Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-06-05
No Time for
Business
By WILLIS BRINDLEY
90. 1928. western Newspaper Union.)

MIR. OLIVER PITTOCK, assistant
A'A credit manager Of the Itsgood
Manufacturing company, having been
summoned by an Inslstent buzz, stood
now beside the desk of Mr.. James
Ogilvie, president of the company.
Mr.. Pittock was scared. When q
man Is forty eight and bald and little
stopped and has four children and an
invalid wife, he scares easily.
Mr.. Ogilvie, the president, barked
ut him so fiercely that old Mr.. Haw-
thorne, chairman of the board, who
was standing at window, looking
out, turned his fine, white-haloed head
in surprise.
Il want you to go down to Berry
dale and see Sam Finder and get
that $500 dollars he owes u.s."
Eyes, sir, but"
mo 'buts'-I have no time for
butts You go after that money and
get lat oncel"
Mr.. Pittock went He had no choice
but to go, and his task was the more
CALLING because credit had been ex-
tended to Sam Finder In the face of
his protest.
But what can q man do when his
immediate superior Ia son-in-law Of
the chairman Of the board2 Pittock
was only assistant credit manager.
He had made a careful report on
Finder, had recommended that further
credit be denied the man, and with his
own eyes had seen the credit manager
toss the report and recommendation,
unread, into file basket
And now that Finders bill had
climbed to $1,000 dollars, somebody
must be the goat. He, Plttook, was
being sent to collect an impossible ac-
count. When he failed, as he surely
would fail, there would be Dismissal.
1t was unthinkable that the ak
would fall upon his chief, the chair
mans son-in-law. The thing was cut
and dried
But he went to Berrydalo and tried
tried hard-to get at least part Of
the money from Finder, and security
for the balance He came back beaten,
nerved for dismissal, and bitter at
heart.
Again he stood beside the presl-
dents desk, his left knee trembling in
Its buggy trousers leg. Again Ogll-
vie barked at him
swell, you didn't get 1t, 1 suppose.
Why didn't you get itf"
Because Finder has no money and
no credit"
Then you arranged for return of
our merchandise"
THE merchandise Is sold and the
money from 1t spent Finder is no
business man. He has an expensive
wife and an expensive motor car,
passion for golf and no time for bust
ness"
Mr. Ogilvie, the president, leaned
back in his big mahogany chair, his
thumbs in the armholes Of his waist
coat, and swung part way around to
catch the eye Of old Mr.. Hawthorne,
chairman of the board, who stood by
window. His look was eloquent {:
Look at what I'm up against" 1t said.
The progress we make Is In spite OF
bralnless work by ineOmpetents like
this person before US
'Then why, may I ask" he said to
plttock, was this man who Is no
business man, who has, as you say, an
expensive wife, an expensive motor
car, a passion for golf and no time for
business-why was such man al
lowed to get into us to the tune of
1880 dollarsT
u nf IN
hang his head and stammer excuses
Then would come the cold and cut
ting dismissal. But, Of a sudden, the
injustice OF the thing made him cast
TO the winds the office vlrtues-cau-
ton, humility, respect for superlors.
His voice rang:
Because my recommendation was
ignored by the credit manager of this
company who Is no business man, who
has an expensive wife, an expensive
motor car, a passion for golf and no
time for business"
The presidents jaw dropped. He
paled. This was terrible, unheard Of
unspeakable.
But before he spoke, the old chair
man took a step forward.
II think, Mr.. 0gllvie," he said, and
his voice was calm and low, that this
man knows his business. | think that
L would be well to promote him to the
title and salary Of credit manager.
Will, in such case, make other ar
engagements for the employment Of my
son-ln-law."
The good right leg of Mr.. Plttock,
which had held him while his left
leg trembled in Its sagging trousers
leg suddenly gave way and he grabbed
the desk to save fall.
Then he Strengthened up, ten years
fell Off him, and his heels clanked as
he strobe out to take on the duties
.,ah IL. nnInru Of a real inh