Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-05-08
| MISS MIFFETS
| AND TOMMY !
BY s. T. STERN
Copyright, 1909, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company


Miss Miffetts, the stenographer, had
lost her breastpin. That was all. And
yet there was as much ado in the Office
as though a panic were raging in the
street outside. Tompkins, the book
keeper, got down on his knees. Doddle-
by. the head clerk, absently searched
every nook and Granny Of his desk
Miss Miffetts herself was in tears. 1t
was keepsake from mamma. 1t had
three lovely rubies and diamond-a
! real diamond. Oh, dear, she was sure
absolutely positive-tha she had it
! on her dress when she came to the Of
fee that morning! Despite all efforts
to recover it the pin remained in obsti-
nate obscurity. 1t was then they sum-
moned Tommy, the new Office boy.
They did not even know his name.
Tompkins said Richard" but Tommy
did not stir. Let them come and get
Doddleby called "Jack," but Tommy
persisted at the switchboard. Then
Esterbrook, the margin clerk, spoke.
His tone was not half as loud as that
of either Of the others, yet Tommy
came. Folks always seemed to come
when Esterbrook spoke.
"WhatchewantY asked Tommy.
"Miss Miffetts has lost her pin. She
had it this morning. 1t is not here now.
Do you know anything about it"
"Sure," answered Tommy, with as
tonishing celerity.
"What" gasped Doddleby. "You
don't mean to say
ST d." said Tommy. 'I can see it
from here. So can you If you use your
eyes. It's right there caught on her
dress. Say, my name is Tommy. Don't
forgit it."
At noon Miss Miffetts came to the
switchboard. "I thank you, Thomas"
said she sweetly. Tommy looked up.
He took her all in in glance-the trim
little figure clad in unrelieved black
save where band of white set off her
full throat, the wavy black hair, the
brown eyes that danced. It was all
over in moment.
The next day Tommy wore new
necktie and his Sunday shoes, and his
hair was brushed to mirror fiatness.
Did Miss Miffetts note the change?
That problem worried him SO much
that he forgot the telephone once or
twice and earned choice collection Of
rather forcible epithets.
When he wasn't pondering the prob
lem of his own appearance, he was
watching Miss Miffetts as she bent
over her machine. Before night he
hated Doddleby, who had dared to
speak to her with fippancy. Tompkins,
too, had incurred his dislike for joking
with her. But Esterbrook he hated
worst of all; Esterbrook, with his
broad shoulders and his well fitting
clothes. She was too friendly with Es-
terbrook. When they left the office to-
gether, Tommy was half tempted to
follow. That fellow Esterbrook was
not to be trusted.
AS time went ON Tommy's infatua-
ton for the pretty stenographer grew.
To all outward appearance Miss Mif-
fetts took small notice of his existence.
Sometimes she said good morning.
How bright the world was! More often
she did not. The earth was q gloomy
spot after all. After awhile he cherish
ed other desperate ambitions. He hop
ed that the building would burn down
and he could carry her to the street in
his arms. Then again he waited for
Esterbrook to insult her. Tommy could
then pull out pistol and shoot him
shoot him dead-r-i-g-h-t t-h-r-o-u-g-h b
the heart. But, no; the building re-
mained unconsumed, and Esterbrook
refused to be other than polite and
nice. So Tommy sat at the telephone
switchboard and hoped.
One night he came into the Office aft
er the others had left it. Miss Miffetts
was there-alone. Presently Miss Milf
fetts donned her hat and coat. She put
her hand into her pocket and pulled it
out empty. Then she started in to cry.
"Thomasw sobbed Miss Miffetts.
Eyes. miss. Anything l can do for
your
'If you please, Thomas, l have for
SOtlCll NY pulSC, anu AdNCA L d CCAI
to take me home. Can you lend me my
fareY
Tommy brought forth a dime and
handed it to her. She turned to go.
Then Tommy lied. eff you please, miss,
that's my last coin. Well have to go
home together, miss, if you don't mind.
miss, and please, miss, take the west
side elevated"
So did the stenographer. They push
ed their way up the crowded station
and into the car. Then Tommy learned
that Miss Miffetts lived with two
chums. Miss Miffetts learned that
Tommy was afflicted with a brace of
"How old do you think amY asked
Miss Miffetts confidentially.
Nineteen" answered Tommy.
Correct. And youT'
"Oh, Pm sixteen. But I'll grow older
some day." he added sententiousIy.
Tommy saw Miss Miffetts to her
door and meandered homeward on
clouds. That night he astonished his
father by inquiring whether ''a feller
could marry a girl he was younger
than" On being informed that such an
obstacle was no bar to matrimony, he
swallowed hard and went to bed hap
py.
The next day Miss Miffetts said,
Good morning, Thomas" and returned
his nickel, with thanks. Esterbrook
thanked him, too, and said he was an
'all right fellow" What business was
it of Esterbrook's? Tommy hated him
worse, much worse, than ever before.
After that Miss Miffetts spoke to him