Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1916)

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Pickles and Pearls 289 Blivens reported that Jorkins had resigned, and had been united in marriage to Miss Capitola Rawlins. Ordinarily, a sudden resignation would have stirred up a tempest in the proprietor's office. But Mr. McTodd merely laughed. ''I had thought it would happen, Blivens," said he. ''Send Jorkins fifty dollars with my compliments." "Miss Rives," continued Blivens, "has also resigned. It is said that she is engaged to marry a millionaire." Still no explosion. The proprietor laughed again. "Bravo ! Send Miss Rives fifty dollars, too. This is a beautiful world, Blivens, and as we travel through life we should scatter brightness about us. Eh?" "A noble sentiment, Mr. McTodd," said the bookkeeper, "and I concur in it fully." "You are getting twenty dollars a week, are you not, Blivens?" "Yes, sir." "Give yourself twenty-five from now on." "You overwhelm me, sir !" "I know how to reward faithful service. Send Bill Hankins to me." In due course, Bill Hankins entered the private room. "Hankins," said the proprietor, "your demands are granted. Shorter hours and a new schedule of wages, from now on, for the employees of these works " Hankins was electrified. "Mr. McTodd," said he, with feeling, "you have a kindly heart ! I am glad Charlie persuaded us not to make any more trouble for you yesterday than we did." "You must not call him Charlie any more, Hankins," answered Mr. McTodd. "He is an English milord, and must be respectfully referred to as 'Sir Charles,' in future." "A lord, eh? Well, well! But then, I always knew there was more to that fellow than most people thought. Char9 lie — beg pardon, Sir Charles — was always quite friendly with Henrietta. I wonder if Henrietta could be spared from the chow-chow department long enough to go and congratulate him?" "It would not be fitting," returned Mr. McTodd shortly. "Sir Charles is out of his old sphere, and in a new one. Be careful to remember that." Bill Hankins went away, announced to the employees the new wage scale, and the shorter working hours, and a wild cheer for Silas McTodd echoed and reechoed through the factory. Mr. McTodd, in a very pleasant frame of mind, went home to his noonday meal. Charlie and Lola joined him at table, and he smiled upon them with paternal pride. Following luncheon, the pickle king took his usual nap. From this he was awakened by Hawkins, who came with a telegram. "Hi am sorry to disturb you, sir," said Hawkins, "but 'ere is a message that just arrived." He turned over the yellow envelope to the master of the house, and silently slipped away. "From Shrewsbury Ames, I suppose," mused Mr. McTodd smilingly, "congratulating me on what I have done, and stating the hour of his arrival." Then a bomb exploded. The telegram ran in this wise : Some mistake. I was in error regarding clew that placed missing heir in Boggsville Pickle Works. Man you have cannot be Sir Charles. His lordship is here with me, and we are sailing for England to-morrow. Ames. The words of the message swam before Silas McTodd's eyes. His face grew purple, and his breath hung in his throat. With trembling hands, he unbuttoned his collar. Then he read the message again. A mistake! Charlie not Sir Charles, not an English milord at all ! Heavens, what a tangle !