The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-03-21
A QUEER BLUNDER.


'"ulanee was lose on the young man
win Keen, gray eyes who stood at the
once door and hesltated before he
turned the knob In that brief mo-
iaent he tried TO recall the directions
'uat Emily Quarles had given him.
rather Is peculiar" she had said.
fou must knew him before you can
appreciate nina" And Spencer Graft
wondered how long Il would be before
inns appreciatlye 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 90 Ia and ask him for his
daughter
what else had Emily said? DO not
contradict father DO just what i've
tells you to do Let him have his own
way II he busters and fumes. wait
quietly He viii soon cool down.
Fathers grufi manner Is largely as
sumed A you have tact. you will dis
cover the way to handle him. Tell
him truthfully, II you have a chance,
how we met a. Aunt Stanhopes. and
mat as soon as we were quite assured
that we were al in all to each other,
which, you mt st add, came to both of
us as a complete surprise. | sent you
directly to hlp. | will prepare him ag
far as think judicious for your COM
ing. Keep up stout heart and guard
your temper"
Spencer TUNED the knob and went
in. There were several clerks writing
in the outel Office, but they did not
look up as he passed along the narrow
space befor9 tho high railing to the
door marked private" He knocked
at this doof, anu a gruT voice babe
him come ia. Spencer summed up all
his resolution and entered
A sharpfeatured old man, with
heavy eyebrows was seated at desk,
with his bIshy gray head bent above
handful Of papers.
Sit down" he said, without look
ing up.
Spencer Obeyed, and after little the
old man raised his head. glanced at the
clock, and then gave the young man
q 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" he said abruptly. you are
exactly on time. You were to be mere
precisely ct 10. This argues well for
your early training. You have made
a 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-
semblanee is so strong that [ couldn't
help bus know who you we're If
CHANGED to meet you anywhere. |
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 Emily's father
was laboring under some queer delu-
sion. But he didn't mean to contra
dict HIN.
Eyes he did" chuckIed the old man,
with a grim smile. FATHERS with but
one child are apt to be asses" Then
his tone changed. what can you do?
Can you write shorthand? DO you UNI
derstal.d typewrlting? Can you COM
pose a good letter? Can you spell"
Il Il ink" said Spencer quietly, that
| can pest answer that by saying that
I hav3 pretty thorough business
training that was picked up in four
years OF practical work. I've been
hard st it, in fact. ever since left
college"
"YoJr father doesn't make any such
claim, said the old man, referring
again to the letter CAN he says is
Try Kim. I will I've made place
for y3u. ! am going to indulge in
the luxury of a private secretary. Ha,
ha. ha! Here, take these letters. See
what answers they need Answer EN-.
That's your little side room there.
Leava the door open-I 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 conveniences he needed, and
with his amused smile deepening he
went 1t 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 half-closed door:
$50 you have come" growled the
old man.
eyes, sir said miid Voice with a