The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-10-28
|TOM DAWSON,
i Private Secretary
By W. Il. DURHAM
Copy light, 1901, by W. H. Durham

years old and knew nothing Of the
business when he entered. But he had
been a reporter and a good one. That
means, as everybody knows. that he
knew a little of everything in the
world and great deal more So when
he applied for n position with one of
/ the most unique letters old Jackson
had ever received the old man, after
struggling through a wilderness of bad
writing, broke into hearty laugh and
sent for him.
! You think you can fill the position
that is open, do your growled old
p! Jackson at Dawson when that young
4 gentleman appeared. do you know
that this is a most confidential place
and that, while knowledge Of the bust
ness and lines we handle is not abso-
lutely necessary, yet to man OF not
more than average intellect who Is In
experienced the position is impossiblew
"Why, of course can hold it. Do
you suppose l would come shopping
around here If didn't think you need
/ ed me"
| nuO OcCll 81 uStQ " udN 11k
men quail before him. especially when
seeking a position. that this breezy an
swer f1Oored him. But he liked it.
"Well. young man. will just give
you ten minutes trial"
1t was nearly noon when Dawson
had presented himself. and he now
said:
ssNorv xUaII will cnand tho for,
minutes getting lunch and then re-
turn"
He was gone before the old man
could stop him. He left the door open
as he went out, a trick for which
man had been fred only the day be-
fore. Old Jackson seemed to shrink
into himself until he was almost sit
ting on his back. staring out the open
door at the stalwart back of his new
secretary as it went down the long
aisle and out the front door.
"Bangy' went the old mans fist on
the bell. A huge negro. dressed like a
comic valentine, sprang into the Office.
''Dolefulness. roared the old man,
did you see that young fellow 90 outT
Co CuAs saw b1l0 lAC
black
"Well, when that fellow comes back
kill him."
Dolefulness disappeared as rapidly
as he had come, and the old gentle
man went out to lunch. When he re-
turned. Dawson was seated at desk
looking over the mail which had just
arrived
What the dev- Where's that Dole
fulnessY'
"Who-the nigger| said Dawson,
continuing to sort the mail. He's in
the closet"
With bang the door of the coat
room in the old mans private office
hit the wall Dolefulness, bound and
gagged, tumbled on the floor.
We'll" gasped Jackson. sinking into
a chair and hopping his forehead. 1t
was 10 degrees below zero outside, and
he had been kicking at the firemen all
day What does this meanT'
"Oh. nothing" said Dawson. ''The
niger got kinder gay when | came
from lunch. and just put him on ice.
Shall release him?"
"Dolefulness," Jackson Numbered
when the negro got on his feet, what
does this mean? Didn't | tell you to
kill this man if he came back again|
Eyes. sab, yo' did, but he seed me
fust just as | was goin' to hit him wild
my billy"
what did he do?'
,rro hI,oI mo nv, 40 aoIIah. ha
held me wild one hand and tied me wild
the odder."
"Stand up" to Dawson. He saw that
the negro was foot and a half higher
than his private secretary. ''That'll
do, Dolefulness. You may CO."
"Now sir" said Dawson, IF you
will be so kind as to give me word
or two of advice | will proceed with
business. have stacked the letters
marked personal OH your desk and sent
the others to the heads of the various
departments. Is that right?"
Say, you-you, who's boss here, you
or me? How did you know who the
heads of departments wereT'
THAT'S easy. | noticed the names of
NhCAAAs NOECAhCA Will NhCiA OCJdl tll1VAlS,
emblazoned in box car letters OH the
doors of their offices in the hall"
do you mean to tell me that you
have only passed down this aisle three
times and know all the heads of de-
partments by nameY
Certainly. What else are my eyes
for?"
To- II
his new employee a moment. took his
seat and began to open his mail. Daw-
son picked up paper and began to
read. Directly he said:
by the way. Thomas"
Yes sir" said the new secretary.
Il wish you would go and tell Miss
Agnew, the stenographer | always
have, to come here. You may spend
the time looking over the store Come
back in an hour"
Dawson looked the store over from
top to bottom In that hour He intro
duced himself to every man In the
place and brought smile to the face
Of each. A thinly yelled compliment
here. a well told bit of his newspaper
experience there. made every man his
friend.
When he reached the Office Mr. Jack
son was gone. but on Dawson's desk
reposed note.
We'll" he said. 81 guess it's up to
me. | supposed from the way the old
man acted that he was going to keep
me, but he concluded that he could
write better than he talked after all.
and here is woww
Dawson had opened the envelope,
and the last exclamation was caused
by the following:
Mr.. Dawson-You have intruded your
self into this Office and showed my niger
C'put that n-i-g-g-e-r," Mr.. jackson had
said to the stenographer) into the closet
You have also made yourself familiar
without any warrant or direction with
my whole store. You are retained at
salary. to begin with of 5000 per year.
EBEN JACKSON.
All this had happened a year ago
Now the old man was furious. He ar
rived at the store fifteen minutes early
and cursed every man in the place
black and blue.
Dawsons first duty in the morning
consisted of sorting and opening the
mail, and he had SO arranged matters
with the postman as to meet him at
the door. taking the mail to his desk
himself. That caused him to be ready
for business as soon as there was any
thing doing He followed his plan
this morning.
Good morning, Mr.. Jacksonw he
said cheerlly as he took his seat. This
is certainly fine day."
There came a gurgle from the old
mans throat. not unlike a column Of
water through a pipe too small For
funerals" he at last managed to say.