The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-04-05
HER FATHERS
 l l SUBSTITUTE


 of the subs take h.s pace for a few lay5f"
 Huh. What can a sub do against lhc trained force of The LancetT' re- turned Mir. Sharp sharply.
 Just then the outer door opened and also opened Mir Sha.'I eyes. A young woman carle in. neatly clad In a gray uannel suit, nattlly trimmed with fur
 "Mr. Sharp, believer" she said after her brown eyes had taken an inventory ot the force present. My name Is Mary Kctchum, sir. and, as father is positively unable to be out, l camr to see If you would allow me to do hIs work"
 Do his workg" repeated Mir Sharp mechanically.
 "Yes, sir. l believe I can, and ia ther worries about 1t so much that it retards his recovery. Please let me try"
 Mir. Sharp's grim face relaxed. "If you really think you can do It, Miss Ketchum." he replied, with thawing resolution.
 "I am sure can." she replied.
 A few moments later Miss Mary de parted. a parcel of bills in her hand md with a list of possible patrons. There's no fool like an old fool" he grumbled to himself as he took his place at his own desk again. shell be h crying presently. with not red ol an ad. to show for my soft hearted ness"
 The melting vision of the trim young lady removed. he was himself again sharp Mir. Sharp.
 No young lady In tears appeared. though Mir, Sharp furtively watched the door until lunchtime.
 Gone home to cry" he said then as he kicked the office cat on the way out since he could not conveniently kick himself.
 He was ln the pressroom giving some pointed advice when she did appear.
 Lady to see you. slr." said the office boy at safe distance. for Mir. Sharp wag not above emphasizing his re- marks on days when things went awry with him. us they did today.
 "Wcll. slr." said Miss Mary, diving Into her bag with businessllke prompt ness as he dropped Into his office chair. we'll dispose of bills paid and receipt ed first"
 She took a goodly roll of money from her bag before the astonished proprie tors eyes and began checking on the names and amounts from her list of debtors.
 "Mcssrs. Good & Fuller were not pre- pared to settle today, but gave me promise for tomorrow. Dr. Grumbler claims an error in his bill; the rest are all right, I think. Count the money If you will" He did so. his steely gray eyes filled with wonder and satisfac- ton. Therv were some names on that list that he had long classed as doubt tul debtors. but Miss Mary's charms had been more potent than their fear of Mir Sharp's lawyer. Its all right. Mlss-Mlss Ketchum." Mir. Sharp smll. ed broadly as he spoke the name. She had caught 'em sure enough. This smile widened stTll over his list of ads. engaged. What. Gruff & Grimm? How In blazes did you manage to get theml Your father has been after them for year past" Has hef" The big brown eyes opened in innocent wonder. "Why. I'm sure they were very civil. Mir. Blunt went In just as I passed out" Did he? That's rich" Mir. Sharp slapped his knee and actually laughed aloud Mir. Blunt was advertising so- llcltor for The Lancet, and 1t tickled him to imagine his chagrln at being checkmated, for Gruff & Grimm were not believers In advertising and would patronize but one of the two offices, he well knew. He smiled again as he neared the end of the list. ''lf here Isn't Growler! How on earth did you manage himT"
 Mir. Sharp was growing conhdentially unbusinessllke' his surprised delight "0h. had to gossip with him. It real ly seemed waste of time In getting one customer. but perhaps 1t will pay"
 q should say 1t would-a half col umn ad. for six months. I don't mind saying. Miss Ketchum, that you've done well. very we'll. Have a"-his hand going mechanically toward his cigar case. "0h. excuse me. miss. l so.s.o4 .ha. iadio. don,t spnoka uara