The day book. [volume], July 29, 1913, Image 19

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
Old Jerry had been a veteran in the
mirror service, but for a year classed
as superannuated, and lived in an old
barracks some relatives had left him
Walter had been his apprentice, in
"fact, and Jerry was quite fond of
him.
"Well, my hearty," he hailed, "how
goes it?"
"Bad," replied Walter, promptly
and truthfully. "I'm discharged,"
and he told how.
"Good! grand!" cried old Jerry. "I.
don't mean because you lost your job,
but because I need a hand, and I
don't know a better one than you.
Lad, I've got a big contract. It will
take three months to fill it. 1 11 feed
you, house you, and give you a 50
per cent. Bhare in the profits when
the work is done. I'll guarantee at
least $5,000 for the year. What do
you say?"
Walter looked dubiously at the
speaker. In' general estimation old
Jerry was a down-and-outer. Walter
marveled at his talking so big.
"What do you expect me to do?"
he asked.
"Buy broken mirrors from factor
ies. You just broke one, you say.
Go and buy the fragments."
"What are you going to do with
them?" '
"Cut and fit them to small medal
lion mirrors. I've got an unlimited
order."
"Who from?"
"That's my secret, "and, in order
not to let any one elBe beat us to our
special market, my backer insists on
its being kept a secret Now, look
here I know what I'm about. Go
and get the gloom out.of your mind,
pitch in with me, and inside of a year
you'll be on the road to wealth."
Somehow the optimism of the old
man inspired Walter with new cheer.
Somehow his hopelessness was dis
sipated, and he mustered up 'cour
age to call upon Leah and tell her
everything. She not onlv pcntpd
no other invitation, but asked him to
spend the evening at her home, and 1
evinced the liveliest interest in his
new prospects.
Somewhere old Jerry had purchas
ed an enormous number of medallion
frames. His business was to fill them
with little mirrors made from the
fragments Walter purchased at a bar
gain. One night he took a stroll with
Walter, and paused in the wholesale
section of the city to point out a
large, wool warehouse with a great
pillow factory next to it
"Wool," observed old Jerry,' oracu
larly, "feathers. Staples; something
tangible, see?"
"Yes, I see," admitted Walter, "but
what have wool and feathers to do
with medallion mirrors?"
"You'll soon know!" was all old
Jerry would say, and directed him to
announce to "that girl of his" that
he would have to suspend his
Wednesday and Sunday night calls
for a month or two. Then there was
some rush business. The medallion
mirrors were packed in boxes. There
was nearly acarjoad of them. They
were shipped across the continent
When they arrived at the little town
on the coast, they were removed to
the Lame Duck..
The Lame Duck was worthy of her
name an old shore liner owned by
old Jerry's backer and brother. About
all it hadVas plently of hold room.
Otherwise, it was an old tub.
Then there was a cruise of 800
miles south and then somewhere off
the Central American coast the Lame
Duck came to anchor in the port of
the principal island of a vast archipel
ago. There were natives, thousands of
them, and one king over them all. It
was with this potentate that Captain
Gowan did business. It seemed that
on a previous voyage thd'captain had
presented the king with the first hand
mirror he had even seen. It set his
kingship wild with delight
iaey had no money, no postage
stamps, nothing but banana trees and
shell fish on the island, sheep and