Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-02
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Her Fathers Substitute


''No; worse again today. Can't one
Of the subs take his place for n few
daysT'
Huh! What can sub do against
the trained force of The Lancet?" re-
turned Mr.. Sharp sharply.
Just then the outer door opened and
also opened Mr.. Sharp's eyes. \ young
woman came I'm, neatly clad in a gray
flannel suit, nattily trimmed with fur.
'Mr. Sharp, believer" she said after
her brown eyes had taken an inventory
OF the force present. my name is
Mary Ketchum. sir. and, as father is
positively unable TO be out, 1 came
to see If you would allow me to do his
work"
do his work 2" repeated Mr.. Sharp
mechanically.
Yes, sir. / believe I can, and ia
Their worries about it so much that it
retards his recovery. Please let me
try"
Mr.. Sharp's grim face relaxed. eff
you really think you can do it, Miss
Ketchum," he replied, with thawing
resolution.
az am sure Lean" she replied.
A few moments later Miss Mary de-
parted, a parcel of bills in her hand
and with q 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 in crying presently, with not a red
Oh an ad. to show for my soft hearted
ness"
The melting vision of the trim young
lady removed, he was himself again
sharp Mr.. Sharp.
No young lady in tears appeared,
though Mr.. Sharp furtiyely 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 in the pressroom giving some
pointed advice when she did appear.
Lady to see you, sir" said the office
boy at safe distance, for Mr.. Sharp
was not above emphasizing his re-
marks on days when things went awry
with him, as they did today.
"Well, sir,' said Miss Mary, diving
into her bag with businesslike prompt
ness as he dropped into his Office chair,
''we'n dispose of bills paid and receipt
ed first
She took n goodly roll Of money from
her bag before the astonished proprie-
tors eyes and began checking off the
names and amounts from her list of
debtors.
"Messrs. Good & Fuller were not pre-
pared to settle today, but gave me
promise for tomorrow. DIR. Grumbler
claims an error in his bill; the rest are
all right. 1 think. Count the money If
you will" He did so. his steely gray
eyes filed with wonder and satisfac-
ton. There We're some names on that
list that he had long classed as doubt
full debtors, but Miss Mary's charms
had been more potent than their fear
of Mr.. Sharp's lawyer. It's all right,
Miss-Miss Ketchum." Mr.. Sharp smil-
ed broadly as he spoke the name. She
had caught 'em sure enough. This
smile widened still over his list of ads.
engaged. What. Gruff & Grimm? How
in blazes did you manage to get them?
Your father has been after them for n
year past" HAS he?" The big brown
eyes opened in innocent wonder. "Why,
I'm sure they were very civil. Mr..
Blunt went in just as 1 passed out"
did he? That's richr' Mr.. Sharp
slapped his knee and actually laughed
aloud. Mr.. Blunt was advertising so
licitor for The Lancet, and it tickled
him to imagine his chagrin 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 IF here
isn't Growleri How on earth did you
manage him?"
Mr.. Sharp was growing confidentially
unbusinesslike in his surprised delight.
ooh, had to gossip with him. 1t real
" seemed a waste of time In getting
one customer, but perhaps 1t will pay"
Il should say 1t would-a half col
umn ad. for six months. don't mind
saying, Miss. Ketchum, that you've
done well, very well. Have a"-his
hand going mechanically toward his
cigar case. "Oh, excuse me, miss. I
forgot that ladies don't smoke. Here,
you, Billyi''
He darted out and made some COM
munication to the Office boy, who at
once disappeared, a clatter and rush Of
heels on the stairway following the dis
appearance.
''Tell your father not to worry him
self about the office work." he said
blandly as he came back to his chair
that is, If you are willing to take his
place. He'd better be careful about
striking out too soon. A rest will do
him good. Haste makes waste some
times, especially in the matter of
health"
Miss Mary was tying a veil over her
blooming cheeks when the office boy
came back, painting with his haste.
"Since you don't smoke, permit me
to offer you little treat instead, Miss
Ketchum," Mr.. Sharp said as he gal