The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-02

DCHhue"Sg PhSueJ' ~" J'S
man had left them once more alone in the
room the manager said
Il must admit am astonished at your
expertness. 1t may not be strictly bust
nesslike to acknowledge so much to one
whom | am about to make the hardest
bargain | can with, but perhaps you will
not take advantage of the confession You
are very good telegraphist indeed, Miss
Elinor. | must express my admiration Of
the way in which you have faced the real
tiles Of life We like to think our girls 50
resourceful that they can fill with credit
to themselves any position which fate
assigns to them, whether it is in the Office
of merchant or the parlors of the White
House You have been suddenly con-
fronted with very difficult problem, Miss
Elinor, and you have set about its solution
in way that commands my deepest
respect
so, Mr.. Sandys = exclaimed the girl,
blushing deeply and drawing long, quiv
ering breath, but quite evidently glowing
with qualification at the praise of a man
whom she knew to be sparing in his COM
mendation
'sNow. | am not sure, he continued,
but your coming here today has settled
in the right way matter that has been
troubling me for some weeks past. There
is a telegraphic situation in this city which
has been the cause of more worry to me
than any of the other hundreds under my
control; it is the Office at the Board of
Trade.
''At the Board of Trade r. echoed Miss
Elinor, looking at him in some alarm.
Eyes, he answered ''That situation
demands qualities, aside from those Of key
or pen, which | should be loath to think
unobtainable, but which |, of late, have
had some difficulty in securing. What we
need there is absolute secrecy. There
must be no suspicion, even, of any leak
age from the wires, because messages come
there that make and unmake fortunes.
OF course, many of the messages are in
cipher but, nevertheless, cipher or not,
the utmost caution must be observed, so
that none, save those to whom the mes
sages are sent, shall get the slightest ink
inc of their contents. | have changed
operators there three times in as many
months, and while against the present man
| have no direct proof-if | had | would
discharge him-there have been complaints
and vague rumors of leakage, which are,
to say the least, most annoying. | have
made up my mind, in any case, to remove
that young man to the interior of the state,
and the only reason that he has not been
removed before now is that | can for the
life of me tell with whom to replace him.
Until you came in it never occurred to me
to give the situation to woman. 1t
doesn' quite jump with our preconceived
notions of things, that woman, of all
persons, should be the one to keep secret,
but most of our preconceived notions are
wrong, and if you are willing to try the
experiment, [ am. OF course, you would
be dealing entirely with men, but | am
sure you would meet with nothing but the
utmost courtesy from all .
"Oh, I am sure of that, said Miss
McClintoch, earnestly. s'If You give me
the opportunity don think you will have
reason to regret it. .
Very well, then, we shall look on it as
settled. Call here tomorrow morning at
10 o clock and will myself escort you to
the Board of Trade. | shall leave one of
my assistants in the office with you for
week, and by that time you will probably
be familiar with your new duties Any
thing you do not understand he will be at
hand to explain. :
Promptly at the appointed hour Elinor
waited upon the manager at his office, and
together they walked to the tall building
in which was housed the Board of Trade.
Mr.. Sandys was silent during the greater
part of the walk, and ElinOr's mind was
busy picturing the new life about to open
before her, so greatly dissimilar to the old.
The crisp freshness of the air and the brac-
ing influence of her long walk to the man
ayers Office had exhilarated the girl, who
experienced, without knowing it, the glo-
rious prerogative of youth. Added to this
was the delicious sense of being about to
earn honestly what money she needed;
blessed independence the greatest boon
that can be bestowed upon any living crea-
ture.
Sandys had pretended the day before
that their conference had been based
entirely on business principles but no ques-
ton of salary arose between them, which
would have been one of the first points to
be discussed with anyone else by the man.
ager, after the question of skill was settled.
The girl had felt no anxiety on this score,
being content to leave the amount to her
father old friend, and her confidence was
not misplaced That is the Board of
Trade building said her companion,
speaking for the first time since they set
out together.
Eyes, she replied: II walked around
to see it, after my talk with you, but did
not 90 in. y
swell, we will 90 in now. hope you
have weighed well what l said to you yes
terday. There is no doubt in my mind that
after you learn the ways of the Office you
will nrove unite cOmpetent to fill the situa-