The Go-Getter | Page 4

really ought to be. And I developed pneumonia with influenza and
they found some T.B. indications after that. I've been at the government tuberculosis
hospital at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, for a year. However, what's left of me is certified
to be sound. I've got five inches chest expansion and I feel fine."
"Not at all blue or discouraged?" Cappy hazarded.
"Oh, I got off easy, Mr. Ricks. I have my head left--and my right arm. I can think and I
can write, and even if one of my wheels is flat, I can hike longer and faster after an order
than most. Got a job for me, Mr. Ricks?"
"No, I haven't, Mr. Peck. I'm out of it, you know. Retired ten years ago. This office is
merely a headquarters for social frivolity--a place to get my mail and mill over the gossip
of the street. Our Mr. Skinner is the chap you should see."
"I have seen Mr. Skinner, sir," the erstwhile warrior replied, "but he wasn't very
sympathetic. I think he jumped to the conclusion that I was attempting to trade him my
empty sleeve. He informed me that there wasn't sufficient business to keep his present
staff of salesmen busy, so then I told him I'd take anything, from stenographer up. I'm the
champion one-handed typist of the United States Army. I can tally lumber and bill it. I
can keep books and answer the telephone."
"No encouragement, eh?"
"No, sir."
"Well, now, son," Cappy informed his cheerful visitor confidentially, "you take my tip
and see my son-in-law, Captain Peasley. He's high, low and jack-in-the-game in the
shipping end of our business."
"I have also interviewed Captain Peasley. He was very kind. He said he felt that he owed
me a job, but business is so bad he couldn't make a place for me. He told me he is now
carrying a dozen ex-service men merely because he hasn't the heart to let them go. I
believe him."
"Well, my dear boy--my dear young friend! Why do you come to me?"
"Because," Mr. Peck replied smilingly, "I want you to go over their heads and give me a
job. I don't care a hoot what it is, provided I can do it. If I can do it, I'll do it better than it
was ever done before, and if I can't do that I'll quit to save you the embarrassment of
firing me. I'm not an object of charity, but I'm scarcely the man I used to be and I'm four
years behind the procession and have to catch up. I have the best of references--"

"I see you have," Cappy cut in blandly, and pressed the push-button on his desk. Mr.
Skinner entered. He glanced disapprovingly at William E. Peck and then turned inquiring
eyes toward Cappy Ricks.
"Skinner, dear boy," Cappy purred amiably, "I've been thinking over the proposition to
send Andrews out to the Shanghai office, and I've come to this conclusion. We'll have to
take a chance. At the present time that office is in charge of a stenographer, and we've got
to get a manager on the job without further loss of time. So I'll tell you what we'll do.
We'll send Andrews out on the next boat, but inform him that his position is temporary.
Then if he doesn't make good out there we can take him back into this office, where he is
a most valuable man. Meanwhile--ahem! hum-m-m! Harumph!--meanwhile, you'd oblige
me greatly, Skinner, my dear boy, if you would consent to take this young man into your
office and give him a good work-out to see the stuff he's made of. As a favor to me,
Skinner, my dear boy, as a favor to me."
Mr. Skinner, in the language of the sporting world, was down for the count--and knew it.
Young Mr. Peck knew it too, and smiled graciously upon the general manager, for young
Mr. Peck had been in the army, where one of the first great lessons to be assimilated is
this: that the commanding general's request is always tantamount to an order.
"Very well, sir," Mr. Skinner replied coldly. "Have you arranged the compensation to be
given Mr. Peck?"
Cappy threw up a deprecating hand. "That detail is entirely up to you, Skinner. Far be it
from me to interfere in the internal administration of your department. Naturally you will
pay Mr. Peck what he is worth and not a cent more." He turned to the triumphant Peck.
"Now, you listen to me, young feller. If you think you're slipping gracefully into a good
thing, disabuse your mind of that impression right now. You'll step right up to the plate,
my son, and you'll hit the ball fairly on the nose, and you'll do