The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-11-04
TIE
RAISE. WAS
SMALL
By DOUGLAS MACK
&c, 1926. Western Newspaper Union)

raise"
Jennie Mowery looked up from her
work She was pretty but one would
be more liable to note that she looked
sensible. That's better than moth
ing, think
YES" he retorted. "a little over
a dollar a week better"
You probably Jared as well as any
one" she persisted.
1--WE tried in vain to find out" he
admitted. Say, Jennie, how much did
you get?"
"That would be telling" she evaded.
81 was sighted for some reason.
l believe Brightley Is to blame"
Hes watching you now" the girl
warned ."'r-'~- ~
Lee tossed his head belligerently,
but he bent lower "If it wasn't for
our dream, little girl. 1 wouldn't care
snap. I'd make speech and tell
'em where l stand. But it would
seem a shame to waste my six years
With the General company if there is
possibility of bigger money even
tually."
"Well, you know the reputation Mr..
Collins has for picking his right bow
ers from the ranks
"Pve heard about it. But how many
openings are there to be filled? Not
many. 1t wouldn't be so bad If the
wages were so a fellow could bank a
little occasionally What I've got
saved will hardly buy that ring I've
chosen"
Visible affection for this youth
swept into the girls eyes. Your
wages are not so bad she soothed
"And you remember I asked you not
to buy that higher-priced roadster.
You would be quite wealthy if you'd
taken the cheaper one"
He flushed. 81 got it for you, and
your mother Other fellows nowadays
have cars, lot of them finer than
what I've got. I couldn't bear to
take my future wife and her mother
riding In tin can"
Jennie nudged him-too late.
"Lee, you've wasted sufficient time.
Get back to those statements" Bright
ley, the manager, snapped.
Lee obeyed. He felt that Brightley
harbored a grudge against him, and
recently the attitude appeared more
pronounced. "Ofd-fashioned," he
thought like Old Collins"
In his first four years with the Cen
eral company Lee had had four sal
airy increases. The first was eight
dollars per month, the others, ten
each Since, two paltry fives. Fresh
from small town. he had firmly ex
pected to crash through to the top.
He was capable, adapting himself
readily to any task. Freely he put In
overtime. That was in the battle, he
reasoned. In fact, it was not reason
ing, but a spontaneous desire to sue
coed that prompted. But the first five
dollar increase streaked ambition with
cold calculation.
Jennie and he were engaged. But
they put off the date for a day when
Lees income would sufficiently pro-
vide for them, and Jennie's invalid
mother as well.
"Ny wife won't be allowed to do
anything more than keep house, he
would argue.
That night at Mrs. Mowery's house
Malcolm brought the subject up anew.
Sometimes, when Brightley is
grouchiest, l feel moved to resign on
the spot l nearly did so today. I'm
sure l can find another position"
you doubtless could, with your
! line" Jennie soothed. But the
chances are you'd have to do the six
years all over"
I'm afraid so, Malcolm" the mother
put in gently.
you're pair of wonderful girls"
he stated, "but I'm not so sure you're
right in this matter However, let's
take a joyride and forget"
Gasoline and tires cost money"
said Jennie. Within she was a
pulsing torment The man she loved,
and wanted to marry, was spend
! thrift He was becoming worse, too.
! Unless his income grew much larger
their welded life would be a. daily
grind She recalled the ancient adage.
Yet she tried to smile.
But I got raise today" Malcom
Knocked. Enough to take our rickety
old wagon a whole mile. Come on
he was impatient.
Jennie smothered an impulse to cry
out to suggest what his eXtrav
| agance was leading TOTO tell him she
didn't dare marry him until he came
to realize the value of money But
she couldn't, because it always an
gered him-and, too, she loved him.
Get your things on, Momsey," she
managed Then she struck up live
ly air upon their ancient organ.
"Holy gee. you should have a
piano." Lee murmured. Those fin
gers"
"Are just like other girls" she sup
plemented. Beneath her railery
lurked fear-fear of what her prac-
teal mind visioned too clearly.
The next morning, when the man
ager came to Malcolm Lees desk the
young chap mentioned the subject
| foremost in his thoughts.
"AIr. Brghtley, why did l get a
five-dollar raiser
"Tm sorry was the yelled response.
II stunp 90 tO the core TnknOW.