Evening journal., 1892-11-22
TAKING HIM DOWN.


"Fosdicz."
"Thanks, very muchl Now, Miss Fos-
dick, in commencing your work as
stenographer for the firm of Puplin &
Sonit is necessary for me TO instruct you
as toNyour duties. / have charge Of the
houses ACCOMPLISHMENTS charge.
My name, Miss Fosdick. is Nipple"
eyes, Mr.. Nipple" the girl replied
meekly.
'gn the first place, Mr. Ripple went
on, leaning back in his chair 80 as to ex-
pand his chest to its utmost capacity, and
and twisting the ends Of his mustache
both hands as he spoke; .'in the first
place, 1 always insist on my stenograph-
er's taking me down verbatim ct litera-
tim. suppose you know what that
means. It's Latin" he added conde-
scendingly.
"Yes, sir"
"Well, Miss Fosdick, have had the
houses correspondence in my hands for
several years, and the Messrs. Poplin
havecome to rely implicitly upon me. In
deed ! do not really see how this depart
ment cosld move along without me"
The girls gray eyes looked at the in
dispensable clerk with an amused
twinkle.
81 think can say. Misc Fosdich," the
young man proceeded as he settled hSm-
self more comfortably in his chair, "and
/ think l can say il without the slightest
egotism or desire 10 boast, that have
made the letters Of Poplin 81 Son famous
throughout the business world as models
of English composition and ornate die
tion."
The clerk watched the countenanee OF
has new assistant closely to note the
impression ofihis words.
Miss Fosdick nodded understandRsly
aud smiled. It was a sweet smile, for
she could not smile any other sort had
she tried.
''Those are the reasons why always
insist on absolute accuracy on the part
Of my stenographer. do not permit
even the alteration Of a single word OF
any other change whatever. trust
you aPpreheRd me clearly"
"Qrite SO, Mr.. Hipple..'
'',Halen We will begin.
Mabel FosdicA's first days work wa:
perfectly satisfactory 10 the hyper
critical correspondence clerk. He found
himself taken down with unyarying
accuracy. In the transcribed letters
too. the words were all spelled correctly
She never struck the wrong character
on her machine-a fault so common
among typeWriterS. and one which some
q
munication resemble Egyptian hero
glyphics.
The firm Of Poplin & Son had beci
served by masculine typewriter. bu
the style of the correspondence clerk kat
become too oppressive for him. and he
had resigned.
This was exactly what MIR. Ripple
wished, for he longed for a typawritei
with laughing eyes and golden laii
upon whom to lavish his flowers OF Ian
guagc-such being as he had r1a,
about in the fusny papers.
At last he had found one to suit him
after muoh examination "a applicants
in the person Of Miss Fosdick.
Everything went on with QppSen
smootlness for about month Tn
members Of the firm noted with ap
proval the modest demeanor Of thei
new typewriter. and the other nal
clerks ia the establishment envied Iiip
pie his pleasant duties
One dag the elder Mr.. Poplin sent 70
Miss Fosdick TO come into his prirat
Office
"Sit down, plesse- lie said when sa
arrived. Il have here "a letter from ul
friend NJ sh,Ny, OF Ssaw & King wh
says that communication from ,hi
firm contains much irrelevant inatrrr. "
Poplin looked over bis glasses al Mis-
Fosdick and found her blushing. wit
her eyes cast down He asked. not m
kindly:
Did you write letter to that fcr
latelyy
"Yes. sir"
''Then you know its characters?
''Yes. sir.
"What have you to say about it,"
81 wrote it down just as Mr.. Hippl
dictated it, sir"
$50 I supposed after reading il; bu
sit not rather unusual to insert in lei
lers extraneous remarks made durin
dictationy
''He has always insisted on bein
taken down verbatim ct literatim. sir.
the pretty typewriter went on with SON
confusion. 'and really. sir, Mr.. Hippl
has annoyed me so much with his af
tentions and has refused to desist tba
/ felt must do something to crush hin
I'm sorry 1 took the method did
ouqhtn't to-oh, dear, what shall dos'
And Miss Fosdick put her dainty can
brio handkerchief to her eyes, and he
speech dissolved in tears.
ssTherel therel my dear girl. don
cry said Mr.. Poplin soothingly.
Ho took her hand to assist in the con
fortiug operation and placed her hen
on his fatherly shoulder. He was nc
too old to make mental note of how lon
her lashes lay on her rosy cheeks, AN
how dewdrops Of tears oozed th-oug
them.
~What am / doingy" Mabel exclaime