“BURNT WINGS”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 December 1928, Page 3

“BURNT WINGS”

CHAPTER XXIX. The next morning after his inter view with Epsom Smith, Sir Horae; Hopper called on the secretary of tin - company and told him that he hac made up his mind about buying oir eston, and asked him to call a meet ing and request particularly the at tendance of the manager. Jeremiah Weston, with all hi: scheming and successful attainment o the height of his ambition—a seat or the board of Hopper’s Mill —was neve’ quite comfortable in the company o his fellow-directors. He tried to covei his embarrassment by an artificia geniality which sat strangely upon hi: lugubrious features and emaciated frame, and was inwardly resented hi the others. j In addition to his usual discomfort I he felt the same mysterious indefinable ( fear and internal sinking that liac 1 come upon him so frequently of late, as he sat at the board meeting the same afternoon. His “breeziness” had forsaken him. and the atmosphere appeared charged with some antagonistic influence. “We are her this afternoon, gentlemen,” began the chairman, “to discuss a. very serious matter. There are many ominous signs of unrest among the staffs, both in the mill itself and in the office —-particularly in the latter —and I have called you together to see if we jointly can fin'd a remedy for this deplorable state of affairs. “It has been suggested that Mr. Jeremiah Weston, our manager, may be able to shed some light on the prevalent unrest, and I am particularly pleased to see him here this afternoon. Perhaps, as the only member of the board who is constantly in touch with the staff, he will tell us his views.” Thus direetlv addressed, Jeremiah Weston licked his dry lips and rose to his feet. “I have a very good but somewhat drastic remedy, gentlenwm.” he began with a sickly grin, “and that is to sack the lot!” “Nonsense!” interposed one of the company. “We want preventives, not cures!” “T think Mr. Weston’s remedy would hardly be satisfactory,” resumed the chairman. ..in sauve tones. tC ‘Sackirur t-Tirt lot’ is all ripjht in certain cases and up to a certain point, but it isn’t a remedy that could be carried on indefinitely No business eon he satisfactorily accomplished if tbe staff is constantly in a state of flux. No; we must find some other means of combating the trouble. We must get at tbe cause.” As lie looked across in Weston’s direction the latter once more rose and grinned, but this time his narrow nostrils were pinched, and a peculiar paleness was evident underneath. “Well. T don’t know, gentlemen.” ho said hesitatingly. “I’m sure I don’t know the cause. I do all T can to make the staff comfortable. My work. n« T have before mentioned, is mv liobhy, and I have many a little joke here and there with the staff. There’s some other underlying cause—Bolshevism or something and—” “Pardon me. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it' I sav that Mr. Weston is making the mistake of attributing to some mysterious international organisation trouble which I fe°l sure is oure'v local and the remedy for u-hich I am firmly convinced rests in bis own bands.” Jeremiah Weston bad remained standing durip" this interruption. “Mv own daughter.” he resumed, “found the same unrest in the office. With tbe mo«t amiable of dispositions gentlemen, that delicately nurtured "irl bad to contend with an antagonism that was little short of scandalous, and—” “Is it possible to ask Miss Weston to attend this meeting, Mr. Chairman; and bear wbat sbp has to say?” sugfrpe+cd one of the board. “T’m sovrv gentlemen.” explained Tpreminb sadlv. as he wiped away an iiuavuinrv tear ” but my daughter and m T - hovisekponer loft me —deserted me nth nr dev!” “T firm’t unite se°- i\-hr + these dnaffairs have to do with +hn nirst'--)! p+. iscuo.” said the ebairman “Put T mould Hke to express tbe svmnff.liT of t]ie directors with, our man--e-r.,. Jr, ],l‘« pi- 7.OSS ” "until your permission, Mr OTiPirman.” l.ogan the nrevioim suoaker, ri«f.v lilt. “T u-oidd like to flmt T differ from that view. T ftiriV pip- manager’s domestie troiAles hava •I dis+iimt bpari-ig on tbe s-ffve-t- under dismission, hut we must, yet hack tr> causes toi preventives, not to remedies. T have n +lieoi-v—d ist.n ster..l „ c ;t ,nav he to. Mr. Weston—tba + +l.e came pause .euppafps in Im+h cns*w T+, ic +lie noi'calul element: Onp st'aCP is gradually leaving us because of its

By G. Herbert Teague.

Ayy\QZyxAgsAAAAA(>.AAAAA/vNAAAAAAAAAAk antipathy to the manager, and it is safe to., presume that the manager’s r- daughter# left him for the same reals son!” ie Jeremiah Weston raised his hand in d appeal to the chairman. The old fear it was asserting itself, t- “Then how would the last speaker t- explain my poor daughter’s unhappiness there? She had done no harm.” is The member referred to was on his >f 1 feet in a moment. n “The explanation is simple, and calls ii* for a simple remedy. So great is the >f antipathy to—l might truthfully say :t the hatred of—our manager that it is d my firm opinion that until the cause is of that hatred is removed there will d be no—” y Like a rat fighting for its life, Jeremiah Weston jumped up with his little b eyes shining like black glass heads, e “Does the speaker suggest that I d resign my position as manager?” h “Mr. Chairman,” resumed the reo lentless voice, “I wish to propose a resolution that Mr. 'Weston is requesti. ed to tender his resignation from the d position of manager, and also from his 1 position as director of Hopper’s Mill, ;- the —” “I refuse!” cried Weston, livid with e fear and rage. g “The consideration for such resig:l nation,” went on the even voice, being - a month’s salary in the case of the l* former position, and in the latter the v purchase by the company at market ! price of his holding as director.” “It’s a consniracy! I refuse to re- 1 v sign!” cried Weston. i “I am afraid I must request Mr. ; V Weston to withdraw while the vote is: . taken,” said the chairman. In fact.; a T would strongly advise him to do so ” | i be added, as Jeremiah made no at- j tempt to carry out tbe suggestion. i Feeling the ground slipping from *> under his feet, and with the horrible f internal sinking becoming ' more and ’ more pronounced, until he felt as• 1 though he would faint, the miserable I creature rose unsteadily and almost! e st' l K rr ered through the door. ! t When he had gone, the resolution j was put to the vote and carried unr a nimously. “When is it intended that- this liio- . tion should be carried into effect?” - asV.ecl Sir Horace Hooper. , “At once,” was the reply. “Tbe ? thing is carried unanimously, and it s only remains for the secretary to see 1' about the finanrial part of the procedf ure and to inform Mr. Weston offir chilly by letter of the decision of the ? board. ’ ’ Late the. same evening Jeremiah s Weston c«l'ed on Sir Horace at his re--1 sidence. He had not yet heard the re- - suit of the voting, but had no doubt r of what the voting would he. “I suppose I must how to the in- =» evitable.” he said, in answer to the i t magnate’s remark' that he would rei ceive an intimation probably by the . next, morning’s post. • “You will be able to have a holiday i anyway.” continued Sir Horace with a s peculiar smile. “Yes. and T believe I can do with it.” agreed Jerry. .“Troubles have 1 mine thick upon me. First mv danglii ter deserts nie and now the _ firm - throws' me over as a piece of machinery • t<> he scrapped. The same ingratitude 3 in both cases.” i* “Excepting that you will find your-, i self well in pocket through both events.” corrected the other.' 1 (“Possibly—kes. Left me before T sever mv connection —only rav official • connection, I hope—with yourself and • the old firm, execute my final commission. I have here a receipt from that 1 —that creature to whom von foolish- - Iv sent a sum of money.” Sir Horace Hooper examined the niece of paper. It was an acknowi led cement for £SOO. and was sinned by • Ninon Esterel in a bold hand. j “Did she make any trouble?” he j asked, remembering Smith's statement, ’ nbo”t the Haft of £IOO. 1 “Oh. bluffed n little, as this cl JVS«S ( 1 o p person always does.” said Jcrrv e airilv. “But I convinced her that she was hickv to get away with it.” J “Did Ac leave the town?” - “T suppose so,” was the reply, “M haven’t sp"ti her since. I don’t think j - however, that sh° will have the temer-j - itv t-n show up here again. There is Ana, little thing I would like von fa| - yotme, and that is the receipt. T j - P.an’t want anv suspicion of dishonesty • ■i+tachiuc to my good name It was ' that yon entrusted to me : the ’ receipt mu will notice, is for the same • amount.” v A seemed lifted from Sir Hor- - aee Hooper’s shoulders as the door op-ioad behind Jeremiah Weston. h “J wonder who’s Iving about that money?” he murmured. p (To be continued).