The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-01-31
TAKING HIM DOWN.


dick, in commencing your work as
stenographer for the firm of Poplin
Son it is necessary for me to instruct yo,
as to your duties. have charge of tn,
houses correspondence-entir charge
My name, Miss Fosdick, is Nipple"
Eyes, Mr.. Nipple" the girl replied
meekly.
I'm the first place." Mr.. Nipple went
on, leaning back in his chair SO as to ex
pand his chest to its utmost capacity, and
and twisting the ends of his mustache
both hands as he spoke; sin the first
place, always insist on my stenograph
ers taking me down verbatim ct litera
tim. | suppose you know what that
means. It's Latin" he added condo.
scendingly.
Eyes, sir
well, Miss Fosdick, | have had the
houses correspondence in my hands fo1
several years, and the Messrs. Poplin
have come to rely implicitly upon me. In
deed do not really see how this depart
ment could move along without me-.
The girls gray eyes looked at the in
dispensable clerk with an amused
twinkle.
II think can say, Miss Fosdick," the
young man proceeded as he settled him.
self more comfortably in his chair, sand
think l can say it without the slightest
egotism or desire to boast, that have
made the letters of Poplin & Son famous
throughout the business world as models
of English composition and ornate die
ton"
The clerk watched the countenance of
his new assistant closely to note the
impression of his words.
Miss Fosdick nodded Understandings
and smiled. 1t was sweet smile, for
she could not smile any other sort had
she tried.
"Those are the reasons why l always
insist on absolute accuracy On the part
of my stenographer. l do not permit
even the alteration of single word or
any other change whatever. | trust
you apprehend me clearly"
"Quite so, Mr.. Nipple"
'"Then we will begin
Mabel Fosdick's first days work was
perfectly satisfactory to the hyper
critical correspondence clerk. He found
himself taken down with unvarying
accuracy. Ilf 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
times helps to make typewriter COM
munication resemble Egyptian hero
glyphics.
The firm of Poplin & Son had beer.
served by masculine typewriter, but
the style of the correspondence clerk had
become too oppressive for him, and he
had resigned.
This was exactly what Mr.. Nipple
wished, for he longed for a typewriter
with laughing eyes and golden hair
upon whom to lavish his flowers of lam
guage-such being as he had read
about in the funny papers.
At last he had found one to suit him,
after much examination of applicants,
in the person of Miss Fosdick.
Everything went ON with apparent
smoothness for about a month. The
members of the firm noted with ap-
proval the modest demeanor of their
new typewriter, and the other male
clerks in the establishment envied Hip
pie his pleasant duties.
One day the elder Mr.. Poplin sent for
Miss Fosdick to come into his private
Office.
'Sit down, please" he said when she
arrived. 81 have here letter from nv
friend Mr.. Shaw, of Shaw g. King. who
says that a communication from this
firm contains much irrelevant matter"
Poplin looked over his glasses at Miss
Fosdick and found her blushing, with
her eyes cast down. He asked, not un-
kindly:
''Did you write letter to that firm
latelyy"
Eyes, SIR"
"Then You know its character
eyes, SIR"
What have you to say about itr'
81 wrote it down just as Mr.. Nipple
dictated it, SIR"
$50 I supposed after reading it; but
is it not rather unusual to insert in let
ters extraneous remarks made during
''He has always insisted on being
taken down verbatim ct hteratim, sir"
the pretty typewriter went on with some
confusion, ''and really, sir, Mr.. Nipple
has annoyed me so much with his at
tentions and has refused to desist that
| felt must do something to crush him.
I'm sorry I took the method did
oughtn't to-oh, dear, what shall do?"
And Miss Fosdick put her dainty cam
brio handkerchief to her eyes, and her
speech dissolved in tears.
"Therel therel my dear girl. don't |
cry" said Mr.. Poplin soothingly.
He took her hand to assist in the COM
fortlng operation and placed her head
On his fatherly shoulder. He was n
700 Old to make mental note of how long |
her lashes lay On her rosy cheeks, and |
now dewdrops Of tears oozed through |
them.
what am doing?" Mabel exclaimed |
as she bethought herself of the picture
she and Mr.. Poplin would present if |
any one should come into the office, and |
she promptly raised her head.
"You did just right said Mr.. Poplin. |
to her treatment of Mr.. Nipple. |
The presumptuoUsr rascal! Nevermind.
little girl--er-Miss Fosdiek. I'll settle
with MIR. Nipple myself. In the mean
Time Won NAV take a couple of dag 80