The mirror., 1923-05-03

Mentally, he argued with himself: Had
he been a fool to get excited over Crich-
toms defamation? Should he quit his
present steady job, and go to the city
where he had no immediate employment
in sight? There were doubtless many
thousands of obless workers there who
knew every nook and corner in Metropo-
lis, and who were combing the entire city
for any and every job or situation that
might offer an opening. Could he,
comparative stranger to the city, hope to
successfully compete with these men? If
they could not rise above the status of
common day laborer, could he succeed
where they had failed?
And then the vision returned of the
decrepit, infrm old direlect standing upon
street corner, shivering in ragged filth,
with hat pulled down over his eyes, and
shrinking in shame from the gaze of
those who passed by; yet begging and
pleading for someone to purchase a shoe
lace, or a pencil, in order that he might
obtain the bowl of thick soup, black cof-
fee, and hard stale doughnuts which
usually served for his evening meal. Then
TO stink away into some "nickel flop
house." and there among hundred other
"down and outs" to lie upon hard,
filthy, verrnine infested cot until morn
ing only to rise and repeat the torture of
the previous day.
1t was revolving! Helm Hicks
young strong, and full of life and hope,
in thirty years come TO that? 1T must
not bel" he told himself. Yet he could
not back out now. After his public re-
solve, to do So would be nothing less than
cowardice
BE strong!" the preacher had said,
hut how could that preacher know what
mighty struggle it might prove to be?
1t is easy for man to say, "Be strong!
Carve out, for yourself, career Sof
wealth, power, independence, and infu-
ence in life" 1t is very easy to counsel
others when you run no risk yourself,
but could that man Crichton fight the
same battle and win? Thus the youth
argued cynically with himself, and then
came new courage. "By thunder, I'll show
that pesky preacher, and all the world,
the sort of stuff Jim Hicks is made of"
And, with his decision once made, he
finally fell asleep.
The following morning found Jim at
the station as the train pulled in. With
a ticket to Metropolis in his pocket and
what articles, he might temporarily need
all packed in suitcase, he boarded the
train and found himself seat beside an
old gentleman in the day coach. After a
few moments conversations Jim learned
that the elderly man had been visiting a
married son who lived few stations
beyond Butler, and was now returning
to the city, where he was employed in
factory which produced automobile ac
cessories, principally oil pumps and oil
gauges. Inquiry, brought out the fact
that men were constantly leaving, and
others being hired at this establishment
and MIR. Brown, the informant, suggested
that Jim might find work there.
"By the way, do you happen to belong
to any fraternal order ?" ,asked Brown.
"No not yet" replied Jim.
"Well, friend, you would find it great
advantage to you if you did. l belong
to the Illustrious and Independent Order
of Queer Men, and it's certainly fine
thing, a splendid brotherhood, and with
lodges all over the country. It's not an
insurance order at all, just fraternal. OF
course there are sick benfts of four dol
lars per week paid when member is i'll,
and also the sum of fifty dollars in case
of DEATH" remarked Mr.. Brown.
"What are the dues, and the initiation
fees" asked Jim.
The initiation fee is fifty dollars, and