that you have given up too easily.”
"I wish people would mind their
own business!”
"Mr. Benedict—Just what Is the
matter? Do you really lack the
nerve? Is that it?”
"Maybe it's the cowardice of wis
dom." he returned, softened some
what. "Lack of money makes
cowards of the strongest men at
times."
"Is it really money?”
"Yes, it's money.”
•'You mean money for your per
sonal expenses while fighting Bird?”
"Money for attorneys, money for
the bond I'd have to give, money,
money, money gt every turn of the
road.”
She meditated. Perhaps she had
been hard on him.
"Oh, well,” she laughed, "forget
It for a few hours, Mr. Benedict.
Maybe I can think up some way
to help you.”
With scarcely a good night, he
left her.
The situation continued without
change for some weeks. Rumors
came that affairs were going from
bad to worse in the pulp company.
Bird fought v/ith his best foremen
and lost them. The one idea man
ager tried to do all the detail work
himself, with consequent injury to
the business, lie lost several im
portant contracts, and three of the
company’s warehouses wore stored
with pulp improperly made, which
sooner or later must be beaten over
again.
The day when most of old Peter
Dates' former employes struck at
the pulp mill. June Farley sought
action by a drastic maneuver. In
an otherwise empty office she called
to George as he was going out for
lunch.
"Well, what is it?" he asked petu
lantly.
June opened the left-hand top
drawer of her desk, picked up
something lying there.
"You remember the talk we had
the evening of July Fourth on my
front steps?”
•'Of course I remember.
"You intimated that if you had,
the money to finance yourself, you
might start something. Well take
this—and go to it?"
George glanced down. In her
hand were two pa< kets of new,
crisp hank notes Each was handed
tightly w ith a strip of salmon col
ored paper. And on each strip was
rubber-stamped: "$100."
Benedict gas|ied.
"What is it? Where did you get
it?"
"Never mind where I got it. It s
money and it will help you."
Two hundred dollars. To fight
old Jonas Bird and secure control
of the Gates Pulp and Paper com
pany! it would have been ludicrous
—if it had been less pathetic.
"I—can't take your money," he
mid huskily. What sort of chap
do you think I am. anyhow?"
"That's just what I’m trying to
find out. I'm Interested to know
if money is really stopping you or
whether you're only using the lack
of its as a dodge?"
"Indeed? But—hut what do you
think I could accomplish with a
mere two hundred dollars?
It was cruel, for the sum was
evidently all the girl could snire.
And to her it was quite a sum In
deed .
"1 nee.” fhe imikI. as ”**r lRC'e
flamed. Then you might take It
If it were more."
"1 haven't sa d so. I merely ask
ed a MUi-stlon.”
As he stood looking down into her
face, he saw her eyes stream tears,
blowly she turned away.
“Then you are hopeless, after all.
And I've lieen believing In you. all
along U'» not acceptlug this
money that would make me think
less Of you; it's in refusing it," she
told him. It was with an effort thwt
she controlled her voice. "Nobody
would ever know about It - surely
you don't think ine cheap enough
to advertise it. Ever since you got
your place here, I’ve tried to make
you see how foolish and afraid you've
bten. but you're one of those men
who don't deserve help.''
His face was strangely bloisllessus
he said: 'So you think I'm no
good, do you?”
"What else can 1 think? The first
thing a woman admires in a man
Is courage. You haven t shown
i iiough to cover a pinpoint.'
George Benedict's teeth came sud
d. nly together with a snap.
"Give me the money." he order
ed. ''You've made this whole thing
n tdt too personal. So I haven t
enough courage to cover a pinpoint,
haven't It? Well see. And before
I'm d. nr, Mtsn Uuttinsky. I'll make
you eat crow!"
Georgo went out into Main
street and walked and walked
Early the neat morning he showed
up at the People's National bank. He
diposited lhal $200 In bin own nutne.
hut he stored the passbook away in
an innir piskcl us a trust.
With the money thus safely dis
posed of, ho turned toward the front
of the hank. Judgo Farmer, the
president, could he seen at his desk
through the open door of the corner
room George lowed the old finan
cier In his den
On the following Monday morn- door and politely ordered the ern
|ng, Mike F^rherty, janitor at the ployed to their desks. A tall, thin
pulp mill offices, was sweeping out shipping clerk stepped forward,
about 7 o'clock when he glanced "j3y what authority are you talk
up to see Benedict c-nier rrom me
rear shipping room door.
"Are you back here to work?"
demanded Mike. "Everybody
thought youss had quit."
“I’ve been away on a sort of va
cation, Mike. I’m back now as
manager.”
"Glory be!” cried the emotional
Celt. “Maybe the boys won't be
glad to hear that, Georgic. Old
Bird'n a skunk; is he fired?”
“He is.”
"What did he say when he was
canned?"
"He hnsn't said anything yet. As
a matter of fact he doesn't know
it.”
"Don't know ut! When's lie coin’
to l’arn?”
“When he comes in this morn
ing.”
The Irishman grinned. Benedict
passed on into Jonas Bird's private
office. Mike deported to spread the
news through the mill.
Benedict entered the room for
merly occupied hy old Peter Gates
and himself. The young man had
a key to Bird's desk. He Inserted
It and rolled up the top- Then he
started In to clean the desk of all
the accumulated impedimenta be
longing to the said Bird, business
and personal, all and sundry.
He was so employed when Miss
Hallett, the stenographer Bird had
hired upon his assumption of the
management, entered the offices by
the front door. She had supplant
ed Mildred Rivers, who had been
old Peter's faithful secretary. Miss
Hallett was a big. flashily dressed
blonde. She saw the door of Bird's
private office ajar and heard the
tearing of papers from within.
"Hello, dearie,” she called, the
office being otherwise empty. And
she began primping before the
wash st and.
•'Good morning,” came a strange
voice in reply.
The woman turned In confusion
to behold a tall young man regard
ing her from the private office
doorway.
"You!” she cried. "What are you
doing in Mr. Bird'8 private office?”
Cleaning it out,” responded Bene
dict. curtly.
"What's happened to Mr. Bird?
"He's canned.”
But I saw Mr. Bird last night,
and he said nothing about—”
"Perhaps not. I'm managing this
business this morning, however. I
might as well tell you now as later
that Miss Rivers is coming back
this afternoon, and your own ser
vices will no longer be required.”
"You didn’t hire me, and you
can't fire me. I won't go until I'm
turned off by Mr Bird himself.”
"It's immaterial to me. Only
there will be no pay check coining
to you next Saturday afternoon.
"I'll see Mr. Bird about this.”
"Go ahead. I merely mentioned
Miss River's return to save you
embarrassment later in the da>.
From the inner room came the
tearing and crumpling of more
papers.
One by one. the remainder of the
office employees drifted in. They
did not go quietly to their desks.
The Hallett person saw to that.
She was a wronged woman snl
discoursed loudly upon the wrong.
Having finished the cleaning of
Ihc desk. Benedict stepped to the
ing Mr. Bird’s place? he demanaeu.
ed.
"I'm suggesting you leave that to
Mr. Bird and myself and go on
with the day's work,” was the
sharp retort.
"Is that a threat?” demanded the
young man.
"That’s an order,” George cor
rected. "And those who refuse to
obey my oiders are fired. I)o you
want it plainer than that? If you
do, say sol”
It was a few minutes past
o'clock when Jonas Bird entered the
office. His favorites surged for
wa rd.
."What right has he got to take
your place?” they cried.
"He?” stammered Jonas. "Who
do you mean, he?”
"George Benedict—the fellow who
quit here in May.”
"Where is'he?”
"In your private office.”
Bird had reached the threshold.
Bue he paused there.
"Whatter you doing here?” he
roared at Benedict.
ueorge gave a careless glance
over his shoulder.
"Oh, it’s you—Mr. Bird. Good
morning. Fine day outside, isn't
it?"
"What does this mean?” cried
Bird. “Answer me before 1 send
for the police.”
"I hardly think I d send for the
police. Mr. Bird—not if I were
consulting my own interests. '
Benedict was cool.
"Why shouldn't I send for the
police? What right have you got
here, anyway?"
“There were many things he-e
in the mill not going as well as
might be desired. I decided to as*
sume -the place Mr. Gates would
want me to assume if he were
alive."
Behind Bird, peering over his
shoulders. the office employees
grouped themselves.
"Get out of here, all of you!"
roared Bird. Then to Benedict:
"And you get out of here along
with them!"
“You're wasting my time and
your own. Mr Bird. Nothing
doing," said George.
"Send for Chief Hogan!" roared
Bird over Ins shoulder.
"Just one moment. Mr. Bird. If
you ordered Mr. Hogan to arrest
me and he was so thoughtless as
to comply, it might involve him in
an ugly difficulty. Hogan has
property which I might attach for
damages, though you have not."
"Damages? What damages could
you have coming to you?”
"Read the bylaws of this corpora
tion. Tin a stockholder here. I've
a perfect right on the company's
propert- , any w here I wish to go. at
any time of the day or night. Get
That? Likewise I ce a perfect right
to inspect all the looks and records
of this business whenever I like,
and otherwise dtport myself as
though I were one of its owners—
which ! am. You own no stock in
this company. You're merely an
employe hired for a s|»ccifi*d .--alary
And it's customary in business. Mr.
Bird, for the employer to be above
the employe. There's the telephone.
Call any attorney and find out."
Bird whirled on the curious em
ployes and closed the door in their
faces.
Alone with George, the manager
began removing his hat and coat.
“I woudn't take oft my hat and
coat, Mr. Bird," George advised.
You're not going to stay, you
know.’’
“Who says I’m not?”
"1 say so—as one of your em
ployers.”
"You’re not the whole board. I
was hired by a majority of the
stockholders, and until I’m relieved
of my plaee by them at the expira
tion of my contract, I intend to run
this mill without let or hindrance
from the least of them.”
"You’re going to do no such
thing, Mr. Bird. I have taken It
upon myself to represent the board
until such time as It can convene
and bring about, formally, your dis
charge. I’ll make my position and
reasons clear enough to the stock
holders when the time comes."
"But—but—it—it’s illegal and—”
"Who said ft was illegal?"
"I did!"
"Where did you get your au
thority?”
Bird tried to answer.
“But It isn’t done, I tell you!"
was all he could say.
"If one stockholder chooses to do
this unconventional thing, who’s
going to stop him?” asked George.
“But I have some rights in the
matter. I have a contract—"
"Very true. But I have posses
sion. Your only alternative is to
get an injunction to stop me from
doing the things I propose to do.
But I hardly think the court will
ignore the right of a competent
stockholder to step in here and save
the business. I'll take my chances."
•‘You can't eat and sleep in this
office* until the stockholders can
assemble,” protested Jones. "The
minute you go out I shall take that
desk and turn the tables on you."
"I shall go and come in and out
of this office as I please. And every
time I find you here and you do not
move out when requested. I shall
throw you out.”
"And what if I choose the same
expedient?”
•'That, of course, is your priv
ilege."
George arose from the chair. He
stood & head and a half taller than
the manager. Bird did some swift
thinking.
•'All right,” he cried "You can't
run this business 10 hours without
handling funds. The moment you
go endorsing or writing Checks. I'll
have you Jailed. And the bank offl
cial who passes your signature will
find himself in the same fix.”
"You don't suppose I came down
here to assume charge without
protecting myself on such a point,
did you? Mr Bird, you underesti
mate my Intelligence and your own
too.”
■What have you done about the
bank account?” Bird demanded.
‘ It might pay you to make in
quiries at the bank. I have ar
ranged for a bond to indemnify this
company for any suc h sums as 1
may employ in the conduct of the
business. A very accommodating
gentlemen, kindly consented to sign
that bond for me.”
• Who is he?"
■ Judge Amos Farmer, president
of the People's bank—also a minor
stockholder In this company. You
see, Mr. Bird, the judge couldn't
call the hank's loans and bring your
administration to a ciose without
wrecking the company, so I told
hirt I would run the company as
it should be run.”
ABE MARTIN On Topics o’ th’ Day
This year marked th' one hun
died I h anniversary o' th' song.
"Home, Sweet Home" Th' aong
wui written hy Johti Howard
i’uyne an' wui first sung in Ism
don in 1X23. There hain't no rec
ords l’ show whether Payne made
twenty eight or thirty dollars out
o' th' song, but it is known that
he died homeless an’ an actor.
While ever’ singer worthy o’ th'
name has rendered "Home. Sweet
Home,” time an' again durin’ th'
laat hundred years th' song's great
est popularity has alius been
amongst French harp, or mouth
organ players, liven in these hard
fisted, cold noeei 1 days, th" beauti
ful song, when even half way put
over, never fails t’ raise a lump in ■
th' throats o' people who own as
many as three cars. Even apart
ment hred people an' members o'
large, snarlin’ families are softened
by th’ touchin' words an' sweet,
soft melody o’ th' dear ole song,
but Ih' most chokin' up is done hy
tired, disappointed an' unhappy con
sumers. Th' song wafts ther mem
ories ’way hack thro’ th' mist o'
years t' th' time when ihey really
hail a home. But we guess moat
cver'buddy lias some sort of a lean
to they cull home- at least it seems
home after they git t' sleep an'
fergit all th' torment a an' vicissi
tudes o' life. Some people are git
tin' too great fer homes, some have
two or three homes, an' Home folks
believe thcr’s more profitable ways
o' spemlin money than lyin' it up
In a home. Another peculiar thing
about “Home, Sweet IlnXie" is that
It appeal* t’ people that are never
at home Even folk* that have
only got tlier home* half paid fer
shiver with emotion when a plan
ner strike* up “Home, Sweet
Home.” Th' won! “home** is th*
sweetest in th* English language.
* ! love y**u" is purty sweet, but its
several wonts put fgethtr. an’
while It often lias a whole lot t*
do with a real home, it’s lw«n
known t’ rub «*fT an* i» not alius re
liable. How grand it used t’ be t’ git
home from school, an how good we
feel aft* r gittin’ home from a oir
rus. Jest think how a marathon
dancer must feel after she gits
home an* away from th’ din o’ saxo
phone* *n’ cheerin' an’ soaks her
feet an* curls up In bed. Who has
not sighed t' git home while sittin'
thru' an' Intellectual treat? How
many limes have we come home
late at night front even a "musical"
show an' said. 1 want someone t'
shoot me if I ever have home
agin?" Maybe “th’ ole home haln't
what it used t' he," .maybe some
folks do have t' be held by Chinese
cutthroats before they appreciate
a home, hut jest th' same it's th'
cm place where rest an' peace kin
Is found After th' band quits t>lay
in', after th' dancin' an' gossipin'
an' card playin' an’ drlnkin', after
th' sight seein' an' wanderin'—then
cornea home. In all th' world then
no substitute fer home nothin' teat
as (0**1
rtffM } >
'This ia the limit!’' cried
"I'll sue you for my salary—"
'I haven’t refused to pay
■alary. That can run until
piration of your contract. '
Bird blazed. ''Come In
shove me out of a job, will
I’ll show you!’’
He sprang for a heavy inkwell,
caught it up and stung it.
In a twinkling Benedict was
him. Thereupon the assembled
flee employes beheld their late
and master moving swiftly
the outer door. He was assisted
his progress by the pair of
young hands wherewith be
grasped, and a very capable,
letic young body supplying
power for bis locomotion. He
Through the screen with a ripping
sound.
Rolling to the ground, he
ly regained his feet just as
human being dropped after him.
was the shipping clerk. Bird
his fist at George standing in
doorway above.
"I'll sue you for this!" he
George Benedict went
the private room t
oughly subdued and
office.
Straight for the of Bob A
Hentley, our town s attorney Qf M
consequence, Jonas made big 4
way.
Bob listened to narrative ia
silence.
"What I want to is. can he
get away with it concluded.
"Of course he get away
with it—that is.
"Vnless what?"
"Unles* he's told you a-a* truth
about having Judge Farmer behind
him. In that case you'd better take
a cheek for the balance of your
unexpired term and let the boy
alone. Wait, and I'll get the judge
on the telephone ’
"You tell Bird.'* came the judge'*
command, "if he knows what's
healthy for him-to accept that
salary check Benedict will draw torM
him. Tell him 1m hacking young®
Benedict to the limit.” |
The evening of the day when I
Jonas Bird departed from Pari* I
our former ad man again visited '
the Telegraph's place of bus.ness
Where's June Farley?” he ask
ed.
Judge Farmer was in the editor s
private office gossiping e. h that
worthy. Same Tied replied that
June had just left the off.ee Th*
banker smiled kindly at the young
man.
"How's things go.-.g down -o th*
mill, sonny?” he Inquired.
"The men are all back,'’ Georg#
replied, as he headed for the outer
off.re door
He had opened that door when be
tTTought of something he wislitd to
tsk the Judge, so he closed th*
door. The two men. so he closed th#
assumed the young man had left
the office Thereupon Sam Hod ,
said something aho*t George being '
a smart young fellow.
“A smart yourg feller?’ repeated
Judge Farmer. "Sure he's a smart
young feller. But lemme tell you
a secret. Hyl. There's such a
thing in the world as thrift.*’
' Thrift, what's that got to do
with it?”
"I’m a banker—by trade and tem
perament. Thrift means clever
managing A man who a.lows hov®
manage h.« n f.i ’■
manage
1 I*c you mean to say you t«^^H
..1 It.c-gr He red..-t in r.s new
tie n because of his thrift " j||||Sj
' ! do He got a job here .n^^H
Teb-graph ■ ffice ;n May H
.1 . n August. The day hi
up h.s mind to make a f.ght HH
the place to which hr was >r,titl^H|
Me l-r,'.-.1 wo hundred dc'.lnrs^HJ
- ’ \ i 1-e d< n...r‘mert—*ld
over hr didn't draw ui>on it
• iprtisrs A chap »s thrifty
that deserves backing Yes
IH bet on him.”
in the outer office George
ed and tiptoed out—out to filial
June Farley
To his credit. In \ lew of tht^ifl
marriage this afternoon, let it
set down that he tiptoed out to give |
her something more than the two ’
hundred unused dollars of her sav
ings.
iCepjriaht. i**| )
Chance for Inventors
Among the many thing* that are
regarded a* highly desirable. the
Institute of Patentees, tn London, v
Kng to offer the following sugges- '
tions ns to inventions needed by the
world:
tllass that will bend
Methods to reduce friction.
Practice) ways of utilizir.g the
tide*.
A proves* to make flannel un
shrink a hie.
A furnace that will cot — \e H
per cent of it* heat
\ tobacco |n pe that can h*
cleaned easily and effectively
A motor • ngine of one pourd
we ight per horsepower
A sntboth mail surface that will
not t>e slippery In wei weather a
A noiseless airplane and .in AUM
plane that can he managed
a"d -a- ' l v boy or girl
