TEN MINUTES' STORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3943, 28 May 1913, Page 3

TEN MINUTES' STORY.

THE LAY OFF.

CJi.y Frin:i: N. Jones). It was when the economy fever struck mo engineering department of th© J.O.it.lt. that Jim Andrews lost hi a 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 yonies. The chief clerk went from table to take, pausing only long enough to toss down a neat little envelope in front of some busy individual who was too busy to pay immediate attention to it. T

One by one they picked them up, tore off tne 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 the letter and rose from his chair. There was no mistaking the curt and business-iike phrase : “Your servc.es are no longer required after the 2oth inst.” It spoke little, but meant lots. He read it again and again, then turned to jom the uproar. Excitement ran high. It was an un-heard-of innovation. Work was booming instead of falling off ; and they all, as one man, stormed the chief’s desk with the inquiry as to the meaning, only to be met with :

“I’m sorry, fellows, but these are the orders, and I suppose the economy racket is he hind it.’’

Stih, they were not satisfied, but orders were orders, and they were separated, each man to liis own table. Jim tried to work; it seemed a battle where it had always seemed a pleasure, the very figures he wrote seemed to jump up before him and cry ‘ •You’re fired.”

He threw down his pen in disgust, rose from his chair, and, stuffing Ills hands into his pockets, he shuffled aimlessly towards the outer office. He didn’t have any business out there, but he wanted to go somewhere, and, not caring where, lie poked along out. There was no one in the outer office except a girl who sat at a typewriter over by the window. Jim had seen her occasionally as he had been through the office to and from work.

He stood still in the doorway looking at her, but she did not turn around, so Jim could see her fac-e. On the desk beside her lay an unopened envelope of the kind that was the cause of Jim’s present troubles. She paid no attention to it, but kept on typewriting. As the click of the machine ceased Jim almost wanted to go oyer and snatch the little envelope from the desk and destroy it; but he didn't make a move. After reading the letters she 'had written, she placed them on the table, and, picking up the envelope, she leaned back in her chair to read the contents.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, rather embarrassed. "I didn't know there was anyone in here. You almost frightened me.”

“Are you fired, too?” was Jim’s onlv comment.

She hesitated a moment, glanced at the letter, and said clowly : "" “I sujqwse so.” “When do you go,"’ Jim asked. “The 25 th, the letter says.” “Same here,” he answered, as he turned and started back into the drafting-room. She looked after him as lie disappeared around the corner, somewhat surprised. The next two weeks were years to •Jim. He passed his time evenings and Saturday afternoons going the rounds of the places he knew in search of a job. With the whole, roomful of men it was the same story, “Nothing doing.”

He met the girl every morning and evening as ho went to and from the office. He noticed a sort of tired look on her very pretty face as she tried bravely to smile when she met hirn.^ At last the fatal 2-sth came, and Jim, with some dozen other sullen individuals, left the office that night to face the job-hunier’s lot. As lie left- the office and started down tho corirdor. the girl came out and joined him. Ho was in no mood for conversation. He felt and looked ugly. She had a cheery “Good evening” for him. but it didn’t have its usual effect on him.

They entered the elevator, and were soon outside the building, neither seemed to know just which way to turn.

It was Jim who broke the silence with that question which had been ringing in his ears for two weeks. “Got anything to do?” “Nob yet,” she replied, looking up at him. “Have you?”

“No; I’m in the same box as the rest of.the bunch.”

"I should think you engineers could got positions enough, but with us girls it’s different, there are so many to do the drudgery in the office." "Well, engineers’ jobs seern to be pretty well applied for just now," replied Jim. “I suppose the only tiling we can do is to wait for something to turn up," continued the girl. "'They- say patient waiters are no losers. ’ I’ve got to hustle home and get supper.’’ "Do you keep house," asked Jim rather surprised. "Not a very Large one, just for mother and myself. Don't you live at homer"

"In a home that costs three per, and you can’t use the gas after eleven o’clock," he retorted dryly. "I suppose I ought to.be glad I can use it that late," he added. "Now, there’s no use 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 veu out to the house for supper. 'Will you come?" He took the girl by the arm and started down the street. As they walked they chatted, and Jim learned tliat she and her mother had moved to the city soon after lujr father’s death, and had kept house together ever since, the girl earning her living by office work for various firms about the city. As they entered the hallway Jim was struck by the quietness of the place ; and after climbing three flights of stairs, in- spite of his puffing, was able to utter an exclamation of surprise as the girl-opened the door and lie beheld a most "exquisite.” as he expressed it, little two-roomed home. An elderly .woman, rase from liar seat by the window and eamejonvard to meet him.

"Mother, this is Mr. she was confused for a moment till Jim came forward with his name. "Andrews." "Really, I had unite forgotten your name," she said, rather guiltily; hut Jim surmised that she had never known it. "And you are one of the engineers at the office?" questioned tin l mother, still .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. 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—no, that was out of the question, and perhaps— l "Does your daughter play the piano?" .asked Jim, suddenly remembering that lie was a guest. "Yes, a,groat deal; and I don’t know what we,would do to amuse ourselves if it were not for the piano-, Mfiizie/is,a fine playerj too." , It 3 as hard for him to remember when lie had had such a home-like monk It had its effect on him, and i

ittL'blade quite an after-dinner entertainer as they sat about the tabu and Jim told stories of his travels and career,

lie walked across the city.'to liis own boardinghouse. The damp night air had its usual depressing effect on his spirits, and when he reached his room he opened wide' tho window and sat down on the bed to think.

No use denying it; sue was the only girl. 'But why on earth couldn’t h<r nave met her before, when his prospects had good for success? He fell to wondering where liis next job was coming from, he. even tried to devise >v means fc> help brio girl; lie knew she needed it. lie turned in, but it was some time before lie went to sleep. Contrary to his usual inclinations ho was out of bed early the next morning, and after breakfast there seemed nothing to do- but walk the streets. He realised now as never before what it was that- filled the streets with loafers, who could never seem to offer any good excuse for being there. He tramped that day, but without success, and he almost gave up that night. The next day lie went out to a neighboring town, where his cousin was just starting a moving-picture theatre. 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 general utility man, do you?” Jim inquired. “Usher nothing; I want a good operator and a piano-player, that’s what troubling mejiow.” “That’s us,” Jim assented- “ What? Who is us?” ' “Er —well-—,” stammered Jim, “I know a dandy piano-player for you, and I can turn tho crank myself.” -“lnterested in her?” asked ins cousin. “I will lac 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 to-morrow afternoon. As for you, you’re on at 25 dollars per until the engineering is good again. Is it a go?” When lie reached the girl’s homo ho didn’t even stop to ask her if she had get a position ; but read her story from. her-tired little face as she greeted him at the door.

He told her the news, and liis cousin’s .offer. She hesitated at first, but Jim’s enthusiasm won her, and she promised to be ready the next day. He wondered what the feliows would say to see a civil engineer turn moving-picture operator, but lie counted himself lucky to get that until business was good again. And perhaps she— Jim proved a good Operator; and die girl even surprised herself with her “shew talent,” as she called it. .Good luck favored Jim, and he was given a position as chief draftsman with‘a good company, where his prospects were better than ever before. Jim’s time had come. That night, as lie was -going to leave, lie went out of the booth and down the aisle to the orchestra pit whore the girl was arranging her music for tho next day. Finally she turned around to walk up tho aisle. “Oh, Jim, I’ve heard the news. Isn’t it great to think you are going back to where you belong? Let me congratulate you, as she held cut a little hand towards Jim. “Good,” . taking the outstretched hand in his, “but first let me congratulate you.” “On what?” questioned the girl, looking up at him. “Oil 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 tho little brown head.

“You’ve got to furnish the music for this engineer.”