Success Story by J. G. CozzensI met

Success Story by J. G. Cozzens

I met Richards ten or more years ago when I first went down to Cuba. He was a short, sharp-faced, agreeable chap, then about 22. He introduced himself to me on the boat and I was surprised to find that Panamerica Steel was sending us both to the same
Richards was from some not very good state university engineering schooP. Being the same age myself, and just out of technical college I saw at once that his knowledge was rather poor. In fact I couldn't imagine how he had managed to get this job.
Richards was naturally likable, and I liked him a lot. The firm had a contract for the construction of a private railroad. For Richards and me it was mostly an easy job of inspections and routine paper work. At least it was easy for me. It was harder for Richards, because he didn't appear to have mastered the use of a slide rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found his calculations awful. "Boy," I was at last obliged to say, "you are undoubtedly the silliest white man in this province. Look, stupid, didn't you evertake arithmetic? How much are seven times thirteen?" "Work that out," Richards said, "and let me have a report tomorrow."
So when I had time I checked his figures for him, and the inspector only caught him in a bad mistake about twice. In January several directors of the United Sugar Company came down to us on business, but mostly pleasure; a good excuse to 'get south on a vacation. Richards and I were to accompany them around the place. One of the directors, Mr. Prosset was asking a number of questions. I knew the job well enough to answer every sensible question – the sort of question that a trained engineer would be likely to ask. As it was Mr. Prosset was not an engineer and some of his questions put me at a loss. For the third time I was obliged to say, "I'm afraid I don't know, sir.
We haven't any calculations on that".
When suddenly Richards spoke up.
"I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir", he said. "I just happened to be working this out last night. Just for my own interest".
"Oh," said Mr. Prosset, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. "That's very interesting, Mr. -er- Richards, isn't it? Well, now, maybe you could tell me about".
Richards could. Richards knew everything. All the way up Mr. Prosset fired questions on him and he fired answers right back. When we reached the head of the rail, a motor was waiting for Mr. Prosset. He nodded absent-mindedly to me, shook hands with Richards. "Very interesting, indeed," he said. "Good-bye, Mr. Richards, and thank you."
"Not, at all, sir," Richards said. "Glad if I could be of service to you."
As soon as the car moved off, I exploded. "A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but some of your figures...!"
"I like to please," said Richards grinning. "If a man like Prosset wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?"
"What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks somebody who does know?"
"Listen, my son," said Richards kindly. "He wasn't asking for any information he was going to use. He doesn't want to know these figures. He won't remember them. I don't even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you and me." "Yes," said Richards firmly. "He is going to remember that Panamerica Steel has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything, he wanted, – just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no interest in his work, couldn't answer the simplest question and who is going to be doing small-time contracting all his life."
It is true. I am still working for the Company, still doing a little work for the construction line. And Richards? I happened to read in a newspaper a few weeks ago that Richards had been made a vice-resident and director of Panamerica Steel when the Prosset group bought the old firm.

Результаты (русский) 1:

История успеха Дж. г. CozzensЯ встретил Ричардс десять или более лет назад, когда я впервые пошел на Кубу. Он был коротким, сталкивается с острыми, приятным chap, то около 22. Он представился мне на лодке, и я был удивлен тем, что стали Panamerica направляет нас и к тому же Ричардс был от некоторых инженерных schooP не очень хороший государственный университет. Будучи же возраста сам и только из технического колледжа я сразу увидел, что его знание является довольно бедным. На самом деле я не мог себе представить, как ему удалось получить эту работу.Ричардс был естественно симпатичным, и я любил его много. Фирма имела контракт на строительство частной железной дороги. Ричардс и мне было главным образом легкая работа инспекций и рутинной бумажной работы. По крайней мере, это было легко для меня. Это было труднее Ричардс, потому что он, как представляется, не освоили использование правила слайда. Когда он попросил меня, чтобы проверить его цифры я нашел его расчеты ужасно. «Мальчик,» я, наконец, был вынужден сказать, «вы, несомненно, глупый белый человек в этой провинции. Смотри, глупо, не вы evertake арифметики? Сколько стоят семь раз тринадцать?» «Работа что,» Ричардс сказал, «и позвольте мне иметь доклад завтра.»Поэтому, когда у меня было время я проверил свои фигуры для него, и инспектор только поймал его в плохой ошибкой о дважды. В январе несколько директоров Объединенной компании сахар спустился вниз к нам на бизнес, но главным образом удовольствие; хороший повод, чтобы ' получить Юг на отпуск. Ричардс и я должны были сопровождать их вокруг места. Один из директоров, г-н Prosset задавал ряд вопросов. Я знал работу достаточно хорошо, чтобы ответить на каждый разумный вопрос – рода вопрос квалифицированного инженера бы спросить. Как и г-н Prosset не был инженер и некоторые его вопросы поставить меня в убыток. Уже в третий раз, когда я был вынужден сказать «я боюсь, я не знаю, сэр.Мы не все расчеты на этом».Когда вдруг Ричардс говорил.«Я думаю, около 9 миллионов кубических футов, сэр»,-сказал он. «Я только что произошло, чтобы работать это прошлой ночью. Как раз для моих собственных интересов».«О,» сказал г-н Prosset, превращаясь в его место и давая ему острый взгляд. «Это очень интересно, г-н - э - Ричардс, разве это не? Ну теперь, может быть вы могли бы рассказать мне о».Ричардс может. Ричардс знал все. Вплоть до вопросов г-н Prosset произвели на него и он выстрелил ответы правой обратно. Когда мы добрались до начальника железной дороге, двигатель ждет г-н Prosset. Он кивнул рассеянности ко мне, пожали друг другу руки с Ричардс. «Очень интересно, действительно,» сказал он. «До свидания, г-н Ричардс и благодарю вас.»«Нет, на всех, сэр,» сказал Ричардс. «Рад, если бы вам.»As soon as the car moved off, I exploded. "A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but some of your figures...!""I like to please," said Richards grinning. "If a man like Prosset wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?""What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks somebody who does know?""Listen, my son," said Richards kindly. "He wasn't asking for any information he was going to use. He doesn't want to know these figures. He won't remember them. I don't even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you and me." "Yes," said Richards firmly. "He is going to remember that Panamerica Steel has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything, he wanted, – just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no interest in his work, couldn't answer the simplest question and who is going to be doing small-time contracting all his life."It is true. I am still working for the Company, still doing a little work for the construction line. And Richards? I happened to read in a newspaper a few weeks ago that Richards had been made a vice-resident and director of Panamerica Steel when the Prosset group bought the old firm.