Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-20
THE SUBSTITUTE.

Has Ketchum come down yetS'
mo. Worse again today. Can't one of
the subs take his place for few dayss"
Huh! What can a 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 a 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 workT' repeated Mr.. Sharp me-
chanicaly.
Eyes, sir. 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.
II am sure CAM" she replied
A few moments later Miss Mary de-
parted, parcel of bills in her handbag
with list of possible patrons. 'sTheres
no fool like an old fool" he grumbled to
himself as he took his place at his own
desk again. She'll be in crying presently,
with not red or an ad. to show for NV
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 lunchtime.
"Gone home to cry," he said then, as he
kicked the office cat on the way out, since
he could not conveniently kick himself.
lie was in the pressroom giving some
pointed advice when she did appear
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.
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 goodly roll Of money from
her bag before the astonished proprietors
eyes, and began checking off the names
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, l
think. Count the money if you will I"
He did SO, his steely gray eyes filled with
wonder and satisfaction. There were some
names on that list that he had long classed
as doubtful debtors, but Miss Mary's
charms had been more potent than their
fear of Mr.. Sharp's lawyer Its 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 & Grimm? How in blazes
did you manage to get then9 Your father
has been after them for a year past. . elias
hep The big brown eyes opened in limo
cent wonder. "Why, I'm sure they were
very civil. Mr.. Blunt went in Just as l |
passed out" Did hep 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 Gruff e. Grimm were not be-
levers in advertising and would patronize
but one of the two offices, he we'll knew
He smiled again as he neared the end Of
the list. IF here ISN'T Growler! How on
earth did you manage him?"
Mr.. Sharp was growing confidentially
in his surprised delight.
sob, had to gossip with him. 1t really
waste of time in getting one GUS
toner, but perhaps it will pay. -
II should say it would A half column
i'd. for six months. don't mind saying,
Miss Ketchum, that you've done we'll, very
we'll, Have a'-his hand going mcohan-
cally toward his cigar case. ooh, excuse
ne, miss. forgot that ladies don smoke.
Here, you, Billy"
He darted out and made some oommu-
lication to the office boy, who at once dis
appeared, a clatter and rush of heels on
he stairway following the disappearance
like the little girl in the rhyme who had
curl on her forehead, when Mr.. Sharp
vas good, he was very, very good, and
when he was bad he was horrid
He had been horrid all day until now
1e was taking his turn at TIE opposite ex-
RENE. "Tell your father rot to worry
himself about the office work, " he said
'landly as he came back to his chair,
that is, If you are willing to take his
lace"
"Why, yes, cir, If my work is satisfac-
ory Indeed, rather like it" Miss Mary
onfessed modestly.
He'd better be careful about striking
ut too soon" Mr.. Sharp continued. "A
est will do him good. Haste makes waste
especially in the matter of
ealth."
Miss Mary was tying veil over her
looming cheeks when the office boy came
ack, painting with his haste.
"Since you don't smoke, permit me to
Her youa little treat instead, Miss Ketch-
M" Mr. Sharp said as he calamity .
pened the door and placed in her hand a
asket Of choice, assorted fruit
Miss Mary Ketchum Leoalne familiar
CURE in The Clips Office, and when at
myth Tom Ketchum cams back to his
ork Mr.. Sharp said to him "That girl
yours, kctchum, is brick. believed
led make an AL reporter. At least I'm I
ping Co try her, if She willing. '--Cincin- Z
ati Post 4
Teacloths and Doilies. =
1t ia rather a pity that fashion has