Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-07-31
WAITING
TOHEAR FROM
BILL
By HoRATIo WINsLoW
10 by short story Pub. Coz

IN " hC0A oOAhS 6OON ANWos
IA In spite of the letters I've
been writing have not
been feeling half as clipper as let
on, and yesterday 1t seemed to me
had just about reached the end of
my string. wanted to lie down and
quit
you see, l had answered help
wanted ad that took me clear down
to the Battery, only to find the job
taken hours before l got there. AS
had walked all the way to save car
fare, you can believe l was tired and
discouraged when l wandered over
into the little Battery park and sat
down. Well, while was looking at
the harbor, all of a sudden another
fellow walked over and sat down be-
side me.
1T wasn't any time at all before
we got to talking and found out his
name was Bill. Just BILL he said.
Plain Bill sounds right to me-
"Of course 1 told. him about you
and the farm, and how I'd been raised
and the more talked, the more in
terested he got.
Finally he said. Say, Kid. its
lucky we met up together like this be-
cause I'm working for the Strangers
Aid society
when I asked him what that was,
he looked surprised.
Didn't you ever hear of the
Strangers Aid soclety2 Why, it's
big organization here In New York
City, that was got up to find Jobs for
strangers. I'm one Of the agents that's
sent around to pick out responsible
people who want to settle in the city
and find jobs for them.
"'Do you think you can find me a
jobr" I asked him.
He looked me over and said: Are
you willing to take any kind of a
jobr
II told him yes.
"'How about being nlght-watch-
manf
AT first the idea sort Of took my
breath away, because hadn't come
to New York for anything like that,
but l remembered what you'd always
told me about any kind Of living
being better than no kind, so 1 put
my fingers on the last fifteen cents
had left and nodded my head.
"'Got any referencesP he asked
next
80 l showed him the letter from
the Reverend Abrams, and the one
Professor Saunderson wrote when 1
had to quit high school, and the two
from Mr.. Buckley.
Fair enough he said, after read
ing them. And how about your
nerver
II told him that was all right and
let him feel my arm so he could see
for himself the kind of muscle l had.
"'Well,' Bill sand, here's the prop
osition. Nobody knows about this job
because the fellow Just quit this
morning. A big warehouse down on
the river has got to have new night
Waterman. They'd rather have a man
Of their own than one Of these agency
watchmen.'
81 see interrupted, and they've
asked the Strangers Aid society to
find man for themr
HE shook his head. No, that isn't
1t. The superintendent doesn't be-
lieve much in the Strangers Aid So
ciety; that's why we're SO anxious to
find somebody that will make good.
SO, If you get the job, don't say a
word about the society till you've made
good. Seer
"When we got to the warehouse Bill
let me go In alone to meet Mr.. Accord,
the superintendent. At first Mr.
Accord seemed suspicious when asked
him for the Job. OF course I could
not tell MIR. Accord how had found
out that the Job was open, but |
showed him the letters and talked
with him till he gave me the job.
'Bill was waiting for me outside the
warehouse and took me TO his rooming-
house and we had supper Of crack
ers and cheese. He is the finest fell
low ever met. l would do anything
to help him out, and told him so.
He says that all he asks me to do Is
the right thing
'"The reason why they need watch
man at the warehouse is not money
but silk. Sometimes they get big
consIgnments worth more than a dol
lar a yard.
keep everybody out Mr.. Accord
said, when he gave me his last nstruc-
tions, and certainly WILL"
LATER
Father, I've Just had a very funny
experience. 1t Is midnight and the
end of my first six hours on the job.
I've bolted my lunch In order to finish
this letter and tell you Of my first
amusing adventure as a night watch
man.
AT first nothing happened, and 1
was just beginning to feel at home In
the place when l heard somebody tap
at the door that fronts on the street.
II opened 1t q crack, and there stood
Bill.
"Hello,' Bill said, open up.
II shook my head. Can't. Orders
are not to let anybody In
Jaw he said. I don't count. A
Strangers Aid man can go any
where
"Of course / saw right Off what
piII vUaa driving Mt he wanted to find