Evening star., 1925-07-26


better description the phrase "easy-
going" was first coined.
Which, as his wife pointed out, was
why Ted acted as he did.
You've never put your foot down"
she had said.
This was very natural after the
tactful reassurances she had received
that everybody realized it was not her
fault that Ted himself moved the Six
Musical McSweeneys into their midst.
This reinsurance had, in every
case, been followed by a question
THE vans had Riley and Norton
painted on them-does the Norton re-
fer to Ted?"
II haven't the slightest idea." she
had confessed. Naturally, we have
never cared to discuss Ted's work
with him, it being our hope that in
time he would settle down to some.
thing worth while"
But she intended to have his
father discuss Ted's work with him
forthwith.
A ND so It was that Ted's father
waited. $50, you're back" he
began. by way Of preface.
THE prodigal returns acknowl-
cuScu ACo- ANY AuShS All lie ICS
chest2"
'I don't know" said his father,
trying to look stern. Z"
Lets take look-see." suggested
Ted
Il want to speak to you." his father
persisted. desperately.
Trail along, then-I can eat and
talk too," Ted replied.
From the ice chest he extracted
provender. then turned toward his
father.
"Shootr' he invited.
His father cleared his throat
LOOK here, Ted" he said, but in
tone that sounded more like a plea
than like a foot being put down.
Who does Norton on those vans
stand for?"
"Me," said Ted, creating a roast
beef sandwich for himself. Riley and
I went into partnership about a year
ago."
You never told me anything about
it."
Never thought you seemed par
tfcularly interested"
This his father ignored "a full
partnership" he asked.
"Uh-huh," said Ted, between mouth
fuls.
What did it cost you-and where
did you get the money!
Il didn't put in money - just
brains"
"What?"
You don't sound fattering. But
well, Riley is getting along. I'd beer
supplying most of his ideas and get
ting the bulk Of his business for hin
and I didn't see why he should ge
all the profit. put it to hin
straight-that I'd go in for myself a,
a competitor or stay with him on 6
fifty-fifty basis. He kicked like steer
at first, but presently he saw light
Which was that"
'Are-are you making any money!
Nothing but. We've been puttint
! most of it back into the business 81
far, but l think this year We'll tax,
some profit. Probably ten thou
| apiece
Ten thousand-apiece" echoed his
father, incredulously. Moving furni
| turer'
Ever since college he had been Will
one concern, the Supreme Concrett
Block Co. He was now it's treasurer
which sounded very we'll. But he re
| cetved, actually, twenty-six hundred
| year-and he knew he would neve
get more.
II don't understand" he added
weakly.
He meant not Ted's statement, bu
| life's riddle, But Ted took him lit
orally.
"Oh, Riley was a furniture move
| when went to him, but that's onl,
a side line now. ! picked him ou
, because he had two trucks, but n,
eye for business. and I pointed on
| to him that the money nowadays wa
| in stealing the railroads business
transporting freight by truck, that Is
A truck hasn't the railroads overhead
| and it's quicker and cheaper in ever
way, when everything is figured in.
He hauled loose-leaf memorandum
| book from his pocket and handed
7 over.
''Those are figures just compiled OF
our truck with dump bodies after
years use," he explained. "They hau
| stuff mostly around Boston-bulk ma
terial, ashes, cinders, sand ant
| Brick
You have trucks for such busi
| ness, too?"
branching out all the time. Hav
to. Long-distance trucking Is al
right now, but something may cra1
it. Higher taxes on trucks, for in
stance. I put this new line UP t
Riley--that's my part of the partner
ship, making him more money thai
he'd ever made alone-and so we trie,
| it out. Take squint at the figures.
TEDS father glanced at the bool
l. he held. The page was closel,
filed with figures.
| "You seem to have figured it al
| out" he admitted, dazedly. What
what is the yearly profit per truck?
| -Four thousand sixty-four," replie
Ted, promptly. want any NOR,
figures?"
"I-guess that's enough for now
But-what made you think of truck
! ing in the first placer
| "Oh, I'd heard there was money Il
it and Ted hesitated. Then
well, to tell you the truth 1t SCENE,
to me that everybody here at tn
Heights was in a squirrel cage-go
| ing all the time, but getting no
where. You're all doing work yor
don't car a hoot about and you're no
any of you making an awful lot o
money
Money isn't everything, Ted.
protested his father
y haven't seen many people giyin