The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1925-09-23
Expect the Best,
and Get H
t@ By we.tern Newspaper Union,
By ). R. MCCARTHY

There waspno startling, definite reason
why he should lose her. But he '.felt
1t in his bones"
Lucille Bergen had begun to drift
away from him, he knew, even before
that internal egotist. Edwin Story, be-
gan to pay attention to her. And when
Story, with his loud self-confidence,
finally persuaded Lucille to go to a
dance with him on Thursday night
which had always been Johns night
John saw his fears coming true.
Walking through the park that af-
ternoOn John tried to get new sneak
Ing premonition out of his head. It
would be tragedy to lose his Job. es-
pecially. now when he was making an
effort to secure an Important position
as head of the art department In a
big new firm.
Suddenly he heard a loud, cheerful
voice, followed by the trill Of laughter
he knew so well. Edwin Story, telling
a hearty joke, and Lucille Bergen,
laughing. Before John could step aside,
the two came around q bend in the
path and confronted him.
"Hello. John p they called in unison.
"Good afternoon"
ED was just telling me-" said Luz
ellie, "that he Is going to get big Job
as head of commercial art depart
ment. Imagine! And he knows prac-
tically nothing about the work. Isn't
that joker
Johns effort at laughter wasn't very
successful.
Laugh all you please" announced
that confident fellow. II don't know
anything about art. but l know PEG.
ple."
Lucille laughed again. Then she
turned to John and asked him DELHI
erately, "Why don't you try for the
job? You are real artist"
John frightened for an instant.
why" he said. 81 have my appli
cation i'm
'There!" Lucille turned to Edwin
Story triumphantly. II told you So
You'll have fine chance to land that
job with a real commercial artist In
competition
'YOu just wait and see." said Story
"All right, we'll see John here walk
ing away with it. Won't we, .John?"
81 don't know. I'm afraid, maybe
There's lot Of rivalry. you know"
A week later when he learned that
his application had been turned down
John was disappointed but not greatly
surprised. Somehow or other he had
felt it in his bones that bad luck would
meet him in this case as before. But
when the daily papers announced that
Edwin Story, the popular salesman,
had been chosen to fill the opening,
John ragged helplessly. What was the
use Of knowing anything? Why be a
careful, serious worker when only the
loud-mouthed boosters got anywhere?
Angry, discouraged, botching his
work. John put in bad Saturday
morning. Leaving the Office dejectedly
at noon, he was almost run over by a
blue roadster. AS the car flashed by
he recognized its occupants-Lucille
and Story. They did not notice him.
Stepping back on the sidewalk, John
leaned against post. What to do?
Oh. yes, lunch. He pulled his Satur-
day pay envelope out Of his pocket
Maybe he was lucky to have even a
Job. He drew cut several bills and a
piece Of paper. Opening the paper
quickly, John read: "After the oath
Of this month your services will no
longer be required"
Firedi John Simmons moved away
slowly. not knowing exactly where he
was going. Fired! Presently he was
In his old haunt, the park, seated on a
bench. He had forgotten his lunch
Fired!
Johns head was In his hands. Half
hour later he pulled himself together.
raised his head and looked about him.
John Simmons stirred. rose, started
Off in a brisk walk. Perhaps he him.
self was to blame The more he
thought of his past. the more con-
vinced he became.
John Simmons smiled 1t was a grim
smile, but 1t meant great deal. 1t
meant that he had turned his back on
thirty blue years. 1t meant that now
with Lucille lost, chance lost, job gone,
he was going to begin all over again.
Hereafter he was-but there, on a
bench, sat Lucille herself! John sat
beside her, unasked. He didn't even
wonder what had become Of Story.
"Hello. Lucille. just got fred"
"Ohw Lucille looked up from her
book "You frightened me. But what's
that? You don't mean you're really
fred? Why, there's not a better COM
mercial artist in the city. And just
after you lost that big chance with
the new company. It's too bad, John.
I'm sorry. I've been having a fight
she caught herself. 1t was only then
that Lucille saw Johns smile 'You
are just teasing me-" she said.
Johns smile broadened. mo, /
wasn't teasing. Here's. the notice."
But" he added, as her sympathy
returned, 81 think it's a mistake. I'm
going over the matter with the chief
on Monday, and he'll see 1t as do. TIL
stay on the pay roll. all right. feel
It in my bones"
Lucflle's eyes widened. "Attaboy !"
she applauded.
John grew serious. Hereafter I'm
going to expect the best, and see to 1t
that get 1t. I lost, mean l almost
lost my job. lost big chance. /