The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-02
lhsYELLOW STUB


even got decent job
IF she's worth her SALT" O'Day
growled, his rudy cheeks flaming
brighter. "shc won't care"
Rand gazed dejectcdly ut the floor.
They were silent for several minutes.
! "Oh. WE'LL" Jimmy rose. Lets
change the subject. think I'll be-
going home, Lieutenant" He ex.
tended his hand. Thanks for Civ
ing me your time
O'Day said gruffly: my times
yours, any time you ask for it. By
the way. lad. tomorow's my day off.
Would you come up to dinner tomor.
row night! I've told my wife about
you an she'd like to have you.
Nothin' fancy. you understand. Just
plain cookin'."
"YOu mean it,"
I'D be proud to have you. We eat
about six o'clock"
Thanks. I'll be there"
ITS shame--a damn shame"
4Day muttered to himself after
The shirt.sleeved clerk who had
given Jimmy Rand his instructions
the first day he had gone to work
for the laundry had occasion to com.
mend him couple off times the next
morning and afternoon for his speed
and for the new business he was
bringing in.
Keep it up, Rand. That's tho
stuff"
At the end Of the day he was told
that Mr.. Porter, the man who had
hired him, wanted to see him. He
went right in, thinking some more
praise was in store for him-pcrhaps
even raise.
But to his amazement he v was told
that he was being let out.
1 Porter raised his head for q brief
instant from his desk when Jimmy
entered. "I'm sorry, Rand, but I'm
discharGing you." He pretended to
be busying himself with some papers.
you're WHAT"
I'm letting you 60: Here's
but why. don't understand.
Everybody said ! was getting along
all right. worked hard and / did
my work, didn't II" 80
Sure, know" Porter was still
studying the papers before him. II.
ali, that is, we have to cut expenses
little to keep within the budget,
and so I'm having to lay some Of the
men Off"
| But why me? The shipping clerk
said was already the best driver
he had"
Well, you were the last one hired,
you know" He muttered something
about obligations to the older EN-
ployes."
"Your chief concern when YOU
hired me-" said Jimmy bitterly, was
whether would stay after ! had
learned the job. You seemed to
think I'd run away as soon as an
other job offered itself"
Sure" Porter seized on the sug-
gestion. That's another reason why
you happen to be the first to TO-
Why should we strain point to keen
you here for while SO you can keep
your eye open for something better ?"
+; 1t seems to me-" remarked jim
my drily, 'that as long as ] did my
work and did it we'll you needn't have
gone out Of your way to worry how
long was going to stay"
! Rand" said the other, finally look
! ing up and meeting his eye, "you'rc
just wasting your time here. A man
with your education has no business
to be driving d truck. You ought to
get some place where there's more
Opportunity"
I'm waiting" said Jimmy. ito
hear the real reason why I'm being
fired"
| you've heard it. That's ALL" Por-
ter rose as II he would put an end to
the interview.
! But Jimmy stopped him with a
hand on his arm. do you know
what think, Mr.. Porter"
mo. What do you think?"
~ think you are liar" He had
raised his voice, and Miss Cation, ut
the other. side If the room, stopped
chewing her gum and listened at.
tentively.
Pcrter's face, went white and his
hands gripped the edge Of his desk.
You're talking pretty carelessly,
Rand"
I'm speaking very carefully, Por-
ter. Listen to me while I say it
fegain. You're liar II
He leaned across the desk, his face
! Just few inches from the other
!. mans.
"And il you dispute the question
in point" he went on, speaking very
, calmly, I'VE can 60 out in the de-
livery stable or In the yard and de-
bate it."
, (To BE Continued)