Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-09-28
AS a Man
Thinketh

By ANTHONY REIMERT

20. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)
ssN FR. JOHNSON. I'm sorry we shall
AvA be unable to use your services
any longer" said the manager Of
Briggs, Underwood & Co. you can
get your salary at the cashiers desk
I'D like to know why" said John
son hotly.
"Since you ask me-" replied the man
ager suavely, II will explain that you
are a dreamer. and a dreamer, Mr..
johnson, has no place in business
organization"
That was perfectly true. johnson
was, In his off hours, an aspiring nov
elist. He was always dreaming plots
instead Of attending to his duties as
a twenty-five dollar clerk.
The least thing started the wheels
whirring in his head. And now, In
consequence, he was fired. And he
had Just two hundred dollars in the
world.
And even that was only luck. A
maiden aunt had left 1t to him a
week before, and that was the sole
reason why it still resided in the bank.
I'm through" said Johnson. as he
went down the stairs into the street.
"But I'm going to see my moneys
worth"
He drew his two hundred out Of the
bank that afternoon. He meant to
have 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-Vanderpool,
which everyone knows Is the fashion
able hotel par excellence. He bought
q ready-made dress suit and stiff
white shirt and put them on. He
mingled among the crowds. Nobody
would have guessed that he was just
a discharged clerk, with exactly hun
dred and thirty-two dollars and twenty
three cents in the world
"What's all the crowd?" he asked
one OF the desk clerks.
Public banquet of the Red Cross
association" the clerk replied. "Tick-
cts fifty dollars"
Johnson bought one and was as
signed to q table in the Venetian din
ing room. On his left was the most
beautiful girl he had ever seen. On
her left was a portly old gentleman
but johnson paid very little attention
to him.
In 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 except the part
about being fred. Before the joints
had yielded to the game he had
pressed her hand under the table.
Never before had he been so passion
ately in love.
And she was in love with him. That
was the miracle Of 1t. They knew
from the first glance that they were
made for each other.
II must see yoI again"
You must ca.l next Sunday" she
whispered I'VE live at"
Suddenly shots were heard. A hag-
gard, wild-eyed man staggered down
the hall, waving couple Of automat-
les, which he presented at various per.
sons lnQlScr1mlnately.
So paralyzed were all by this out
break that the diners sat as If petri-
fed. The wild-eyed man stopped in
front of the old gentleman on the girls
left.
"Bourgeoisie! You diel" he howled,
aiming the weapon at his breast.
In an instant Johnson had leaped
at him and wrested the weapon away.
A moment later the attendants had
him in their charge.
The girl was clinging round the old
gentleman's neck. "Oh, Daddy, he's
saved you-this gentleman" she STAN,
mered incoherently.
Then johnson had the shock Of his
life. He recognized the old gentleman
as Mr.. Briggs. the head Of the firm.
Haven't seen you before?' ssked
Mr.. Briggs. a little later. when the
three were seated in the lobby Of the
hotel. and the hubbub was over.
IL formerly was employed with
your firm, sir" johnson stammered
formerly? Do you mean to say
tAcy icI you 8Nt ueHA4uou Mr. orI6Ah
testify.
IT had a little misunderstanding
with Mr.. Simpson"-Johnson began.
Nonsense. nonsense" said the old
gentleman. II don't allow misunder.
standings in the office. I shall see
Simpson in the morning. As a matte,
Of fact, my confidential secretary Is
leaving me, and the least I can do
"That will be all. Mr.. johnson,
said the manager.
johnson shook himself free from
his dream. He turned and made hit
way toward the cashiers desk. He
was glad Of his salary, for he hat
only two dollars In the world, and h
had never had an aunt.
.' Elsie Knew.