Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 216, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1912 — IT HAPPENED AFTER THE BIG “LAY-OFF [ARTICLE]

IT HAPPENED AFTER THE BIG “LAY-OFF

Jim, the Engineer Without a Job, Finds “The” Girl in Time of Adversity.

By FRANK H. JONES.

It was when the economy fever struck the engineering department of the J. C. R. R. that Jim Andrews lost his footing, and made a wild grab to hang on to his natural self, but it seemed to slip away from him as It always does when the lay-off comes. The chief clerk went from table to ■table, pausing only long enough to toss down a neat little envelope in front of some individual who was too busy to pay immediate attention to It One by one they picked them up, tore off the ends and glanced at the contents. Some uttered mild exclamations of surprise, others gave free vent to their feelings, still others said never a word, but their looks spoke volumes. Jim was one of the latter. His square jaw dropped as he picked up ithe letter and rose from his chair. There was no mistaking the curt and business-like phrase: “Your services are no longer required after the 25th instant.”,—— It spoke little, but meant lots. He ' Tead it again and again, then turned !to join the uproar. Jim “tried tp work; it seemed a ibattle where it had always seemed a pleasure, the very figures he wrote aeemed *to jump up before him and icry, “you’re fired.” He looked up, everybody was looking at everybody else, and no one could quite collect himself. He threw down his pen tn disgust, irose from his chair, and stuffing his ihands in his pockets he shuffled aimlessly toward the outer office. He {didn’t have any business out there, ibut he wanted to go somewhere, and not caring where, he poked along out. There was no one in the office except a girl who sat at a typewriter ever by the window. Jim had seen lher occasionally as he had been 'through the office to and from work. What struck him in particular was Tier simple dress and neat appearance. He stood still in the doorway lookling at her. “Oh!” she exclaimed, rather embafvassed, “I didn’t know there was anycne in here. You almost frightened •me.” "Are you fired, too?” was Jim’s only comment. She hesitated a moment, glanced at the letter, and said slowly: “I suppose so.” 1 “When do you go?” Jim asked. ' /‘The 25th, the letter says.” "Same here,” he answered as he .turned and started back into the drafting room. , She looked after him as he disappeared around the corner, somewhat surprised. * The next two weeks were years to :Jim. It seemed as if the days were :never so long and the work so tiresome. - ‘ At last the fatal 25th Aie, and Ulin, with some dozen other sullen Individuals, left the office that night to iface the job hunter’s lot. As he left the office ajid started down the corridor, the girl came out iand joined him. She had a cheery good evening for him, but it hidn’t have its usual effect ion him. They entered the elevator and were soon outside the building. Neither . aeerned to know just which way to turn. " . It was Jim who broke the silence with that question which had been Tinging in his ears for two weeks. “Got anything to do?” “Not vet,” she replied, looking up at him. “Have l you?” “No. ’ I’m In the same box as the rest of the bunch.” *T suppose the only thing we can do Is to wait for something to turn up,” continued the girl. x "Do you keep house?” asked Jim, rather surprised. “Not a very large one, just for mother and mysejf. Don’t you live at home?” "In a home that costs |hree per •and you can’t use the gas after H o’clock,” he retorted dryly. “Now there’s no use of you looking so ugly about It,” said the girl pointing a little gloved finger at him. “And just to get even with you I’m going to invite you out to the house for .supper. Will you come?” Would he go? It took him a moment to collect himself. He laughed for the first time in two weeks. “Sure; we’ll sort of celebrate.” They soon reached a small lodging house on the outskirts of the business section, not unlike many other such houses on the same and neighboring streets. As they entered the hallway Jinx was struck by the quietness of the place. She took his hat and coat and led him into the parlor, “so called for convenience,” she explained. An elderly woman rose from her seat by the window and came forward to meet him. “Mother, thia is Mr. t — she was confused for a moment till Jim came forward with his name. “Andrews.” ... ■ “Really, I had quite forgotten your ■name,’’ she .said rather guiltlUy; but Jim surmised that she had nqver known It. ” ' J “And. are you one of the engineers at the office?** questioned the mother, jStlll looking at him.

“Used to be, would express it better,” said Jim. “I’ve been worried to death for fear Mazie won’t get another position," she continued, drawing a chair toward the window for Jim, and resuming her own. 4 Jim was still looking about the room. His eye rested for a moment on the piano in the corner. An idea flashed through his mind —what if—, ho, that was out of the question, and perhaps—- . “Does your daughter play the piano?” asked Jim, suddenly remembering that he was a guest. “Yes, a great deal; and I don’t know what do to amuse ourselves If It were not for the piano; Mazie is a fine player, too.” He turned around; Mazie had disappeared into the other room. -- They chatted till Mazie came to the door and called them to lunch. It was hard for Jim to remember when’ he had had such a home-like meal. It had it’s effect on him and he made quite an after dinner entertainer as they sat about the table and Jim told stories of his travels and career. At an hour dangerously near midnight Jim took his leave after receiving an invitation to call again. He walked across the city to his own boarding house. The damp night air had its usual depressing effect on his spirits. The next day he went out to a neghboring town where his cousin was starting a moving-picture theater. He could at least take tickets or play the usher for the present; anything was better than loafing. His cousin greeted him with: “You are just,the man I am looking for, Jim.” '. , “Glad somebody wants to see me come around. You don’t want a/good usher or a general utility man, do you?” Jim inquired. “Usher nothing; I want a good operator and a piano player, that’s what’s troubling me now.” "That’s us,” Jim assented. '“What? Who is us?” “Er —well—” Jim stammered, “I know a dandy piano player for you, and I can turn the crank myself." “Interested in her?” asked his ’cousin. “I will. be when I get a job, but for the present I can only say a good word for her playing.” “If that’s the case, you bring her out here tomorrow afternoon. As for you, you’re an at $25 per until the engineering is good again. Is it a go?” They shook on it, and Jim hustled back to the city. / When he reached the girl’s home he didn’t even stop to ask her if she had got a position; but read her story from her tired little face as she greeted him at the door. He told her the news and .his cousin’s offer. She hesitated at first, but Jim’s enthusiasm won her, and sb« to be ready the next day. Jim didn’t have time to stop, but hurried back to his lodging house and packed up. Be wondered what -the fellows would say to nee a civil engineer turn moving picture operator, but he counted himself lucky to get that until business was good again. And perhaps she — Jim proved a good operator; and the girl even surprised herself with “show talent,” as she called it. Good luck favored Jim, and he was given a position as chief draughtsman with a good company where his prospects were better than ever before. Jim’s time had come. That night he was going to leave. He Went out of the booth and down the aisle to the orchestra pit where the girl was arranging her music for the next day. Finally she turned around to walk up the aisle. “Oh, Jim, I’ve heard the news! Isn’t it great to think you are going back where you belong? Let me congratulate you,” as she held out a little hand toward Jim. “Good,” said Jim, taking the outstretched hand in his, “but first let me congratulate you.” “On what?” questioned the girl, looking up at him. f “On the fact that to be a good engineer requires music in the house.” "Jim Andrews, what are you talking about?” "Just this,” as he Stepped forward and gathered the little figure in his arms, bent over and kissed the little brown head. “You’ve got to furnish the music for this engineer.” (Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary Press.)