The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-24
A QUEER BLUNDER.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

GDHE morning sun frightened the
gilt letters on the sign above the
entrance to the stanch old ware
house, but it's radiance was lost on the
young man with keen, gray eyes who
stood at the office door and hesitated
before he turned the knob. In that
brief moment he tried to recall the di-
rections that Emily Quarles had given
him.
Father is peculiar" she had said.
"You must know him before you can
appreciate him." And Spencer Grant
wondered how long it would be before
this appreciative stage could be
reached. He hadn't met this peculiar
father, and here he was standing on
the doormat OF his office mastering up
courage to go in and ask him for his
daughter.
What else had Emily said? 'Do not
contradict father. DO just what he
tells you to do. Let him have his own
way. IT he busters and fumes, wait
quietly. He will soon cool down. Fa-
theirs gruff manner is largely assumed.
II you have tact you will discover the
way to handle him. Tell him truth
fully, if you have a chance, how we
met at Aunt Stanhope's, and that as
soon as we were quite assured that we
were all in all to each other, which, you
must add, came to both Of us as a COM
plete surprise, l sent you directly to
him. l will prepare him as far as l
think judicious for your coming. Keep
up a stout heart and guard your tenn
per-"
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 'private." He knocked
at this door, and gruff 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 hand
full Of papers.
"Sit down." he said, without looking
up.
Spencer obeyed, and after a little
the old man raised his head, glanced
at the clock, and then gave tine young
man long, searching glance. AS he
did so he drew a letter toward him
and glanced at a page of it. Again he
stared at Spencer
"Well," be said abruptly, "you are
exactly on time. You were to be here
precisely at 10. This argues we'll for
your early training. You have made
Il good impression on me to start WITH"
Spencer murmured his pleasure at
this favorable comment, but the old
man interrupted him.
Your father says here that you re-
semble him. He writes that the re-
semDlance is so strong that l couldn't
help but know who you were if l
CHANGED to meet you elsewhere.
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 that?' inquired
Spencer hastily. He knew the thing
was quite impossible. Emilys father
was laboring under some queer delu-
sion. But he didn't mean to CONTRA
dict him.
Eyes, he did," chuckled the old man,
with a grim smile. feathers with but
one child are apt to be asses" Then
his tone changed. what can you do?
Can you write shorthand? Do you I'M
derstand typewriting? Can you CON-
pose a good letter? Can you spell?"
Il Think" said Spencer, quietly.
chat I can best answer that by saying
that 1 have pretty thorough business
training that was picked up in four
years Of practical work. I've been
hard at it. in fact, ever since l 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. I will. I've made place
for you. am going to indulge in the
luxury Of 4 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 deeDenine he
went at his task
Presently he heard the outer door of
the Office open and shut, and a mo-
ment later the following dialogue came