The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24

Inns was introduced at the Cfhce one
morning as the new typewritist. She was
a blonde young lady, and the place where
we were employed was the downtown
Office of a big sash, door and blind fac
tory located several miles out of the city
on a suburban line that ran trains every
twenty minutes ct reduced rates to COM
Eluters and, incidentally, to the financial
advantage of a number of real estate
agents.
This explanation will, I believe. sufti-
GENTLY describe Miss Tomlns If NOT,
she must continue to beggar descr1p-
ton. And description, lately, it must
have been observed, has experienced
hard time in keeping the wolf from the
door. The tout ensemble of the estab-
ishment comprised the head bookkeeper
cashier, two entry clerks and a young
man named Fe1igord. He was the bill
clerk. During Perigord's absence he was
called Pie Face" a happy a.lusien to the
french town of Pecigord. where the
notorious pie comes from. When he was
in the room 1t was different. Perigord
was a stout man Weighing 195 pounds in
his pja,pas.
Miss Tomlin proved to be very pi4uant
young lady of about twenty-five years,
1 should say to the best Of my knowledge
and belief. and brought her lunch IN
music roll. She was vivacious and chat
tcring-in the absence of our employers.
bat strictly business whenever they were
around the office ard wanted to dictate
letters. The head bookkecper and cashier
We're married. Perigord. the other entry
clerk and myself were single bachelors,
having never been married. This &C
counts for it. For forty-eight hours after
pay day we lunched at a neighborfng
cafe After that period we took beer
and sandwiches at a gin mill much more
adjacent and negtborly.
Well. this is how 1t happened. After
Mss C:ucibeila had beer with us three
months Pie Face, or rather Mr.. PeriSord.
proposed to the young lady who typed
for US and was accepted In fact. the
engagement was announced without any
hemmiag and having, and We decided to
give Perigord a stag party kind Of
bachelors smoker on the eve of his we'd
ling. Stabbins, the other entry clerk,
and myself had both proposed at differ
ent times. of course. 70 Miss Tomlins
and been kindly but firmly refused. She
promised to hC q sister tC US, however,
and Stebbins had compromised on that,
as he afterwards explained, he was about
half out of sisters at The time.
As for myself I had sisters to burn,
and told Miss T0mlins so. rather rudely.
I fear. but it cannot be helped at pres
ent We both accepted invitations to the
wedding and everything was passing eff
quietly like IN election bulletin, when
the blow that almost killed PerigGrd
came.
Cards were out for the wedding of
Perigord and Miss Crucibeila Tomlins
Ill, no
Office boy we had all talked over the
matter of presents in order to avoid du-
plication. All the world loves a lover
ami US rejected SuitoTS had given the
glad hand to the prospective groom, and
forgiven Miss Crucibella. One morning
the head of the firm was at his desk die
teting to the fair young blonde, and they
We're both as busy as bees. Perigord wore
a happy smile, and the lenses of his eye
glasses fairly scintillated with glints Of
anticipated pleasure. Suddenly the door
Of the office was thrown open with
bang. and in strobe a grandly-dressed
lady of forty-five years, more or less, with
metn majestic, air awesome,
a gait SO imperial and indicative Of
four time winner. that both Stebbins and
myself nearly fell off our stools.
She didn't ask to see anybody Evi-
IDENTIFY she saw him, and recognized him
Johnny on the spot. Stalking-her gait
DdQ QeSenerdIeQ now INTO a regular Stalk
stalking up to the head of the firm she
deliberately prodded him on the shoulder
with her silk umbrella and attracted his
immediate attention. He looked up. The
recognition mutual He flushed
slightly, not frey red. like a lobster, a
sort of bob-tail flush. combining more
surprise and curiosity than agitation or
embarrassment.
Good morning. Mrs. Whinneycoap." he
said rising and offering her his chair.
Good morning. Mr. Whinneycoap, she
retorted coldly, and making no move to-
ward the proffered seat. 81 am here
Yes, I see you are, my dear Was it
anything serous-important- brought
you down to the office so early? None
of the children is ill?'
Not in the least, sir"
Pause.
Perhaps, Mr.. Whinneycoap. you might
possibly condescend to introduce your
your typewriter I believe we never met
before"
BEG pardon, Mrs. Whinneycoap my
wife Miss-Miss- Miss-Excuse me, but
your name has"
"Tomlins," replied the typewriter ris-
ing.
'Yes-ah-Tomlins. to be sure. My wife,
Miss Tomlins."
''She is very pretty, quite attractive, to
be sure said the lady visitor.
1t was now Miss Tomlins' place to blush
and look confused. and Perigord's to
stare, looking darllly. like a buccaneer
of the Spanish main.
"And how long has Miss Tompkins-"
"TGmiins, please" faltered Miss Cru
cibella
'Tomlins. beg pardon; how long has
Miss Tomlins been employed as your
shall say amanuensis?"
Three months, 1 believe" replied the
now thoroughly astonished Whinneycoap
to his wife's dar!lly insinuating question.
And for nearly every other evening
during the past two and q half months
Cyrus. you have been spending the time
away from your wife ana family. Now
this thing has been going on long enough.
I've read IN the newspapers all about
the wicked attractions Of pretty type
writer's
''Ma1am!" sharply exclaimed Miss Tom
Inns. turning invoiuntarily. as the sun
flower turns toward the sun to Perigori
who had met her half way IN his rapid
stride from the desk.
my DEAR said Whinneycoap.
"HaVe you any explanation. SIR" de-
manded his wife, ferocicusly
81 would rather not offer any explana-
ton here ! will hereafter
''You Will do 1t right here Or my name
Is not Matilda Whinnccoap nee Riles.''
Madam. you are doing this young
lady a gross Injustice" interposed Peri
cord.
You keep cut Of this deal. young man
II you know what is good for yourself
I am mere to demand my rights and
expose villain"
"My dear" put In winneycoap, you
force me to eXtremities. You said at
Cnce that I did not even knew the name
of the young lady"
"Subterfuge" snapped the irate wife"
"Well. then, if you must know. I have
Joined Il poker club. 1t occurred about the