Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1917 — The Old Shop [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Old Shop

By JAMES SCOLLARD

(Copyright. 1916. ty W. G. Chapman.) Peter Lessard sat down wearily beside Clarice, his wife. “Yes, it’s what we expected,” he said. “I’ve got a week’s notice. And that’s called a concession. They generally don't give notice at all.” - Clarice looked round the dingy flat and smothered a sigh. Their four years of married life had begun so happily, and threatened to- end—nowhere; Peter had dropped from a position on a literary staff, at fifty-dollars a week, to a job a semi-skilled workman. at twenty-two. 'And their needs and tastes were those of the sixty-dol-lar people. « “I can't blame Gough & C 0.,” said Peter. “The day of the unapprenticed man has gone. I'm about the only man in the shop who knows the trade from its foundations; but I wasn’t apprenticed and I can't get a -union card. And Gough & Co. are going to employ only union labor. That’s all, except that they're the last of the big firms to follow the lead. I'll have to hunt day jobs in the foundries now.” “You shan't I” cried Clarice, flinging her arms about her husband’s neck, J “Peter, dear, last night I dreamed that you were all back at the old place, working as you used to do. It’s a good sign, dear.” Peter laughed mirthlessly. “No chance of that.” he answered. “They

have my address. They’d have written if there were any chance of starting D up again.” “Go down, dear, and see if there’s any chance of their resuming.” Peter laughed mirthlessly. "I guess the little old place changed hands long ago,” he answered. sighed. That was just like Peter, waiting upon events. He never did have initiative. At twenty-two Peter had entered the employment of the Babbitt Electrical company. It was a small concern and being crowded out by more prosperous rivals. However, Babbitt had an idea, and he had put all'his resources into it. There was a certain process for cheapening carbons, on which a dozen men had been working independently for years. It was a highly technical affair and Babbit had a score of trusted employees in his works busy upon, the scheme. But the hitch was soon found. In order to bring it to perfection it was necessary to study all the metallurgical writings of the modern German scientists. Now, German scientists are the only men who pursue the minutiae of chemical investigations for their theoretical advantages. Perhaps ten men had described the process, without reference to its practical application. Scattered through German literature, Babbitt knew for certain, were descriptions of the new carbon process. These had to be translated, brought together, analyzed and reapplied.* Peter had had a German mother. He knew the language. He had some literary gift and a good education. And for year after year he had pored over these books, translating, piecing together, until the secret wa§ within Babbitt’s grasp. Then Babbitt’s money gave out and the whole thing was abandoned. Babbitt had only one comfort. Nobody else was likely to hit on the solution. Nobody else had attacked the problem from the same angle, and without this careful spadework success was impossible. And Peter, who might have taken his gleanings to any of the dozen-com-petitors of Babbitt, and ihade a fortune, was either too stupid or too honest, or probably both. Next day he found a letter from Gough & Co., dropping him and inclosing a week’s wages.' He started out tc hunt for a job. He hunted four daya Everywhere it was the same story. Only union men were wanted. Peter tramped the city from end tc end. Work seemed impossible to attain. It was on the fifth day .that h. suddenly realized he had come withit

a block of Babbitt’s old place. Curiously, he strolled toward it. He had heard that it had changed hands ; yet now, to his surprise, he saw a brand new sign, “Babbitt & C 0.,” Over the dingy old doorway, and, stepping forward to look, he .was surprised to see that the foundry -was running again, just as it used to do. The wild hope came to him that there might be a job there after all. It was not likely any of the old staff remained; but Peter had to-get something ; if they wanted only union men he. would go as night watchman or porier— anything. He walked up the stairs and tapped at the door of the private oilice. As nobody answered he walked in. He heard a hum ut voices suddenly cut short; he was conscious of a stir and bustle, and then he-lookedtifriu amazement, to see that things were just as they had been years before. All the old staff were in their places. There was bld Jones the superintendent, and the supervisor, Simpson, with little Cosgrove, and Brown, and Backman. And at the window, just where he used to sit. was his own desk, vacant. There was a huSh of surprise, and then in a moment everybody was on their feet and running toward him. Old Jones was wringing his hands hard and shouting: “It’s Peter. It’s Peter coipe back to us I” « Peter stared in bewilderment at the ■welcoming , faces, the outstretched hands. Simpson snatched up a sheet of notepaper and held it in front of him. “That’s how much we think of you,” he shouted. And Peter read:. "If Peter Lessard, formerly of 19 Scott street, will communicate with the place of his former employment, he may learn of something to - his advantage.” As Peter laid it down Jones grasped him by the arms. “Don’t say you’re .going to stay with your present job,” he yelled.- “Babbitt is willing to pay you anything. He wants you, and he says we’ve got to get you, no matter at what price, because there may be men with your brains, but there isn’t one with your brains and honesty. For the Lord’s sake, Peter, open your mouth and speak. How about it?” i “No, I haven’t got a job,” muttered Peter. _ i “Then ybu’re coming back to us? You can start in today?” » “Do you mean to say the old shop' has opened?” inquired Peter. “You didn’t know? Then what brought you in here? Mr. Babbitt’s got the whole gang together again 1 He has all the backing he needs; and, he’s going to have that process just as fast as you can pick it out of the books. It’s a three years’ contract for all of us, Peter. We tried to get you, but you had moved, and, as you know, it wasn’t a matter we could make free inquiries about, with all those wolves on the scent. What brought you here, if you didn’t know, Peter?” “I guess I did know, in a sort of way,” said Peter. And he realized that he had known, as Clarice had known. For every dream comes true for a man, sooner op later, when a woman wishes it hard enough.

He Saw a Brand New Sign Over the Old Doorway.