Show r SALARy RAISE HIS VJVQOIJVG I i In ono of tho Broadway hotels much frequented by mercantile travelers trav-elers a knot of drummers were seated at gossip of the trade after dinner What has become of Johnes asked one Havent you heard about him replied the man addressed Have you not heard of his rise and down fall Well It was this way You all know Johnes was the bestseller best-seller Smithson Co had Donald Ilathbono offered him a bigger salary If he would come with them and he succumbed Johnes was foxy and demanded de-manded a written contract for five years which they gavcJihn It was 4000 a year and expenses Well the first trip Johnes made he ran up against hard luck Everything seemed seem-ed to go against him When he got back he was ashamed to show up at the office Ho had not made his salary sal-ary let alone his expenses Dut to his great surprise and gratification his employers greeted him rapturously rapturous-ly Wo know how things go sometimes some-times Mr Johnes they said but never nev-er mind we are perfectly satisfied with your work And they sent him on a trip down South That trip was worso than tho first When lie got back he went Into tho I office prepared for a roasting Before ho could say a word the head of the firm said My dear Mr Johnes we are delighted with the energy you have shown It Is true the returns have not been great but we appreciate what you have done As a reward for your Industry we Intend to raise your salary 500 a year Hereafter you will bo paid weekly at that rate Good day Johnes nearly fainted and pinched himself when ho got outside tho of lice At the end of the week Joancs drew his salary which was computed a the new rate and signed the usual receipt A few days later ho received a letter from the firm saying his services ser-vices were no longer required Jolmei was thunderstruck He hurried to the office nourished his contract and demanded an explanation Your contract Is no longer valid said the head of the firm blandly You broke It by accepting an increase In-crease of salary flood day Johnes Is temporarily out of the business He wants now to know whether that Is good law or not Is It None of the assembled commercial travelers could tell him |