The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-11-13

SIldkluS III Ills 11uScIS' Ills
lips began to tremble.
"It's the pink slip, amt it?"
he quavered. That's what it
is, amt it Jim? Tell me what
it says, boy. I can't read so
good lately. 1t means I'm fired,
don't it?"
The man beside him nodded
soberly.
II guess that's what it is,
Nike" he admitted. They say
that. due to business conditions,
your services are no longer re-
quired. But that don't really
mean you're fired for good.
They say they'll take you back
when things get better.
They say they got no fault
to find with your work, Mike.
They make that real plain"
Old Mike looked at his friend.
tits all right, jim" he NUT
tered. II don't blame 'em. I'm
: the oldest man in the shop
and my eyesight is failing.
Can't blame 'em, but it sure is
gonna be mighty tough"
He took his worn coat from
= its nail in the locker and picked
up his battered hat. He seemed
older, and his eyes were dull
with despair.
Like me to walk along with
you, Mike?" Jim offered.
Won't be much out of my way"
Old Mike shook his head.
Nope. You go along to your
supper. I'll be all right"
Jim, however, didn't go right
along to his supper. He stood
and gazed after the shuffling
figure of old Mike. And the
eyes of the younger man were
troubled.
Poor old guy!" he told him.
self. "What'll he do now? It's
sure gonna be tough on him."
What to Do?
All the way home, his
thoughts ran along those lines.
He and old Mike had been
friends for years. 1t was Mike
back in better dayS-who had
placed him in his job. He owed
. him a lot. But there seemed no
way of repaying his debt.
Mike was a mighty proud
guy. Jim knew he couldn't
just walk up to him and offer
him a couple of hundred dol
lars. He would have done it,
beyond question, willingly and
gladly. He had a tidy sum
tucked away, and he had been
pretty lucky in those pay-night
poker sessions.
Furthermore, Jim knew that
old Mike couldn't have any,
thing saved up. He had lost
most Of his money in a bank
that had folded up. And Jim
was certain that the old man
didn't have more than barely
enough to tide him over for a
month or two.
He was definitely worried.
Under the circumstances, Mike
might be driven to almost any
thing. Jim remembered the
news account of many jobless
men who had taken the suicide
route. And he remembered. too,
the despair in old Mikes eyes.
1--WE got to find some way
: to help him." he told himself.
"1t's up to me to do what I
can"
Jim stopped to buy a news
paper. On the front page were
the names of possible Sweep
stakes winners. Jim glanced
through them hurriedly-and
an idea suddenly struck him.
Old Mike, he knew, had a
ticket on the Sweepstakes.
Maybe, if Mike could win
He hurriedly glanced through
the list Of winners. No Mikes
name wasn't mentioned. Small
chance that it would be. But
Jim's idea was beginning to
take root.
Il could do this" he unused.
II could have someone else call
up and tell him his horse had
been drawn. The poor guy
can't read anyhow-and I'd
cover the apartment on the
phony information. It'd give
the old guy something to think
about. And then, in a day or
two, I could run over and tell
him he'd won one of the con-
ISOLATION prizes.
Could Give Plenty
MY own dough would cover
that. And if I got lucky on the
cards tonight, I could give him
plenty
The longer he thought of the
plan, the better h liked it. Mike
would never know. Jim could
fix it up with the people in
Mixes rooming house. The ex.
element of drawing a horse
would pep the old man up, and
right now he needed cheering.
1t was Youths idea of provid-
ing the straw for Age to grasp
at.
He hasn't got many other
friends" Jim reasoned. Its up
to me to help him. He'd do the
same for me if it was the other
way around"
Jim decided to act right away.
The sooner he carried out his
plan, the sooner Mike would be
made happy. So, when he