The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-27
THE SUBSTITUTE.
.Has Ketohum come down yet2,,

f'No Worse again today. Can t one OF
the subs take his place for a few daysf''
"Huh! What can a sub do against the
trained force of The Lancets'' returned
Mr.. Sharp sharply.
Just then the outer door opened, also
Mr.. Sharp's eyes. A young woman came
in neatly clad in a gray flannel suit, nat
tily trimmed with fur.
MIR. Sharp, believe" she said, after
her brown eyes had taken an inventory of
the force present. My name is Mary
Ketchun, sir, and, as father is positively
unable to be out, / came to see if you
would allow me to do his work .
do his work?'' repeated Mr.. Sharp me-
chanicaly.
Eyes, sir I believe I can, and father
worries about it so much that it retards
his recovery. Please let me try"
Mr. Sharp felt the sharp points of the
answer he was about to make this prepos-
ferrous young person smoothing and round
ing off in his mind as he looked at her.
His grim face relaxed. IF you really
think you can do it, Miss Ketchum," he
replied, with thawing resolution.
81 am sure I can she replied.
A few moments later Miss Mary de-
parted parcel of bills in her handbag
with list of possible patrons. There's
no fool like an old fool,'' he grumbled to
himself as he took his place at his own
with not red or an ad. to show for my
soft heartedness.
The melting vision of the trim young
lady removed, he was himself again. sharp
Mr. Sharp.
No young lady in tears appeared, though
Mr. Sharp furtively watched the door IN
til lunchtime.
"Gone homo to cry he said then, as he
kicked the office cat on the way out, since
he could not conveniently kick himself.
He was in the pressroom giving some
pointed advice when she did appear.
*'Lady to see you, sir, - said the office boy
at a safe distance, for Mr. Sharp was not
above emphasizing his remarks on days
when things went awry with him, as they
did today.
''Well, sir, - said Miss Mary, diving into
her bag with businesslike promptness as
he dropped into his office chair. "We'u
dispose of bills paid and receipted first. -
She took u goodly roll of money from
her bag before the astonished proprietor's
eyes, and began checking off the names
and amounts from her list of debtors.
''Niessrs. Good & Fuller were not pre-
pared to settle today, but gave me a prom
Use for tomorrow. DR.. Grum bier claims an
error in his bill; the rest are all right I
think. Count the money if you will
He did so, his steely gray eyes filed with
wonder and satisfaction. There were some
as doubtful debtors, but Miss Mary's
charms had been more potent than their
fear of Mr.. Sharp's lawyer. Its all right
NIiss-Miss Ketchum." Mr. Sharp smiled
broadly as he spoke the name. She had
caught 'em sure enough This smile Wild
ened still over his list of ads. engaged.
''What, Gruff & Grimm? How in bIazes
did you manage to get them? Your father
has been after them for year past HAS
hep The big brown eyes opened in inno-
cent wonder. ''Why, I'm sure they were
very civil. Mr.. Blunt went in just as I
passed out. - did he? That's rich'' Mr..
Sharp slapped his knee and actually
laughed aloud. Mr.. Blunt was advertising
solicitor for The Lancet, and it tickled
him to imagine his chagrin at being check
mated, for Gruf & Grimm were not be-
levers in advertising and would patronize
but one of the two offices, he well knew.
He smiled again as he neaTed the end of
the list. eff here isn't Growler! How on
earth did you manage him?"
Mr.. Sharp was growing confdentially
unbusinesslike in his surprised delight
sob, had to gossip with him. 1t really
seemed waste of time in getting one Gus
toner, but perhaps it will pay
81 should say it would. A half column
ad. for six months. I don't mind saying,
Miss Ketchum, that you've done well, very
we'll. Have a''-his hand going mechan-
me, miss. forgot that ladies don smoke.
Here, you, Billy
He darted out and made some commu-
nication to the Office boy, who at once dis
appeared, clatter and rush of heels on
the stairway following the disappearance.
Like the little girl in the rhyme who had
a curl on her forehead, when Mr.. Sharp
was good he was very, very good, and
when he was bad he was horrid.
He had been horrid all day until now.
He was taking his turn at the opposite ex-
IRENE. ''Tell your father not to worry
himself shout the Office work. he said
blandly as he came back to his chair,
''that is if you are willing to take his
place. -
why, yes, sir if my work is satisfac-
tory. Indeed, rather like it, - Miss Mary
confessed modestly.
"He'd better be careful about striking
out too soon, - Mr.. Sharp continued. "a
rest viii do him good. Haste makes waste
sometimes, especially in the matter of
health
Miss Mary was tying a veil over her
blooming checks when the office boy came
back, painting with his haste.
''Since you don't smoke, permit me to
offer you little treat instead, Miss Ketoh~
um,' Mr. Sharp said as he CALAMITY
opened the door and placed in her hand
basket of choice, assorted fruit.
Miss Mary Ketchum became a familiar
figure in The Clips office, and when at
length Tom Ketchum came back to his
work Mr.. Sharp said to him: "That girl
of yours, Ketchum, is a brick. I believe
she'd make an AL reporter. At least I'm
going 10 try her, if she's willing. ''-Cinoin-
natl Post.
TeaclOths and DOilies.