The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-11-10
InsubOrdinate
Smith
By JOHN RATHMERE
g by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service


pointedly at the clock on the wall at
the end of the large office. 1t was five
minutes after nine o'clock and never
in the five years that Walter had been
employed by Laurence and Street had
he ever come in later than a quarter
to nine.
Walter simply said Good morning,
Mr.. Laurence and went to his desk,
ignoring Laurence's obvious dis
pleasure.
After all, Mr.. Laurence quite fire.
quently made his first appearance
much later than this and Mr.. Street
was not yet in.
When Walter had looked over the
letters that lay on his desk he turned
to Miss Greedy, the stenographer, who
was obviously doing nothing. 'Take
these answers, will you, Miss Greedy"
he said, and Miss Greedy looked up in
amazement. Always before Walter
Smith had said: "If you have moth
ing to do for Mr.. Laurence-or for
Mr.. Street, wonder if you would
nave llLl0 " Tame q lew ACIICA0s
An hour or so later Walter gave an
other amazing sign Of INSTRUMENTATION.
go out and see Jones Brothers to-
day." Laurence told him. "Tell them
that we will discontinue deliveries i'm
mediately if they don't make a pay
ment for everything up to date. Speak
sharply to them"
mo, no." said Walter. THAT won't
do. Jones Brothers are one Of our
best customers. They are a little hard
pressed now but perfectly sound. We
can't afford to antagonize them"
Mr.. Laurence turned red in the face.
"See here, Smith," he said.< II told
you to go up and tell those people
what right have you to dispute my
authority?" Walter merely grinned
genially at Laurence and went into
Mr.. Streets private office.
"These specifications you've drawn
up for So and &c." he told Mr.. Street.
won't do" Mr.. Street looked in
amazement at the young man and then
feeling the new note of sureness and
self-confidence in his voice listened
intently. Obviously Walter Smith was
right. AS the day advanced every one
in the organization was aware that a
change had come over young Walter
Smith, and no one was more aware
of the fact than Walter himself.
At twelve Mr.. Street asked Walter
Smith to have luncheon with him at
his club-a hitherto unprecedented
occurrence.
whats got into you. Smith," Mr..
Street asked abruptly when they had
taken their places at a table for two
in the club dining room. you had
Laurence all worked up"
Nothing has got into me-" Walter
told him. "My manner has doubtless
changed because I'm through. For the
first time since went to work it
doesn't matter whether keep my job
or not. When left college five years
ago I had to support my sister and
brother. My brother was through
college last June. He's doing we'll.
And my sister was married last night.
I've a few thousands in the bank.
no longer have to put up with Mr..
Laurence's stupidity and your short
sightedness. l intend to take few
months vacation and then make con-
nections with a really going concern.
To be sure you people are holding
your own, but you're missing big OPP
portunities because you're too con-
servative and you discourage your en-
ployees-"
"But look here, Smith," Mr.. Street
was all solicitude. 1--WE don't want
you to work for one of our COM
petitors. That's bad business Why
do you want to work for another con-
cern?"
Because another concern would pay
me more nearly what I'm worth.
They would or I wouldn't work for
them. I've only myself to consider
now"
IF I'd known you had it in you I'd
have given you more money" Street
explained. "I'll talk to Laurence"
Laurence has nothing to say about
it," Walter said with assurance. "Lau-
renee is merely figurehead. know
as well as you do that he's lost what
ever ability he ever had"
Street looked perplexed. "You GER
tainly have changed" he told the
younger man. "I'll think things over.
You weren't thinking of making any
changes before the first of January?"
II am planning to leave at the end
of the week. After all when you fire
employees you give them less notice
than that"
That evening while Laurence and
Street were lingering at the office in
heavy conference discussing ways and
means of keeping young Smith while
they were going so far as to consider
how he might be taken in as junior
partner-Walter Smith was dining at
the best hotel restaurant in town with
Marjorie Black, Mr.. Laurence's IA
forte niece.
"Of course l didn't tell your uncle
we were going to met married." Wal
ter told Marjorie. thought you ought
to tell him that. But he's had enough
surprises for one day"
"Shall I tell him we're going to be
married-next weekT she asked.
And that after we come back from