The Holly chieftain., 1924-05-01

/ '''Ai acH hhoh NY way nDpdt' nc
been getting an idea the last day or
two that these different people I've
been talking to are in cahoots."
John stared at him. Great Scott,
man. he said. "Of course they are.
Most of the industries that are admin
istereG from New York are pretty well
tied together inside themselves. But
the textilesr'
"Wen, l don't know anything about
that" Joe grumbled. That's out of
my beat. l guess II looked like per-
fectly straight merchandising PROPOSE
ton to me. | had something good
that they wanted But this inside
stuff Look here, Williamson, l don't
see why this shouldn't be put up to
you. Why don't you stay on for two
or three days--and earn your divi-
dends?" He managed 10 throw in
smile with this, but it didn't take off
much of the edge of his words. You
can play this pussyfoot game. You
know all the inside stuff"
I'm afraid l can't take it on" John
said. I've got 10 be home Monday
iol o'' important ihSNiih-
The lightness combined with the
finallty of his tone stung Joe to a
flare of temper Look here, William
SON. he said, leaning suddenly for
ward, half across the table, this is
serious. We've got thirty million
pounds Of that stuff coming in that
we've got to buy at an agreed price.
Tt's hpuiny,ipp IN in ~
| got to sell it or we're swamped."
John moved his chair few inches
back from the table and leaned back
in 1t. "Do you mean to say" he asked
quietly, that you've committed your
self as deep as that without having
made any arrangement whatever in
advance for turning the stuff over or
for carrying it? You're in very seri
: Gus position If that's the case"
you've known that that was the
case from the beginning" Joe said. He
: was as quiet now as John, and very
!, alert. you made no criticism of that
plan at the April meeting"
Il certainly assumed that your pro-
: gram involved taking care of your
commitments" John assured him,
: steadily. After moment he went on
! "Times have changed a lot since April
That was the end of boom. This
: thing that's on us now Is the begin
ming Of a panic | think. That's the
general expectation here in New York,
! anyhow. | very much doubt if you
can sell that fax here before the first
of the yeal'-and not then unless times
change for the better"
+ well, If you are right about that"
/, Joe said, after a thoughtful silence,
) why; 1t takes us over into your de-
partment.'
t MY Department.
I II mean Wen have to be carried
Up to now I have carried my end of
the load. I've made thirty million
pounds of raw linen out of stuff that
r farmers We're burning in the fields
There it is. It's good, useful stuff.
, It's got value. There's no argument
about that. And now | say its your
. turn. That's plain enough, isn't it!
!, We're all in the same boat"
''If that's your position" John an.
. swered mildly, 'of course Wen have
to take some action on It, It's much
too Important a matter for me to deal
with offhand. Come up to my office
say Wednesday afternoon-oh about
: four o'clock-and wen have something
, In the way of a program to offer. I've
got to run along. I'm taking the Cen
: fury this afternoon. You aren't tax,
ing that train, are you?"
Joe shook his head. 'Waiting over
till Monday, l think" he said. "All
right. Wednesday afternoon at four
! then"
Joe went back to his hotel, modest
little one in the upper Twenties, with
drew to his own room, where already
he had passed the morning, drank the
whisky he needed, telegraphed his ad
dress to Jennie Macarthur, and said
! she could look for him Tuesday, and
then spent most of the afternoon writ
: ing letter to Violet,
!, 1t was the only balm he could apply
! to the burning pain of his disappoint
ment. The letter began stiiily--it was
the first loye-letter he had ever writ
ten to Violet, or to any woman fol
s that matter-but after the first few
4 sentences he ceased to be conscious OF
e 1t as thing that must go through tht
post office in an envelope, to be reat
. at Lake Forest on Monday morning
g along with the rest of Niolet's mail
l, 1t became simple, unmeditated re
n lease of q coiled sprlng of emotion.
which mad been wound up by waiting
past the breaking point. He re
preached her with having spoiled his
A plan by not coming to New York. ant
then reproached himself with having
h perhaps, spoiled hers by not having
!, come to Chicago. He told her crudely
:. how he wanted her and how unbear
). ably too hard the waiting had become
BE didn't N--ann--- Ler- -LI- crumbs an,