The Washington times., 1938-05-25

He was Sneering at himself for
being such Q weak and SptneleSs
rummy as to believe that he had
to get blind drunk every six
months. ALI that was over. He
was sneering at the date because
this time, he would wake up on
the 9th laughing heartily at the
26th because 1t had not caught
him In q weakness that had been
with him for 10 years.
And he sneered at those who
were waiting confidently for him
to take his regular dive into alco-
holic oblivion. There were even
those who were betting he would.
what zanies he would prove them
to bel
Six months away from liquor
and he had everything at his feet.
He was sitting on top Of the world.
He was doing better than he ever
had In his job as salesman for Big
Steel. Annette Spears, the girl ne
loved and with whom he had been
going for three years, was almost
reaSSured from the constant fear
that he would fall off the wagon.
II he got past the 26th she was
Roing to marry him. Finally, he
had money in the bank and he
was free Of all debt. His boss had
congratulated him only yesterday
for bringing in o whopper OF an
order.
FINISHES REPORT
h was 4 o'clock in the afternoon
and he happened to be lolling at
his desk, at which he was sup
posed to do his very infrequent Of.
fico routine. It was done. He'd
Just finished typewriting q report
that would knock the sales man"
ayers ears down.
He considered the sales man
eger, Herriott, q big fourfluSher
who had been q pretty fair sales
man once, but who had risen to
his present position because Of an
ability to nag, nag, nag. Worth,
how are the orders coming? What!
You haven't any? Well, what do
you think that weekly guarantee
aS-relief money!.
"You step out and get busy.
There's orders, orders everywhere.
but you have to 60 out after them.
They won't fall into your lap"
Now if-why, 'if"? Why not
s'when"?-An right. When he be
came sales manager he wouldn't
nag his men. He would kid them
It was only q question Of time. He
got up from his desk and went to
the washroom to freshen up for
his trip home. Passing the mir
ror, he happened to catch sight OF
himself and the image was SO good
he stopped to take 1t In in detail
FULL OF PEP
He was looking swell, simply
swell! His black hair was glossy
His brown eyes were shining. His
skin was clear as q bell. None OF
those thousands Of tiny broken
down little veins in his face that
came from being drunk too often
Stepping away, he noticed his
step was Springy and full Of zest
Boy, this was the life! Industry
sobriety and q little brains would
take q man anywhere. He won
dered how much Big Steel was
selling for now. He might absorb
q couple Of shares. He had little
extra money he didn't know what
to do with.
He passed Miss Bogrian. the
switchboard operator, at her
switchboard, and he greeted her
pleasantly.
swell day, Miss Bogrian," he
said. Springs here, all right
Makes you want to 60 places and
do things"
Isn't it," Miss Bogrian agreed
II wish I had some place to 60"
"A girl as pretty IS you," he
told her, "don't have to worry
aboMt that. AL you have to do
Is let people know you have free
evening""
"All right" she laughed. IT have
o free evening"" ....
"Well, good night"
Why, the little devil was throw
ing q chance right in his face!
And she was pretty, too. Blonde
curves in the right places, and full
Of flIn. He halted and turned In
his tracks.
'Where is it you live, again?"
he asked her, grinning.
EAST 86th," she told him. TIN
Ia the book
KNEW HE WAS ENGAGED
What did he care If she was IN
the book? What made him go back
and ask her such q damfool queS
ton? You couldn't blame her ii
she began to think things. Even
though she knew he was engaged
to Annette. He knew she knew
because she handled incoming
calls, and Annette called him fre
quently. Besides, it was office gos
sip.
At the corner Of Wall and Broad
way he overlook Jack Deems. 9
member Of the Big Steel staff
Jack was walking with head bent
You could see he was nervous and
jittery. Jack was q hard drinker
Ted would bet anything that he
was hurrying right now to q bal
to get q shot.
A queer impish impulse seized
him. He would ask Ted to have q
drink with him. It would be a nice
gesture. It would also show that HI
had his own appetite licked. May