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CHAPTER XI

THE YARDSTICK MAN

JONES was at the office early that morning. He
had breakfasted alone, a considerable time before
even Mrs. Jones appeared. He did this once in a
while, but as he almost always got into a temper
if he tried to explain why, she preferred to take
it for granted, and therefore laid no great emphasis
upon it.
The clerks, sharp-eyed and dull alike, made no
particular comment upon finding him there before
them. Nothing in the way of surprising methods of
discipline would have seemed extraordinary to any of
Jones's employees. As for his behavior during the
rest of the day, they were all too busy with the hurly-
burly, which began at ten and kept up increasingly
until three, to notice whether there was anything
unusual in Jones's behavior or not.
As a matter of fact, it would have taken a very
acute observer to see any difference in the Jones of
that day as against the ordinary Jones. It was true
that he spent less time sitting solidly and grimly at
his desk ; but then, it was a very busy day, when even

S05



THE YAKDSTICK MAN



son? He thought of this for some minutes, conflict-
ing impulses clashing within him. At last his old
slogan helped him once more. He cast the question
aside. It did not matter. The thing for him to do
was to go. It was bound to come out all right.
