Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1919 — Ambition and Ability [ARTICLE]

Ambition and Ability

By R. RAY BAKER

(Copyright, 1918, by McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) Ralph Long lacked two essentials to success —ambition and business ability.; Al ington. said he didn't have them. And those' two essentials were among the things she admired most in men. “How do you ever expect to get married on $lB a' week?” she wanted to know when they had their ‘‘final reckoning” on the night he asked his employer for a $2 raise and was told “the firm can't afford it; Iresides. you’re not worth it.” “It canXbe done,” Esther went on. jabbing a loose pin back Into her fluffy red hair. “If'old Wilbur won't give you a raise, why don't you dig out and try New York? Cut loose from_thisL, dead 'town. Ralph, and show them wiuft you’re made of In a regular city. “You’vebeen holding down that office job in Wilbur's canning factoryfive years for that same measly $lB a week, and If you'd had any ambition you would he manager -by this Time or you wouldn't be there at all. ’-If Ralph remonstrated. He had worked hard, but simply had been unable to “make the grade," he asserted, “'ibis is a pretty good job. anyhow.” he said, “and I might not able to get anywhere in the big town." Esther's attractive red lips curved downward in disgust, and she forthwith severed relations. There was no ring to hand back, because he had not been able to procure one, but she let him know in words that could not be misinterpreted that their engagement was a thing of the past “You can keep your A good job’ for ten years more if you like,” she said, “but I’m going to the big town myself, arid I'm going to make good in a regular position.”

She resigned her place as saleswoman in Boorbon’s department store, and a week later carried a handbag and a suit case to the railroad station, resolved to bid Brown City good-by forever. Ralph was there to see off and to ascertain if her decision was irrevocable. “Come on, Es; forget that big talk and settle down here,” he pleaded. ‘‘Never.” a steely glitter in her blue eyes. “It’s all over between us, Ralph. I like you; in fact, Tm very fond of you. but I must forget you, because my husband must be a man who has enough ambition anil ability to get to the front in the business world.” He set his lips firmly and shook hands with her and went back to his desk in the canning factory, but; made amiserable fallure of his work that afternoon and for several days thereafter. He did a deal of serious thinking. and his jaw seemed to become firmer and a resolute light shone from his gray eyes. Things went wrong with Esther. She arrived in New York with thirty dollars in money and a fortune in ambition. In one mopth the thirty had dwindled and the fortune was ebbing. If she had. had “folks at home” she would have written for assistance, but her parents were dead and the only relative she could claim was an uncle whose address was somewhere in America, just where she could not tell because he was a wanderer. True, there were many good friends back home—Ralph among them—-hut she preferred starvation To . letting them kiy>w that her prospects, which had been so alluring from a distance, had turned out to be a mirage. seemed to be no position —not even a mere Job—,foifEsther Remington in all New York. Her writ-, ten recommendation had no effect, because experience was what counted — and experience in Brown City was not the same as experience in New York. ■ J Although she answeretFeherv “help. Wanted" advertisement that seemed to fit her abilities even remotely, she could not find work. Either she was too late with her application or she lacked training for the job. Thus, at the end of a -month’s-’ weary search, Esther was in dire straits. Before long, how-ever. fortune favored her. The goddess didn’t smile at her. but she did lend a helping hand, and Esther obtained work in a laundry—sorting dirty clothes! She kept this Job a month, in lieu of something better, and lived from hand to mouth - on $6 week, eating cold food in her dingy room in a dilapidated house on a dismal street. Then something better .turned up. It was $o a week, with meals thrown in, as waitress in a restaurant, where the food was given a liberal coat of grease to make it slip down easily, instead of being cooked. However, the patrons of the place appeared to like ft. that way, for they came back for more each day. Esther was allowed to keep all her tips, but trie tips were ingratiating smirks, from the male gluttons and an occasional cold “thank you" or I “pleasant day” from the feminine I diners. '

If Esther had been able to save enough money tp pay her fare back to Brown City she would have been tempted to return. But she would not„ have yielded to the temptation, because she felt, that she had burned her bridges when she turned her back on the place of her birth for the great opportunities that beckoned. Every Sight when she crawled between" the torn sheets on the 2 by’4 bed she visioned the cieas, shady eld

.town where, slie hnd grown up, and she longed for a glimpse of Boorbon'fi stride HHd all her former associated there, and she wished she eould go canoeing on Mirror lake and have the moon shine, and—yea, it would have la-on rather nice to have Ralph wielding the paddle. At the end of two years, after surviving a variety of jobs. Esther held down a portion of the floor behind a dry goods counter In.lEe Climax five and ten cent store, and every Saturday night slie went out of the place with $9 in her pocket. Twice she asked for a raise,' and twice site was refused. “There are any number.of girls waiting to take yous place,” she was told. Nothing was saf<i about “affording" it, because the Climax covered a whole, block ami was doing more business than any two stores of the kind in the city. One F'riday evening, discouraged, heartsick, hungry, Esther walked across Seventh avenue, near Times square, immersed in thought. Her gaze fixed on an approaching autoinobile, she was struck by a big touring car coming from the opposite direction. She was knocked off her feet but was not seriously iniiiretLbecause. the driver applied the brakes in time to prevent a bad accident. The car stopped and a young man clad in a plain brown suit got out, picked Esther up in his arms and placed her in the front seat. Then he got in beside her and drove away.She was somewhat dazed and did not recognize the driver until they had gOug several blocks. By that time she was coming to her senses and she gazed in wonder at the face of the man beside her. “Can tlpit be you, Ralph Long?” she exclaimed, incredulously. He smiled and extended an arm to indicate lie was about to. turn a corner." = —--- “It can be—and it is,” he affirmed, as they went up Broadway. “Why —why —what are you doing here in New York?" she stammered. “I'm driving-this-catxt’Uie replied, as -he threw out the clutch and eased the machine through a traffic congestion. “I left Brown City soon after you did —to make good. And now I’m driving this car.” “Oh, a chauffeur!” she said, but the scorn that might have been in her tone two years ago was strangely lacking. “Where are you taking me?” she presently Inquired. “Dianer,” he said briefly. “The owner of the car won't care if I keep it out awhile.” During the meal she told her story without reserve, and he listened with grave interest. “That’s the way it is,” she said when she had finished. “And I want to tell, you,’Ralph, that I was all wrong and I’m sorry I didn’t marry you. If you—you—if you think you care for me still and- want me now you can have me. With your wages and mine we’ll be able to get along.” Ralph lighted a long, formidable cigar and looked across the table with a whimsical expression. “yf course I want you,” he declared. “But my ‘wages’ will support us. And now you’ve lost your job.” “What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled. "I mean that you’re fired from your job at the flve-and-ten,” he answered, as he blew a smoke ring ceilingward. “You see, I happen to be general man* ager of the Cliipax.”