Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-09-14

luxury of a private 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 open--I may want to
call you"
Spencer smillingly took up the letters
and without trace of hesitation went
into the little room assigned him. He
found the conveniences he needed, and
with his amused smile deepening he
went at his task.
Presently he heard the outer door of
the office open and shut, and mo-
ment later the following dialogue came
to him through the halfclosed door:
80 you have come" growled the old
man.
"Yes, SIR" said mild voice with
little quaver in it,
"Well," said the old man, with
dangerous rising infection, Il want to
tell you that it can. never be-!
"Do you mean that | won't do?' in
quired the mild voice.
That's just what | mean," snarled
the old man. Your comprehension
does you credit"
But how can you tell till you've
tried me?" protested the mild voice.
Tried YOU" roared the old man.
"What do you mean by that?"
Il mean, sir" said the mild voice
hurriedly, that l hardly think it's fair
to condemn me unheard and untried.
| was led to think you would show me
more consideration"
"Oh, you were. were you" snapped
the old man. well, sir, you have
been falsely led. know my daugh-
ter much better than you do, sir!'
"Your daughter, sir?"
,"Yes, my daughter. And don't you.
dare to mention her name"
Il had no intention of doing so,
SIR
"Eh? Coming to your senses, are
you? That's right. She's only fol
ish, headstrong girl. In month she'll
forget your existence"
But | don't see what your daughter
has to do with it. She is nothing to
me, sir"
Spoken like sensible youth. l
thought I'd convince you. There, there,
let the whole thing drop"
"And you positively refuse to give me
a trialY'
"Confound you. there you go again!
Do you take me for an idiot?"
Il 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.
am greatly disappointed, sir"
Heavens, man, are we going over
all that again?'
"Try me for month, sir"
"Not for a minuter'
"For a week"
Leave the room, sir! Go, sir! Go
to the idiot asylum and marry some
body in your own mental class"
"Im going, sir. My father will be
greatly surprised at your unreasonable
treatment"
"Your father Who cares for your
father? Why doesn't he keep his weak
! minded cnldren at nome!
Good day, sir"
The door closed with a sharp bang,
and there was a brief silence.
81 wonder what the deuce he meant
by saying he'd tell his father?" Spencer
heard the old man mutter. "Who's
his father? Well, whoever he is, his
son shall never marry my daughter.
What in the world could she have seen
in such an unbalanced fellowY
His heavy step sounded on the floor,
and when Spencer looked up the old
man was gazing down at him from the
doorway. His face was very red and
his white nair still hristled with indig-
nation.
"Well, Mr.. Secretary" he said, chow
are we coming onT
"Very well, sir" replied Spencer
"Ill lay these replies upon your desk
in a few moments"
Good" said the old man.
"By the way" said Spencer, what
do you want me to say to Van AMMAN