The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-26

go UaCk 10 "OIA, 1AC11NhAs IA
all right except for a little
clumSineSS."
IF you want to be busy, all
right. But it's not necessary.
The men are fairly falling over
one another at the office"
"I've got to-"
"Wel, come on down then. I
guess I can make a place for
you"
Kendall gave him a desk in
the large room next his private
office, where the assistant man.
ayers had their desks.
But still some inner core Of
personal dignity remained I'm.
touched, withStood the awk-
wardness Of sitting at the desk
with nothing to do; withStood,
too, remarks made by men who
assumed that he was in the
group who had no sympathy
with the new aspirations OF the
young Chinese.
To Hester, black magic seemed
at work in this bare house, un.
adapted to the personal uses
Of a family, only the atmosphere
Of the Company pervading it.
One evening Kendall left the
dinner table as soon as the meal
was done. After the door closed
behind him, Chesterton said
quietly to the others, "I'm leaV-
ing in the morning. I've re.
signed" Nobody spoke. Then
the door opened and Reilly came
walking briskly across the room.
Hello, every one! Getting
better, bosS?" He wrung Ste
phen'S left hand.
"Chesterton's resigned" said
some one.
Riley whistled. paid you that
compliment, did they? Just
fired me. Perfectly all right.
There is no work in my line.
I've only been with the Com.
pany a year. They've got no
obligation to me-"
Waiting
After a time, Stephen was left
alone in the room. He was wait
ing for Kendall. He meant to
find out what the Company'S
intentions were in regard to
himself. Let them declare them
selves. He felt he had a right
to that consideration.
It was a strange meeting be-
tween the two-this the first
time they had been alone with
each other since Kendall had
been made general manager.
"You wouldn't envy me, Steve,
if you knew where I stand! It
isn't the job I thought it was
going to be. I've known for
months, ever since last summer,
to be definite, that the Company
was thinking of putting me
here. I've planned what I'd do
make a big thing Of it. I've
always felt Truesdale was soft.
If only I'd. had his chance when
things were expanding! It
looked first as if I could keep
the stations up-river open, but,
well, you know all about that.
But I'll open them again, don't
YOU forget tive got to-
With wonder, Stephen listened
to his outburSt.
Suddenly some hard shell
seemed to close over the mans
heart. ''Now as to you, Steve"
he continued, without giving
Stephen a chance to speak, II
don't know anything about
your situation. You were, as
you know, slated for a position
close to the top. Then Truesdale
sent you to a small station"
Surely, Dave. ." He could
get no further. Wild horses
could not draw from him now
any appeal to Kendall.
CHAPTER 80
A stir ran through the offices,
The day before, a ship had got
in from America, and the Amer
lean mail had just arrived. Ste
phen could hear the hustle in
Kendall's office and the man
coming and going. Kendall's
secretary went back and forth
carrying letters to various desks.
It'll show you your office"
Kendall was saying. "Just a
minute though" He spoke to
the roomful of men. New York
has appointed Thornton as my
assistant"
Stephen sat very still. An
hour ago Look had been given
the other vacant assistantship.
Lost Pride q.
Coming in at six, Hester won.
dered that Stephen was not
home. mo, missile" said the
boy. But when she opened the
door to their room and switched
on the light, she saw him sit
ting so erect, so pale, and his
eyes. what had happened to
make them like that-reckless
and without pride?
Hester stood with her back
against the door.
Don't. Hester" Stephen was
speaking. "You have no right
to pity me. 7 don't need it.
Leave me alone. Please go away"
X
Hester creeping up the stairs
as Stephen had crept up the
stairs an hour ago. Not seeing