By COURTNEY RYLEY COOPER and LEO. F. CREAGAN
From American Magazine
The entrance of Martin Garrity, superintendent of the Blue Ribbon Division of the O.R.&
T. Railroad, had been attended by all the niceties of such an occasion, when Martin,
grand, handsome, and magnificent, arrived at his office for the day. True to form, he had
cussed out the office boy, spoken in fatherly fashion to the trainmaster over the telephone
about the lateness of No. 210, remarked to the stenographer that her last letter had looked
like the exquisite tracks of a cow's hoof--and then he had read two telegrams. A moment
later, white, a bit stooped, a little old in features, he had left the office, nor had he paused
to note the grinning faces of those in his wake, those who had known hours before!
Home, and stumbling slightly as he mounted the steps of the veranda, he faced a person
in screaming foulard and a red toque, Mrs. Jewel Garrity, just starting for the morning's
assault upon the market. Wordlessly he poked forward the first of the telegrams as he
pulled her within the hall and shut the door. And with bulging eyes Jewel read it aloud:
Chicago, April 30.
GARRITY,
Montgomery City:
Effective arrival successor J.P. Aldrich must dispense your valuable services. Kindly
forward resignation by wire confirming this telegram.
W.W. WALKER,
Vice-President & General
Manager.
"And who is this Walker person?" Jewel asked, with a vindictive gasp. "'Tis me that
never heard of him. Why should he sign hisself vice prisident and giniral manager when
the whole world knows Mr. Barstow, bless his soul, is the----"
"Will ye listen?" Martin bellowed with sorrowful asperity. "Somethin's happened. And
now:
GARRITY,
Montgomery City.
Alabaster abound celebrity conglomerate commensurate constituency effective arrival
successor. Meet me Planters Hotel St. Louis this P.M.
LEMUEL C. BARSTOW."
