The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-09
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"You think, Mas" Jimmy asked,
chat money can buy lovc?''
Mac was slow in answering.
"Rand." he said. ''it'll buy anything.
There's nothing in this sentime n tai
love in a cottage stuff. know. I
was engaged once. Then war came
along and went away, with her
crying and everybody promising
wonderful things for the boys when
we came back"
| He cursed. "And then what ham
pencd? Ny girl marries one Of these
] fat profiteers that stayed safe at
home and made a pile of money
while they were digging machine
| gun bullets out of me in France.
"Rats!" he said. "Give me a mil
lion and I'll have everything want
land do anything want. And il
!. ] overstep the law ! can buy NV
self off. John Law doesn't bother
the guy with dough. But he makes
US poor fish STEP
"Mac," said Jimmy. II think you're
wrong. ] hope you're wrong" He
bent over his desk as Church came
! out of Mary's office, talking in low
tones to the chief clerk, Hilton.
The same amused smile was playing
over his features rs he passed Jimmy
and walked out of the main office
door.
MARY he stood in front of the
water cooler, making q pretensc of
drinking, and blocking her path
MARY. ] know it looked rotten. Just
give me a chance to explain"
"Mr. Rand pleased" She was
looking through him rather than ut
him, her dark blue eyes cold as ice.
Let me explain, Mary-after five
O'Clock. Give me a chance" he
pleaded.
1T is not necessary, Mr.. Rand.
am able to understand what see
without the aid of an Interpreter
She stepped past him and was
gone. He brearhcd again that subtle
fragrance Of her hair. as he had
done the night he danced with her.
He stood staring after her re-
treating figure with hunger in his
Shortly before five o'clock Hilton
called him into his private office and
told him he was discharged.
"We.re giving you a weeks salary
instead of the customary two weeks
that we allow our discharged en-
ployes. Considering The short length
Of your stay here. think that is
fairly generous"
Jimmy took it calmly. without so
much US raising an eyebrow. "Any-
thing wrong with my work 2" he
asked. II at least did my best while
was here"
mo, Rand, not a thing. In fact,
/ thought you were doing very we'll.
It's just q case of cutting expenses,
and as you're the last man to be
taken on, you're naturally the first
to 60. Sorry"
Jimmy felt like saying: "You're
lying. Mr.. Hilton. As soon as go
you'll hire someone in my place. l
know why I'm fired. Mary Lowell
did it. She had me hired and she
had me fired" ia
Instead, he turned silently and
walked out of Hilton's office back
to his desk.
"Mac," he said, "I'm fired"
Mac said nothing, but gazed alb
stractedly toward Hilton's office and
clicked his pen against his teeth.
"Mas," said Jimmy q little later,
"blast them all. Do you hear?"
He was clearing his desk when
Macs hand fell on his shoulder. He
could feel the grip gradually tighten
until the flesh ached under the
pressure of Macs fingers.
Mae stood like tat for some time.
Taea he turned silently and hobbled
away. . His bullet-shattered leg
was stiff as ramrod from ankle to
hip.
Inside the chief clerks Of
flee, Mr.. Hilton was debating to his
secretary.
"A memorandum to the cashier.
Miss Lowell, to the effect that Mr..
Rand has been taken off the pay
roll"
Her flying pencil stopped and slip
ped from her fingers. The short
hand characters in her notebook be-
came suddenly a meaningless array
of hieroglyphics.
"Another memorandum, Miss Lo-
we'll. to the auditor"
She recovered her pencil. It be-
gan again to move swiftly over the
page. in rhythm to his voice.
When he had finished debating
she ran to the outer office and looked
toward Jimmy's desk. He had left.
The office was empty. She gazed
for q long time at t,c door through
which he had gone.
Jimmy walked to his room through
streets crowded with home going
workers. He walked without see-
ing, unmindful of the way he was
jostled in the crowds.
He said aloud: "Why was / fired?
She condemned me without hearing
me. She Judged me without trial"
He said again and again: "Why was
! fired? Why was q fired I"
He climbed the stairs to his room
and found a telegram on the dresser.
Absently he opened the yellow en-
velope and noticed that il was from
Detective Mooney.
He heard the shrill voice Of Mrs.
King. the landlady, calling up tho
stairs. Telephone, Mr.. Rand"
He picked up the receiver. "Hcllo."
he said.
A mans voice answered. ."Hello
--Rand?"
eyes, this is Rand"
"Rand. this is Lieutenant O'Day
at headquarters. Come down here
right away"
(To BE Contiaucd)