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Compton.
"Mr. Compton," he said, "you have made me assistant general
manager here
and now, just when I am reaching a point where I feel I can
accomplish
something, you are practically taking the authority out of my hands
and
putting it in that of a stranger. I feel not only that you are making a
grave mistake, but that it is casting a reflection on my work. It is
making a difference in the attitude of the men toward me that I am
afraid can never be overcome, and consequently while lessening my
authority it is also lessening my value to the plant. I am going to ask
you to drop this whole idea. As assistant general manager, I feel that
it is working injury to the organization, and I hope that before it is
too late--that, in fact, immediately, you will discharge Torrance and
drop this idea of getting outsiders to come in and install a new
accounting system."
"You're altogether too sensitive, Harold," replied Compton. "It is no
reflection on you whatsoever. The system under which we have been
working is, with very few exceptions, the very system that I evolved
myself through years of experience in this business. If there is any
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reflection upon any one it is upon me and not you. You must learn to
realize, if you do not already, what I realize--that no one is
infallible. Just because the system is mine or yours we must not think
that no better system can be devised. I am perfectly satisfied with
what
Mr. Torrance is doing, and I agree with his suggestion that we employ
a
firm of accountants, but I think no less of you or your ability on that
account."
Bince saw that it was futile to argue the matter further.
"Very well, sir," he said. "I hope that I am mistaken and that no
serious harm will result. When do you expect to start these
accountants
in?"
"Immediately," replied Compton. "I shall get in touch with somebody
today."
Bince shook his head dubiously as he returned to his own office.
CHAPTER XIX.
PLOTTING.
The following Monday Miss Edith Hudson went to work for the
International Machine Company as Mr. Compton's stenographer. Nor
could
the most fastidious have discovered aught to criticize in the
appearance
or deportment of Little Eva.
The same day the certified public accountants came. Mr. Harold
Bince
appeared nervous and irritable, and he would have been more
nervous and
more irritable had he known that Jimmy had just learned the amount
of
the pay-check from Everett and that he had discovered that, although
five men had been laid off and no new ones employed since the
previous
week, the payroll check was practically the same as before--
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approximately one thousand dollars more than his note-book
indicated
it should be.
"Phew!" whistled Jimmy. "These C.P.A.s are going to find this a more
interesting job than they anticipated. Poor old Compton! I feel mighty
sorry for him, but he had better find it out now than after that grafter
has wrecked his business entirely."
That afternoon Mr. Compton left the office earlier than usual,
complaining of a headache, and the next morning his daughter
telephoned
that he was ill and would not come to the office that day. During the
morning as Bince was walking through the shop he stopped to talk
with
Krovac.
Pete Krovac was a rat-faced little foreigner, looked upon among the
men
as a trouble-maker. He nursed a perpetual grievance against his
employer
and his job, and whenever the opportunity presented, and sometimes
when
it did not present itself, he endeavored to inoculate others with his
dissatisfaction. Bince had hired the man, and during the several
months
that Krovac had been with the company, the assistant general
manager had
learned enough from other workers to realize that the man was an
agitator and a troublemaker. Several times he had been upon the
point of
discharging him, but now he was glad that he had not, for he thought
he
saw in him a type that in the light of present conditions might be of
use to him.
In fact, for the past couple of weeks he had been using the man in an
endeavor to get some information concerning Torrance and his
methods
that would permit him to go to Compton with a valid argument for
Jimmy's
discharge.
"Well, Krovac," he said as be came upon the man, "is Torrance
interfering with you any now?"
"He hasn't got my job yet," growled the other, "but he's letting out
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hard-working men with families without any reason. The first thing
you
know you'll have a strike on your hands."
"I haven't heard any one else complaining," said Bince. "You will,
though," replied Krovac. "They don't any of us know when we are
going to
be canned to give Compton more profit, and men are not going to
stand
for that long."
"Then," said Bince, "I take it that he really hasn't interfered with you
much?"
"Oh, he's always around asking a lot of fool questions," said Krovac.
"Last week he asked every man in the place what his name was and
what
wages he was getting. Wrote it all down in a little book. I suppose he
is planning on cutting pay."
Bince's eyes narrowed. "He got that information from every man in
the
shop?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Krovac.
Bince was very pale. He stood in silence for some minutes,
apparently
studying the man before him. At last he spoke.
"Krovac," he said, "you don't like this man Torrance, do you?"
"No," said the other, "I don't."
"Neither do I," said Bince. "I know his plans even better than you.
This shop has short hours and good pay, but if we don't get rid of him
it will have the longest hours and lowest pay of any shop in the city."
"Well?" questioned Krovac.
"I think," said Bince, "that there ought to be some way to prevent this
man doing any further harm here."
He looked straight into Krovac's eyes.
"There is," muttered the latter.
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"It would be worth something of course," suggested Bince. "How
much?"
asked Krovac.
"Oh, I should think it ought to be worth a hundred dollars," replied
Bince.
Krovac thought for a moment. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]