Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-29
II Short Story Complete in This Issue

- snlng Company Building on Fourteenth
Street and joined the crowd moving west
toward the uptown subway. AS he crossed
Broadway, the corner news vendor whipped
up copy of the Gazette, folded it. and held
it out. He said. Good evening. MIR. Mudgett.
A fine evening" isn't it,"
But MIR. Mudgett did not notice him; he
passed on in the flowing stream of people.
The newsman stood there with the paper in
his hand and watched him out of sight. Fiji
teen - twenty years maybe longer! And
never before had Mr. Mudgett failed to stop
for his evening paper and an exchange OF
words concerning the weather. Perhaps some
thing was wrong.
In the subway. Mr.. Mudgett did another
unusual thing. The uptown express rumbled
to stop and he got aboard and located a
seat and sat down. In a few seconds the car
was full and people we're damned together IN
: the aisle Then, for the first time in his life,
he did not get up and offer his seat to a
woman. He just sat there, swaying heavily
with the motion of the train, a tired-looking,
middle aged man, dressed in rather oonspicu-
Gus clothes After a while he leaned against
the seat and closed his eyes. The train stopped
at And Street, third Of its passengers got
off, new crowd got on, the rubber cushioned
doors pressed shut, the train roared on north
ward - toward the Bronx. Mr.. Mudgett
sighed. In another half hour he would be
home. -.
Caroline heard the key turn in the lock,
slammed her book shut and jumped up to
open the door. Hello. Daddy" Then she
hesitated, noticing the brief case. What's
that for? Don't tell me you're starting to
bring home work from the ofhoet"
mo! Mo-! Mr.. Mudgett replied. Its
sales kit. - I'm going on the road"
She eyed him sharply. What do you mean?
They're not letting you out - not after all
these years."
k1E AVOIDED her gaze, fumbling in his mind
for the right words. ''Oh, no, nothing like
mat They Well, they think ="
80 they are!" she exclaimed. They're
firing you. And they couldn't even do it
honestly; they had to take this way. 50 they
could say you'd quit
Now wait! You mustn't be hasty, baby.
What makes you think l can't sell? Why
know more about the company and the maya
zine than any salesman they've got. bet
make thirty bucks my first week. And by the
time I've been at it a month ="
You mean they're not even paying you
supervisors salary" she cried Indignantly.
They're sending you out on straight CON-
missions? And this is the wonderful company
you're always talking about; the company
that's so fair! - I'd like to shoot everyone
in it. l hate them"
Now, baby! Come now" He put his arm
around her, They're a good outfit they're
the best in the business"
Caroline said You just wait till Walter
comes in this evening. If l don't tell him
few things about that blessed Croton Pub
fishing Company ="
Wait! Stop!' cried Mr. Mudgett. you
can't do that. = I'm one of the Oldest en-
pioyees, and he's just starting in. Think how
it would look, a man in my position being
disloyal."
Caroline threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, Daddy! Daddy" she walled. They
can't do this to you!'
There, there Now don't you worry about
it. You and Walter 60 on out to show to-
night and have good time You leave this
to me. It'll work out all right
While Mr. Mudgett patted his daughters
shoulder and said soothing words he looked
A. oC Of ba