Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01

in the brass frame telling him
to smile until 10 O'Clock. didn't
register at all He started to
chew his pencil. but it was one of those mono
grammed affairs of silver and wouldn't chew.
For q solid hour Mort had been trying to
figure out way to make $3.50 in cash spread
over 5000 worth of bills, so the garnishments
wouldn't show through.
He sighed dolefuliy. The world was all wrong.
1t contained too many liabilities and not
enough assets All of his life he had been try
ing to figure away a shortage of money. 1t
was mighty tough figuring.
In fact it had started that solemn day when
he and his mother came back to the quiet
home, feeling very much alone. Mort started
in by going around the house winding up the
clocks. He was little tot then. He managed
by selling newspapers to take care of his
mother. Then he was alone again, at 20, and
he discovered Madge. And SO, right ahead into
new responsibilities. Mort loved his response
bilities. But gosh darn It'll
For five years now, he had worked for Jas
per Cartright. Which proved that he could
take heaps of punishment Old Jasper wasn't
the original Scrooge. but he was q direct de-
scendant. He started Mort in at $s.75 a week.
Mort was now making SIS a weeki
No doubt about it, Mort was a good worker.
But he had great fault-lack of money.
And the longer he went without money, the
more passionately he yearned for the things it
would buy
DUT Mort and Madge had discovered the won-
- derful fact that young folks with enthusi-
asm, and little else, actually have most of
the nice things Merely by ordering them.
Simple but fraught with installmentS. And it
aggravated their financial hardships.
So Mort and Madge had smart little home;
they drove' fiashy little car; they Swanked
about with some ssnappy friends plunging deep
er and deeper into the financial abyss. Mort
was quite willing to pay the fiddler so long as
there w tn
But now-well Mort had visions of seeing a
sheriff's dainty little message to the world
tackled on TO the front door of the Andrews
villa. Which wouldn't do at all. just one way
out remained. Mort must get a raise out of old
Jasper Cartright.
Getting a raise out of Cartright would be
comparable TO skinning q mud turtle with
toothpick. Mort felt that he would almost
soon face the sheriff the chief But that
was merely youthful qualm.
He was soon in Cartright's office where he
waited patiently for four minutes until his
employer nodded him into a chair. Mort could
red lights all Cartright'S face. But
there no stopping now.
All right young man. what is it?" and Cart
right showed by his sour defensive counte-
nance that he knew very well why Mort was
there.
Il came in to talk with you about-ah-"
''Ycu want a raise. eh?" said the chief
Yes" and Mort swallowed four times and
shifted himself about in his chair. His bunch
had been right. This wasn't at all pleasant
1t didn't look so good.
you're getting a good salary now" said old
Jasper, and Mort could feel the snow blowing
of the hills of Scotland This made Mort
shiver.
Il know I am" he replied. But
Then why should you ask for more? There
are many other people depending this bus
mess for their livelihood. 1 cannot give any
one employee more than his rightful share of
the earnings"
The chief seemed to be studying Mort Those
old deep blue eyes cut clear to the younger
mans innermost secrets. Oh yes this old Scot
was wiSel Mort decided it would be the only
safe plan for him to take Cartright into his
confidence completely.
7 need money desperately, Mr.. Cartright.
owe 5000 and have only $50 on hand"
Still there was no reply from Cartright He
gased at Mort like judge wondering whether
he should give a felon 10 or 20 years of servi-
tude Morris innards began 10 click like a
mechanical ice box
But the chiefs granite features had Softened
down TO limestone. I'm going to make you a
proposition, Andrews. This is q peculiar prop
osition and you'll probably be angry over it.
Maybe you'll want TO quit Tn advance you
$500 for your bills and"
GoSh." exclaimed Mort
II VIII be q loan You start paying it back
a. the end Of year. don't want you to be
worried"
Mort felt little and mean for ever having