Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22
This Is q Story
in Which q Young
Man SoIves the
Problem of Keep
ing His Job and
His Friends in
Their Places.

II Robin Vale had been one of several
~ hundred young men In excellent blue
suits and highly polished shoes who
all day hustle from one client to
another, persuading them that the one thing
in life they ought to have is a few hundred
Of the new issue of Brainy Foods Inc, or that
no decent deposit box is complete without some
shares OF No Sneeze Cigarettes.
Most of the times 1t was pretty good fun.
But this particular September day he couldn't
remember any Of the good things; all he
could think of was that he wished he was in
Samoa or Africa, or any place where nobody
needed bonds
Well for the next few days, anyhow, he
would forget the bond business as thoroughly as
it deserved to be forgotten. In an hours
time he would be well out on the Long Island
road in Eddie Haine's car, headed for South
ampton, and a week end at the Haines lux
urious cottage" there. And during the week
end Robin intended TO have nothing on his
mind but pleasure.
Robin, come here a minute, will you
please?"
The voice Of Mr.. Greenough, senior partner
In the firm where Robin was the youngest and
least important Of juniors, issued from the
door of his private Office.
And when, in response to the summons, he
had a nasty feeling that all was not well.
Now, Robin, want to talk to you You're
young and want to see you make a success.
But you've been here three months now, and
as far as I know you haven't brought US y
single new account. You've got q lot Of friends,
and a lot Of rich ones. How Is 1t that you
haven't so far brought one Of their names on
our bookS?"
A BLUSH mounted straight up Robins hand
some young face, to the crisp line Of his
yellow hair
lin sorry about that. Mr. Greenough.
But you see I somehow can't make myself
use my friends
"Poppycock! How do you think business Is
conducted, anyway? How did you get this job
here? Because your father asked me to give
you chance one day when I played golf
with him at Meadowbrook That's what friends
are for in this world, and you'll soon discover
it."
Robin had rather a nice little temper Of
his own, and it fiared out now, disastrously.
I disagree with you, Mr.. Greenough. Ny
friends are nobody's business"
He knew 1t was q mistake But too late.
The floodgates of Mr.. Greenough's wrath were
let loose on him now.
'Au right Robin If you disagree with me
GLlcE U1llCc ~ IlO place AOI yOu hnO IL
that's your attitude business is no place for
you. either. Go out and paint some pictures,
or work on farm"
Robin was 81. And the look in his blue
eyes was hurt. and very young. Perhaps Mr..
Greenough noticed it. For he made what, for
him. was great concession.
Look here. Robin. You know better than
that. I'll give you one chance. You are going
to Robert Haines house for the week end, you
said. Mortimer v. Calhoun is spending the
Summer at Southampton. You know as well as
do he is very wealthy. II you come back
Monday morning with an appointment to see
one or the other of those men we'll forget
this conversation. That's all, Good-by."
TT a silent, gloomy Robin who sat in
Eddie Haine's roadster while the wind blew
the heat of the city off his face an hour later.
And though the wind managed to make him
forget the actual physical heat it didn't help
at all to erase the mental turmoil into which
Mr.. Greenough had plunged him. Lose his
job or use his friends-a pretty choice! !
But by the time they rolled up the long
ocean-swept driveway of the Haine house
Robin had made up his mind All right he
would go ahead and work on Mr.. Haine He'd
known him ever since he and Eddie had been
at prep school together, He'd forget he was
q guest and just be old Greenough's salesman.
Then Robin changed his mind. again when
Edward Haine, genial and cordial came out
to greet him.
Well, my boy, this is like old times. You're
not letting Greenough tie you up too hard. are
you? We miss you down here. You're always
fun for all of us. Robin. But you look tired.
son. Don't take business away on your vaca-
tons with you Doesn't pay I never do.
Take my advice, Robin Forget the once
every Saturday, and it will look better ON
Monday
While doubling that 1t would, Robin re-
0Aln