The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-29
THE SUBSTITUTE.
"Has Ketchum come down yets''-

| mo. Worse again today. Can't one OF
the subs take his place fol, a few daysi"
"Huhl What can sub do against the
trained force of The lancet" returned
Mr.. Sharp sharply.
Just then the outer door opened, also
Mr.. Sharp's eyes. A young woman came
in neatly clad in gray flannel suit, nat
tily trimmed with fur.
"Mr. Sharp, believe" she said, after
her brown eyes had taken an inventory of
the force present. my name is Mary
Ketohum, sir, and, as father is positively
unable to be out, l 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 1t so much that it retards
his recovery. Please let me try"
Mr.. Sharp felt the sharp points Of the
answer ho was about to make this prspos-
ferrous young person smoothing and round.
ing of In his mind as he looked at her.
His grim face relaxed. "If you really
think you can do 1t, Miss Ketohum," he
replied, with thawing resolution.
~ am sure 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
desk again. "She'll BIO In crying presently,
with not red or an I'D. 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 un-
til lunohtime
"Gone home 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. p,
Lady to see you, sir, " said the office boy
at safe distance, for Mr.. Sharp was not
above emphasizing his remarks on days
when things went awry with him, as they
did today.
swell, SIR" said Miss Mary, diving into
her bag with businesslike promptness as
he dropped into his office chair. "We'll
dispose of bills paid and receipted first"
She took goodly roll of money from
her>bag before the astonished proprietor's
and amounts from her list of debtors
'.Messrs. Good & Fuller were not pre-
pared to settle today, but gave me prom
Use for tomorrow. DR.. Grumbler claims an
error in his bill; the rest are all right, /
think. Count the money if you will"
He did SO, his steely gray eyes filled with
wonder and satisfaction. There were some
names on that list that he had long classed
~ Hid
charms had been more potent than their
fear Of Mr.. Sharp's lawyer "It'sa all right
Miss-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 g. Grimm? How in blazes
did you manage to get themS Your father
has been after them fora year past. "Has
hef" 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 her That's rich!' Mr..
Sharp slapped his knee and actually
laughed aloud. Mr.. Blunt was advertising -
solicitor for Tho Lancet, and it tickled
him to imagine his chagrln at being check
mated for Gruff g. Grimm were not be-
levers in advertising and would patronize
but one Of the two offices, he well knew.
He smiled again as he nearcd the ond of
the list. "If here isn't Growler! How on
earth did you manage him?"
Mr.. Sharp was growing confdentially
unbusnesslike in his surprised delight.
ooh, had to gossip with him. 1t really
seemed waste of time In getting one Gus
toner, but perhaps 1t will pay"
81 should say 1t would A half column
ad for six months. don't mind saying,
Miss Ketchum, that you've done we'll, very
we'll. Have a'-his hand going mechan-
ioally toward his Cigar case. "Oh, excuse
me, miss. forgot that ladies don tsmoke.
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
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 OF the opposite ex.
treIne. "Tell your father not to worry
himself about the Office work, " he snid
blandly as he came back to his chair,
that Is, If you are willing to take his
place.
"Why yes, sir, II my work is satisfac-
tory. Indeed, rather like it, Miss Mary
confessed modostly.
He'd better be careful about striking
out too soon," Mr.. Sharp continued. "A
rest will do him good. Haste makes waste
sometimes, especially in the matter of
health"
Miss Mary was tying veil over her
blooming checks when tho Office boy came
back, painting with his haste
'Slnco you don't smoke, permit me to
offer youa little treat instead, Miss Ketcb-
um," Mr., Sharp said as he calamity
opened the door and placed in her hand
basket Of choice, assorted fruit.
Miss Mary ketchum became u 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, ketGhum, is n brick. l believe
she'd mako an AL reporter. At least I'm
going TO try her. if She willing, "-Cincin-
natl Post