The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-17
PLIGHT or A PRIVATE SECRETARY.
Terror Inspired by the simple Threat to
scream Made by a Young woman.


Ordinarily the Office of private secretary
TO n | uitcd States Senator does not bring with
(, anv exciting adventures or thrilling hair
breadth escapes. said an old newspaper man
who had had such a job, but there was an eX-
ception in my case right at the beginning OF my
Senatorial career, and | had such a fright that |
wanted to quit right then and there. " nap
pcned at the Senator's house one morning
while he was AZ breakfast. He lived in a large
hou.e with a big lobby or hall, and every morn
Ing most of the available space In II was occI-
pied by all kinds of people wanting senatorial
assistance Of one kind OF another.
"On this particular morning there must have
Leen fifty people of both sexes sitting around
waiting, when "A very handsome young woman
beautifully dressed, came in and asked 10 see
the Senator. II was my business to be- out in
the lobby looking after applicants, and noticing
that she was not of the common run Of callers
] politely escorted her to a small alcove down
the hall, where she would be out Of the crowd.
She told me she wanted TO see the Senator on
particular business. and l informed her that
she could not see him that morning there, but
she might see him during the day at the Capitol.
She insisted on seeing him then. and l told
her that A. hrr business would he referred TO
IDf III lily NNtIl Fl' llN az - ~ ~ - 49,
there and | would attend to II II possible, She
declined. and I insisted. assuring her that | was
the Senator's private secretary and personal
representative and rs such was entitled to her
respectful consideration, You see abe was a
rafting pretty girl, and a man will go out OF his
way to render that kind service.
Finally she became less ~insistent on seeing
the senator and asked something more about
,,,, autb,ritv in tho nrpfpiSaA nf nOIlrSA | mazda
myself out 10 I've just as important ~ | could,
and then she came directly Al me-.
II want some money she said nervously,
aid l must have 1t. Do you understand l
must have it.
If that's what you want said I. then you
will have to see the Senator himself. for | have
no authority 10 give anybody money
But you said you were his representative
and could act for him.. didn't you she inquired.
YES. madam. but in such matters the Sena-
tor must act for hirnsell.'
Well. I've got to have the money she as
serted in an ugly tone, and If you don't give
II to me right now I'll scream
"loIn what?' l almost shrieked at her. az
! felt the beads OF persplrat.on breaking on
my brow at the thought OF what a scream under
Tie circumstances would sound like by the time
II got into the newspapers.
I'm scream she repeated, as cool as n load
of ice in February, If you don't give me the
money
Il saw my finish risht there, and I knew
there was no good IN struggling. The time
had come for some quick thinking and | did IL
a ruined man for there were men and women
all around who didn't know Ire at all and would
S Shs e b ,ns t %G say' e nyst 1 + ,hsv did % n natter tier
scandal Of such a thing right In the Senator's
house would make II necessary for him 10 let
! mo 20. was poor enough. butt had $50 in my
f.pknt TINT | had inst FnOv.lynl NJ Gulury from,
n%'tcrit.
Is that ail?' she asked as II disappointed,
which you can have II you want them. am n
new man here, and have n family 10 support.
and il you make a scene II will ruin me and do
you no good, For Heavens sake. take the
oh, YOU may keep the change, she said
with a naughty wave Of her hand ard very
deliberately she stuck my, roll Of bills into her
jacket got IN and walked out.
Il, followed her TO the door and ] never so
much wanted TO lay violent hand. on a woman
aud fire her out az | did that one. When she
door in n cold sweat and hcckoncd fran'icallv
TO thc, senator 70 coine out. was 50 badly
ratified That couldn't talk, and ! felt just like
one does In q nightmare. | pointed the woman
out TO him rs she crossed the street. md told
him. how ! had saved him from a blackmailer
my growth.
You did the very best and wisest thing
that could have been done, my boy he said:
] grew calmer, but 7 didn't get over the shock
for a month, and during the six years I WAS
with him ] never saw any women visitors eN-
Cept In the presence Of witnesses. Not much:
once was an ample suflciency for me. lie
mrde good the $40 ! had beer held NJ for and
we never saw the woman again. nor could We
ever obtain any. clue TO her identity, though !
told a couple ~ detectives the story and had
them on the lookout for her.
Just what kind Of game she would have
PLAYED on the Senator ! can't say. but not the
screaming business. for there would have been
too many people about for that plan 10 work. !"