The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-08-17
A Queer BlundeH.
By w, r. Rose.

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The morning sun frightened the gil
letters on the sign above the entrance t.
the stanch old warehouse. but its radi
ance was lost on the young man witt
keen, gray eyes who stood at the Office
door and hesitatcd before he turned the
knob. In that brief moment he tried Il
recall the directions that Emily Quarlc.
had given him.
Father is peculiar" she had said
you must know him before you can APP
preciate him." And Spencer Grant won
dcred how long it would be before thi:
appreciative stage could be reached. He
hadn't met this peculiar father, and here
he was standing on the dooImat of hi:
office mastering up courage to 90 in anc
ask him for his daughter.
What else had Emily said? do moi
contradict father Do just what he tell,
you to do. Let him have his own way
Ii he busters aud fumes, wait quietly
He will soon cool down. Fathers gruf
manner is largely assumed. If you have
tact. you will discover the way to handle
him. Tell him truthfully. if You have 4
chance, how we met at Aunt Stanhope's
and that as soon as we We're quite aSSur
cd that we were all in all to each other
which. you must add. came to both OF
us as a complete surprise, | sent you di
rectly to him. | will prepare him as far
as | think judicious for your coming
Keep up a stout heart and guard youl
temper"
Spencer turned the knob and went in
There were several clerks writing in the
outer office. but they did not look up as
he passed along the narrow space before
the high railing to the door marked "Pri
vate." He knocked at this door, and Il
gruif voice babe him come in. Spencer
summed up all his resolution and entered
A sharp featured old man with heavy
eyebrows was seated at desk, with his
bushy gray head bent above a handful Of
papers.
Sit down." he said. without looking
up
Spencer obeyed. and after little the
old man raised his head, glanced ut the
clock, and then gave the young man Il
long searching glance. As he did 50 hc
drew a letter toward him and glanced at
q page of it. Again he stared ut Spen.
Ger.
We'll" he said abruptly, you are ex.
actly on time. You were to be here pre-.
cisely at 10. This argues well for youI
early training. You have made good
impression on me to start with
Spencer murmured his pleasure at this
favorable comment. but the old man in
terrupted him.
Your father says here that you resem.
bic him. He writes that the resemblance
is SO strong that l couldn't help but know
who you were if / Glanced to meet you
anywhere. l don't agree with him.
though there is a family resemblance
You are much better looking than he
ever dreamed of being"
Did my father say thatY' inquired
Spencer hastily. He knew the thing was
quite impossible. Emily's father was
laboring under some queer delusion. But
he lilin't mean to contradict him.
Yes, he did," chucklcd the old man.
with u grim smiit. Fathers with but
one child are very apt to B. asses" Then
his tone changed. What can you do
Can you write shorthand? Do you I'M.
derstand typewriting? Can you compose
a good letter! Can you spell?"
II think" said Spencer quietly, that
can best answer that by saying that
have pretty thorough business training
that was picked up in four years of prac,
teal work. I've been hard at it, in fact
ever since left college"
Your father doesn't make any such
claim, said the old man. referring again
to the letter. "!All he says is Try him
l will. I've made IL place for you. | am
going to indulge in the luxury of pri-
vate secretary. Ha, ha. ha. Here. take
these letters. See what answers they
need. Answer 'em. That's your little
side room there. Leave the door opel-
| may want to call you"
Spencer smilingly took the letters and
without trace of hesitation went into
the little room assigned him. He found
the convenicnccS he needed, and with his
amused smile deepening he went ut his
task.
Presently he heard the outer door of
the office open and shut, and moment
later the following dialogne came to him
through the half closed door:
SO you have Gomez groHled the old
man.
Yes, sir" said mild voice with lit
tie quaver in it.
Well" said the old man with dan
You that it can never be-
''Do you mean that | won't do?' in
quired the mild voice.
That's just what l mean," snarled
the old man. Your comprehension does
syou credit"
- But LOW can you tell till you've tried
s.f." protested the mild voice.
Tried you.' roared the old man.
What do you mean by that|'
sS,''l mean. sir" said the mild voice hur-
idly, that | hardly think its fair to
sSndemn me unheard and untricd.
seas led to think you would show me
-sstOre consideration"
SO oh, you were. were you!' Suapped
see old man. well. sir You have been
edscly led. I know my daughter much
tier than you do. sir"'
). ~ Your daughter. sir?''
Yes, my daughter. And don't yor
SIRE to slcntion her name"
91-I had no intention of doing so.
En-? Coming to your senses. are
81? That's right. She's only a foolish,
adStrong girl. In u month she'll forget
ssE!lr existence"
But | don't see what your daughter
Spoken like sensible youth. thought
~ convince you. There, there, let the
hole thing drop"
And you positively refuse to give me
!. trial?'
S"Confound you. there You go again!
30 you take me for an IDIOT?
II wouldn't go as far as that. sir.
You don't seem to understand that
was led to believe you would give me an
opportunity to show my worth. l am
greatly disappointed. sir"
Heavens. man, are we going over all
that aguin?"
Try me for a month, sir"
Not for n Iniputen'
"For week"
leave the room, sir! Go, sir! Go to
the idiot asylum and marry somebody il
your own mental class. What an IL
moral scourdrcl you must be-"