Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

60 Bird paused to allow himself a slight smile of creative joy. That last was good! “Treacherous shallows,” he repeated, rel- ishing the words, “and into the sunny— no, sunlit—waters, of commercial prosper- ity. To Mr. John Smith and his wife this board extends its heartfelt wishes for Mr. Smith’s speedy recovery of health and the indefinite continuation of a life of service to his fellow men. And—er—yes, I guess that will do for that, Miss Lee. Er—you bave the knack of expression yourself very well, Miss Lee. If you notice any rough spots will you be so kind as to iron them out—edit them, I think is the proper word?” “Ves, Mr. Bird.” “Thank you, Miss Lee.” Bird smiled, then the smile vanished into his usual brisk, businesslike look of alertness. ‘‘ There is just one thing more,” he said. “ Take this, please. It is brief, “Vir. CASPAR LANSING, “Eureka Manufacturing Company: “Dear Sir—I regret to inform you that it will be necessary for us to accept your resigna- tion as assistant sales manager of this com- pany two weeks from date. “ Yours, et cetera.” “ That is all,” said Bird. ‘ Don’t forget to telephone the engrosser about the resolu- tion, Miss Lee. We shall want it at once, before Mr. Smith goes to California.” Departing, Miss Lee for a moment held open the door to Bird’s private office and the general manager was afforded a glance into the wide open spaces of the big general offices. His eyes swept the desks with a swift, inclusive glance, and what he saw pleased him. They were all young men out there, young, energetic, hustling men, throughout the Eureka organization, all save John Smith, the retiring president, and Caspar Lansing, whose fate he had just settled. Mr. Bird, who had just turned his fortieth birthday and considered himself a very young man, tipped back and surveyed the ceiling with a smile, “Tt looks like a good year,” he said to the ceiling. ‘‘ Yes, a very good year! This plant is no longer a home for old men!” John Smith, the retiring president of the Eureka Manufacturing Company, came out ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. of the directors’ room, where the board had just elected Amos Bird to succeed him as president, and entered the general offices. He was a tall, spare man, with crisp, crink- ly white hair, bushy white eyebrows and keen blue eyes. He was smooth shaven and his face still held the pallor of a recent illness anc showed deeply etched lines about the eyes and nostrils. For all that John Smith stood very erect and moved with a springy, youthful step and all his old-time snap and decision. John Smith had heard the resolution ac- cepting his resignation and was touched by its expressions of friendship. cealed his emotions fairly successfully under the cloak of his usual brisk, gruff, good humored banter with his fellow directors and took his leave of them as a man should. But he was glad that the board had met late in the afternoon and consequently that the office force had gone home. John Smith did not care, just then, to face the ordeal of innumerable handshakes and good wishes from the young men of his organization. He was glad to see nobody was in the office except Miss Lee, the stenographer, bent over her machine, and old Caspar Lansing, the assistant sales manager. He strode, with a nod and cheery “ Good night” past Miss Lee, to Lansing’s desk. Lansing was facing several hours of over- time work, checking up new sales orders. He had paused to eat a sandwich, taken from the pocket of his tattered office coat. Lansing was a short, tubby, bald headed little man. He had the round, bland, snub nosed face of a cheerful baby, and if he had shaved off his short, gray mustache and removed his glasses he might have substi- tuted in any perambulator without arousing undue suspicion. John Smith paused at Lansing’s desk and extended his hand. ‘“ Well, Caspar!” Lansing sprang to his feet, grasping the hand hard. “ Good-by, Johnny; good-by! I—i’m sorry you’re leaving us—” ‘We can’t help getting old, Caspar. You damn fraud, you’re not so young yourself, but you manage to keep Bird fooled some- how!” He con-. Caspar’s eyes twinkled. ‘‘ Oh, me!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ I’m too insignificant. He’s Comiciooksacom