Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-25
Testing HerSpeed
A Typewriter Girl Who Declined to
Be Caught In a Trap.

Y oS Sobt1N Al q ot'.
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| Mr.. Truelove WAS 4 fluent dictator and
was proud of it. II was gratifying 10 his
self esteem to watch the frantic struggles
of his lady stenographer to record the
steady flow of his eloquence. and when,
rs often happened. she was obliged TO in
terrupt and beg him to moderate his
speed he would comply with an air Of
patronizing condescension.
But in the course of time this young
lady left the office, and another and a
smarter operator supplied her place. This
was a self possessed and somewhat
naughty damsel, and Mr.. Truelove found
to his annoyance that, so far from being
furried and confused by the readiness of
his diction, she took his letters with a
bored, Indifferent air and whenever he
paused or hesitated would glance up with
an inquiring, almost impatient look.
All this was. of course, very wounding
to Mr.. Truelove's vanity. One day, in
the privacy of his own room, he remark
ed to his confidential clerk:
There's Il letter from those people
down AZ Southend. | intend writing
them Il good long letter showing clearly
that they have no claim upon us. 1t will
have to be very carefully worded, and
wanted TO consult you about it. In fact,
| think it wculd not be bad idea for
you to write it down briefly from my die
tation. | shall have to be very careful
with my facts, and | need your assist
ance'
Now. tine room which Miss Carter, the
young lady under discussion, occupied
had formerly been part of Mr.. True
loves room and was separated from it
only by thin partition. Miss Carter
had nimble ears as well as nimble fingers.
''Then," Mr.. Truelove went on, when
we have got it satisfactorily arranged, l
can use your notes to test Miss Carter 5
speed and see if she is really worth the
excellent salary which / pay her."
"1ndeedi' said Miss Carter to herself.
And she took her notebook and pencil
and stationed herself against the thin
dividing wall.
The letter completed aud other bust
ness matters discussed, Mr.. Truelove en-
tered Miss Carter's room with his usual
air of Importance to dictate his letters.
Mr.. Noble also strolled into the room, os-
tensibly for the purpose of speaking with
his employer about some trivial matter,
but in reality to witness the humiliation
of the young woman who was cheeky
enough to earn salary nearly equal TO
his own.
Mr.. Truelove started by giving out a
few letters at his usual rate of speed
Then he pulled out his watch.
by George" he said, ''it's later than
thought! have one more letter for you,
Miss Carter-a long one-and / want
you TO take it down as quickly as you
can, please, as am pressed for time"
And he straightway started off with a
speed of utterance which it would have
taxed the powers of even first rate re-
porter to follow. Miss Carter, however,
sat at her table in the most careless atti
tude she could assume, tracing the out
lines with one hand and with the other
idly playing with paper weight, and
even occasionally glancing out of the win
dow TO see if it had stopped raining.
Mr.. Truelove was puzzled. not to say
annoyed.
Gam l going too fast for you?" he ask
ed presently. Sure you're getting 1t
down all right?"
Miss Carter raised her eyebrows with
an air of mild surprise.
"Oh, dear. yes, Mr.. Truelove," she re-
piled. Il can go much quicker than that
if you like. In fact, should prefer it. l
find I am getting out of practice in rapid
writing"
With an incredulous snort Mr.. True
love praced himself up for fresh effort.
Still she sat unmoved and composed.
Mr. Noble could scarcely believe his
own eyes and ears. He grew quite excit-
ed and, going over to Miss Carter and
leaning over her chair, watched with abb
sorbing interest the wriggling, scriggling
forms as they flowed rapidly yet smooth
ly and easily from her pen.
Had he understood stenography he
might have noticed that only about one
word in six was being recorded, but as he
did not all he could do was to look on and
wonder. At length Mr.. Truelove stop
ped, quite out of breath.
Miss Carter" he said, fixing her
sternly with his eye. 81 hope you can
transcribe your notes. It's most impor-
tant letter, you know. One incorrect
word might spoil the whole thing"
''Oh, yes; fully understand that" re-
piled Miss Carter. with half smile.
lou w III cACuSe NY ing II, MI. 4Iut-
love, but l wish you would always die
tate at that rate. 1t exercises my fin
gers, you know"
Mr.. Truelove felt himself beaten. In
deed, his feeling of annoyance now began
to give place to one of pride in having Sc
cured the services of such marvellous
young woman.
Not so Mr. Noble. He still clung des-
perately to the idea that perhaps after all
Miss Carter had made a hopeless muddle
of it in her determination not to own her.
self beaten.
Il would suggest, if you have time
SIR" he said, with assumed carelessness,
that it might be well for Miss Carter
just to read over the letter as it stands.
1t is possible that some amendment
might suggest itself to some of u.s."
Without any of the hesitation and con-
fusion which they expected she took her
book and turned back-right back to the
neatly and accurately written notes she
had taken before they came into the
room. Then quickly but clearly and dis
tinctly and with all due regard to punctu-
alton and accentuation she read off the
letter from beginning to end without one
slip or stumble.
''That will do" said Mr.. Truelove, and