The Coolidge examiner., 1932-04-22
CHAPTER Ill-Continued

He told her, when the installa-
tion was finished, that she needn't
take him any farther. He'd go on
Into town on the elevated. After
she'd driven away, he stole half
an hour from the insurance busi-
ness for a chat with Charlie MAR
iNer not having come down yeti
about how things were going. He
was finding it almost impossible to
let day go by without squeezing
in a visit.
1t was completely revolution
ary experience. He'd been con-
scious of an emptiness somewhere
long before he recognized what 1t
was he was hungry for. In the
uneventful course Of things he
might never have found out. But
when sheer desperation forced an
adventure upon him, 1t intoxicated
him. The technique of habit made
it possible for him, just possible.
to carry on his duties at the office,
tust as 1t makes II possible for
many a love-stricken young man to
go on in a daze holding down his
Job. But his whole being centered
itself in that humble little red brick
factory out in Ravenswood.
He wasn't long In coming to feel
strongly, passionately, that it need
ed his help. Mariner had spoken
the truth in saying that he was not
a desk man. He didn't like his
desk, and he made excuses to stay
away from it. Letters went unan-
swered; details, but important de-
tails, went long unattended to. The
suggestion, planted by Mariner on
the day of Edwards first visit, that
he ought to put himself as we'll as
his money into the business, from
being remote and almost fantastic
possibility came nearer with the ir-
resistible rush of an express train.
Early In November, we'll within
a month of the time he'd made his
first investment in the company, he
sent his resignation as cashier of
the Chicago agency to the home
Office. The stab OF terror that ac-
cOmpanied his writing the letter
was in itself half pleasurable. He
informed the second vice president
that he had gone into a business of
his own which would require all his
time. He left the company with
regret and without criticism, let
alone complaint, of their treatment
of him.
He spent, there was no denying
1t, nightmarish three or four days
waiting for the answer to his let
ter. But when it came, he felt a
profound relief.
That same day Albert Willard
dropped into his Office. He'd hap
pened to be passing by, he said
with transparent insincerity. and
had run up on the spur of the mo-
ment to suggest that they lunch to-
gether. 1t was a devil of while
since they'd seen anything of each
other, really. Edward was quite
aware that this was true, and that
1t was his own doing. He'd been
avoiding Bert lately though Bert
was his oldest friend.
sgVoc N-anl rrO 70 I,pah
he said. But sit down minute,
first. There's something l want 70
tell you about" Now that he was
irrevocably committed to the great
adventure, he didn't want to wait
even while they were walking
around the corner to the club.
Except for a profane exclamation
of astOnishment now arc then and
a non-committal question or two,
Bert listened in silence to the
whole story.
you've been keeping it almighty
dark, it seems to me-" he comment
ed thoughtfully when Edward had
finished. Didn't want to be argued
out of Il, | suppose. Like a kid
who wants to marry some girl his
family dcn't approve of. l know"
Edward laughed a little uEeasily
at the comparison. "sAll right, go
ahead. It's your turn. You're en-
titled to q chance to tell me I've
been z id fool"