Smyrna times., 1931-11-11
WEEKLY society STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
'Everybody-Everything "Yessed"
Him" IAN Interesting Short Story
Written by III. A. Seward

sat Den1nd MS great oak desk.
The office air was heavy and moist
the kind that makes half-retired
executives droop their heads down
to the chests of their stuffed bodies
Looking out of the broad window of
his office, Booth could see that the
sun was bright and the sky clear.
There came over him slowly a
feeling of hatred for his office, for
its furnishings, for everything. He
gradually became seized with a mad
desire to jump up and upset every
thing in the place-to tear, upturn.
smash all. Then he realized the ut
ter futility of the thought.
What a lifei Success. How he
thirsted for it; how he had worked
for it. Now that he had it, he didn't
even know what it meant. Power
influence, money. luxury-people
called him a success. Irony. Bit
ter paradox. Nothing to do now
that he was or top. President of
the company. chairman of the board
of directors, chairman of the boards
Of four other corporations.
Bahl There were no more real
people. 1t was getting to be a sub
servient world of yes men,"
Yessed morning and night. Even his
wife did it, and God knows that
was calamity. Couldn't even be
disagreed with in his own home. His
daughter married a man from his
own college, so that he was even
deprived of football arguments.
Things were coming to a pretty
pass. He bet himself that even if
Newell, he might try it anyway.
just for the fun of it. Smiling grim
ly to himself he pushed a buzzer
The ID thing seemed to say
"Y-e-es." Watkins appeared in the
doorway. Watkins-the obsequious
secretary. Yes, Mr.. Booth"
Watkins. you consider me a good
weather prophet?"
Very good, sir
'Well, predict that rain will fall
within an hour at the latest. Am
right?'
Watkins glanced meekly out the
window to behold a cloudless, OBJ
viously clear sky. Then, turning his
blinking gaze to his executives face.
he calmly replied: "Quite right,
sir"
Booth leaped to his feet and
pounded the desk. His face bulged.
grew purple, and the veins in his
neck swelled almost to their burst
ing point as he blurted. "D-n you.
Watkins, any fool can see with half
an eve that there's not a sign of rain
today"
''Yes, sir" Watkins shrugged his
shoulders and glided softly from the
room.
In the outer Office group of
young men were scattered around
the water cooler. Earnest, intelli-
gent young men they were. giving
advice to one Of their members-a
personable-looking chap. Now he
was addressed by a noisy fellow.
the "let-me-tell-you" kind.
Listen here. Larry, I've been
working for this guy for two years.
and believe me. | know him. Hes
like the rest of the big guns. You've
gotta salve him up. you've gotta use
the old oil on him plenty"
Il know. but it doesn't always pay
to be a hypocrite. | don't want to
be anyone's footstool. anyhow, /
don't believe in being yes man."
"Oh, yeah? Well, you'd be a lot
farther ahead in this little old world
If you did. The trouble with you
is that you're too independent. Now
IL you want this promotion boy,
you've got to as I'm telling you.
When you go to see the old bird,
yes him to death. If he tells you
the moons made of green cheese,
say he's perfectly right. 1t doesn't
cost you anything to feed his van.
ity, and you get along better when
you make him feel as though he |
knows it ALL"
"You have right to your opin-
ion, and to mine"
Larry struck out for the private
office of old "Ty" Booth. AS the I
youth entered, Booth was lingering
card on his desk. Booth read the I
card over, at the same time think
ing of the man whose record was
scribbled on it. Lawrence Pick.
ett Steady chap. Reputation for
being a good worker, clever, but in.
dependent. Old "Ty" wondered.
Booth looked up at his visitor.
Then he said lightly, as IL speaking
Of irrelevent things. 81 pride my.
self on being somewhat of wealth.
er prophet. Right now / predict rain
within an hour. How does that
The young man looked out at
he clear sky. He felt, uncomfort-
ibly, that whole lot depended
lpon his answer. He started to re-
ply, hesitated. then smiled and
,aid: