The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-01-23

cry, SAID Mr.. Poplin, soothingly.
He took her hand to assist in the
comforting operation, and placed her
head on his fatherly shoulder. He
was not too old to make mental note
of how long her lashes lay on her rosy
cheeks, and how dewdrop tears oozed
through them.
"What am I doingS" Mabel ex-
claimed, rs 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.. Pop
lin, referring to her treatment of Mr..
Nipple. "The presumptuous rascal !
Never mind little girl-er-Miss Fos-
dick. I'll settle with Mr. Nipple my
SELF In the meantime, you may take
n couple of days Of Go home right
away, and I'll see that he annoys you
no more"
After the fair typewriter had put on
her wraps and gone home, Mr.. Nipple
was called into the private office, and
Mr.. Poplin asked him:
"Are you in the habit of reading
and signing the firms letters after the
typewriter has taken them from your
dictation and transcribed them, Mr..
Hipple?"
"Well, sir, / used to, but found
Miss Fosdick 50 scrupulously exact
that lately l have permitted her to
sign and mail letters dictated to her,
without my reading. She takes me
down word for word, sir; so l feel
that it isn't necessary for me to read
them over"
"The reason why asked you the
question is this: 1 received a note
from Mr.. Shaw this morning of
Shaw q King, you KNOWN which he
asks an explanation of a letter he had
just received from this house. Perhaps
you can give the needed explanation
after l have read you the letter. This
is it:
'Gentlomen-Your favor of Mon
day was received in due course. Got
that down, sweetness? In reply, we
would say-Id like a sweet kiss from
those ruby lips-say that the goods
you mention-you, charming creature,
why are you so cold to me?-mention,
were shipped yesterday morning.
Your bird-like voice thrills me
through and throughl Why do you
never smile on your adorer? Hoping
that they have arrived in good con-
dition-Give me one kiss, Marei dar-
ling, won't you?-and that they gave
perfect atistaction-Got that down,
little beauty?-we beg to remain,
yours very truly-One kiss now, !
insist. What are you struggling for?
your obedient servants,
'POPLIN Il SON."
Nipple turned alternately red and
white while his employer read this let
ter in icy tones and said nothing when
it was concluded. The occasion did
not seem to be one for the display OF
ornale English composition.
After a painful pause, the senior
member of the firm went on:
"Mr. Nipple, l think I'll attend to
the correspondence of this firm here
after myself, and what lovemaking l,
is necessary to do to the typewriter
will also look after. The cashier will
give you your salary to date. Good
morning, sir"
"The ideal" exclaimed Mr.. Poplir
to his son, the junior member, half an
hour later, when he had laid the whole
matter before him. "The idea that
n womanly and modest girl like Mis-:
Fosdick should be SO grossly mis-.
treated in my establishment exasper'
ates me. She's pretty and sweet and
altogether admirable"
81 rather admire Hipplc's taste, >
replied the son.
"Oh, you do !" exclaimed the father
"Then I suppose have done wrong
in discharging the scamp, even wher
he knew his attentions were distastefu
to the girl?"
"No, father, you did quite right
OF course it would not do for tina
sort of thing to continue.
"Of course it wouldn't. 1t woulo
be persecution of as sweet girl as
know"
"Why, you are not in love with he
yourself. are you, father?"
81? A widower of fifteen years