Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1923-01-01
BOTH lends AGAINST THE
MIDDLE.
A Short story.
BY CORONA REMINGTON.
Copyright. 1922. by Mcclure Ncwspapcf
SyndicAta.A

(Copyright, 1922. by Mcclure Ncwspapcf
SyndicataA
II know I'll make good In the end.
/ have the ambition and the know how
trouble IL. It's going to take too
long. and can't ask her before | get
there. with all her millions I've got
to have "a pretty decent income before
my pridell let me take her. Besides,
she's been accustomed to having every
Thing shc wanted all her life, and |
can't expect her to take to the love-ln-
acct etuff. A wrong start might
spoil our happiness forever"
Roland Fuller walked up and down
his apartment sitting COON and Crap
pied with circumstances. His fine wei
chiselcd face showed decided worry /
frowns "a he 5,ared at the rugs on the
floor and lodged certain patterns ON
his way up and down.
Under normal circumstances Il would |
probably take two or three more years
To work his way up 10 position in
tho Arm where he would feel Justified
in asking Josephine Reeves to be his
And he could not wait. and abe prob |
ably would not. There were altogether
too many men worshipping at her
shrine FOR anything like that. Some
how, no must get things In shape so
that he could propose within tho next
few weeks. II he only had little
more weight or influence, he would
bring those people around down at the
store. Many said that there was mo-
such thing ~ pull but Roland Fuller
was convinced that Il wac fully half
the victory. Loads OF people with brains
and power were holding down brain
lcss. powerless positions simply he-
cause they didn't know how TO get cut
Of their ruts. Hence. argued Roland.
| II pun and influence would turn the
trick and you hadn't either. then the
/ best thing To do would he to create
them. Rpt how, how on earth did
fellow work 1t. he wondered.
AS he paced up and down the room.
vision OF Josephine Reeves lifted
before his eyes. She seemed To b.
standing so near him In all her young
lovelinese. and his hands gripped the
coins In his pockets az he made client
Vow To create quito get himself up
in the world OF business After while
he stopped his tramping and alssentlv
dropped into a Morris chair 10 work
out a plan.
Old man Reeves was ono Of the big
gert stockholders I'm the Morton Store
Company. whore Fuller was manager
of the third floor. lie wished energct-
ically that he were the stakeholder and
Reeves the manager. hut wishing did
not make IL SO The power of wishing
may he great along some linca. hut
Fuller decided that 80 did little good
in cases like this. Doing counted more
than wishing and weight counted moro
yet.
Walking down the street the follow
INK morning 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 SHOWCASES
have been carried through that way
The words formed Themselves Into a
r little chant and went humnins
b. shrough FUller's mind Both ends
: against tho middle--both ends agalns,
r tho middle At the close VI the day
{ and without any feelinE " shock oi
fear, Fuller found himself walking int,
Mr.. Morton's office ae II his mission
were daily occurrence
oh. how are you. Fuller" Hait
Morton. gcnialy.
, An right" he answered. stiT caln
but you're going 10 10 surprised whcr
YOU hear what l came FOR. IN pos
slbly get fired hut my motto's Away,
been: when YOU want a thing 60 aftet
g."
: Fine mottoi" said Morton. heartily
"lts the basis Of all success"
4 Wei. I'm thinking " asking 10
r sephine Reeves to be my wife. an,
, with all her millions ] haven't IA,
70 nerve until I'm a pretty good sal
A, airy. so ] was wondering whether YOU,
drop dead at the suggestion % maxim,
- me Junior partner"
A., \ bucket 81 ice water in his FAC
To- would have surprised Morton lcrss. but
a shrewd business man that he was. D.
never showed what he though. In
g fash he took in the situation. an,
/, realized that the man who Marie
o. Reeves only -,ild would some da.
use the Reeves millions in his owr
business ipterests unless a Will wer
made tying il up FOR life; and tina
Vas hardly probable.
. Wen consider the matter at IN
= / mex, directors meeting. Fuller" he an
= swered. after a while
Thank you. sir"
- That night Roland obtained an I'm
u ierview with Mr.. Reeves
Mr.. Reeves" he began. Il hav
= great hopes Of being taken IN ae JUNO
partner at Morton's. 60 ] now feed tina
! shall be able TO support wife an
swami 70 marry your daughter"
Reeves thought for a moment 8
silence. then:
You're a likely young chap and
believe you can make Josephine happy
Go ahead and try your luck" he end
ed ~ he gripped the young mans han
ia both Of his.
When Fuller kissed Josephine good
night FOR the ninth time that night sh
smiled up into his face and murmured
II always knew you'd make gooc
Roland, and I'm dreadfully proud O
YOU"
Nonsense. dear. Simply a matte
~ pun and weight" he answere
modestly. And working both end
agains; the middle"
And much 10 Josephines bewlder
ment Roland refused TO explain his re
mark.