The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-20
No Age Limit
in This Concern
By JOHN PALMER

"Old" Johnson. he was called, |
and the appellation fitted him toll
erably we'll. Johnson was seventy |
and had been As years with Mace
& Co.
Changes take place inevitably In
every organization. Mace 4 Co.
were being reconstructed. Brown,
the energetic new president, called |
Harry Thompson into his office.
Thompson was sixty, and had
worked up from office boy to gen.
eral manager. "Who's that old
fellow at the bookkeeping end?' he
asked.
That's old Johnson"
"Etticient?"
"Oh, fairly so for an old
timer. Rather got into a rut With
the years."
Fire him!" snapped Brown.
1--WE want new blood In this oFInn-
ization."
Thompson called the old mani up
to his desk. "Well. Johnson" he
said. II suppose you've managed
to put by a little money in all these
years?'
Old Johnson turned white as
ghost. He had always dreaded
what he knew was coming. "N-nO,
Sir" he stammered. There was
time when l had little savings,
but the cost of living"
Eyes, yes, Of course" interrupted
Thompson brusqNely. Its unfOr.
tunate, johnson, but I'm under or.
ders to discharge you. We've got
to have new blood in this Arm. You
ought to have managed to put some
thing by. I'm sorry, but"
MY God, Thompson, what will
my wife do?"
Il don't know, johnson. I don't
want to know, either. That's up
to your
He watched the broken old man
withdraw. shaking his head and
launching his shoulders. "Poor
devily he muttered. "We've got
to have new blood. though"
Old Johnson disappeared from
the Office. Other changes occurred.
About a month later Harry Brown
sent for Thompson.
"Mr. Thompson" he began
suavely, II suppose you've managed
to lay by comfortable sum these
years you've been here2"
"Why-a little, not much" an
swered Thompson. He was Inter.
ested in the question. Probably
Harry Brown was going to invite
him to invest In the company.
"I'm glad to hear that. because
we'll, Mr.. Thompson, we're getting
new blood into the Arm, you know
andAhow old are you, Thompson
Thompson was struck cold. you
mean you-you won't need my serv.
ices?" he stammered. "Why-
why-I'ye been here since I was q
boyi My wife will 60 crazy"
II hope not, Thompson. But
that's up to your wife and You. ]
must ask for your resignation In q
months time. Or, In consideration
of your valuable services to the
firm over so many years. months
salary will be at your disposition"
Thompson withdrew, shaking his
head. He was absolutely knocked
out. He had a little money-if he
had been q younger man he would
have got some of the old hands to-
gether and started a manufacturing
business of his own. But at bis
age-he couldn't take the risk. i
was the most cold-blo0ded thing be
had ever heard of.
He put on his hat and left the
Office. He felt that he could never
go back. Forty years service and
sunmarily turned down like this
He collided with an elderly mar
who was walking abstractedly. y
the opposite direction. He straight
ened himself with ffown. Oh
JohnsOnl
ooh, I beg your pardon, Mr.
Thompson" whined the old fellow
II was coming down to see you, &
ask IL you couldn't consider. givinl
me something any, sort OF q posi-
ton, sir. I'm ct the end Of my -
sources, and my wife's nearly on
Of her mind. and T.