisky. Two
or three big boys, who put on their
good behavior when Mildred arrived,
were apparently 'bad boys"-sent to
the principal by some distracted
teacher who knew of no better way to
keep order In her classroom. Mr.. Ben
son took the sobbing mother and then
the big bad boys one after another In
to his room, dismissed them and was
then about to see Mildred when an
irate teacher came into the office drag
ging ragged young Italian by the
collar.
Here's Tony, come to school again
with his feet half out of his shoes, no
collar to his shirt and his hands filthy.
I've told him three times he's got TO