The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-26

III
"A desk, Wen have to have
another typewriter
Daubeny gave the papers quick
glance, scattered them with a prac-
tised hand that ranged them in order
for signing. seized a pen and began
to affix his signature at the lower
right-hand corner of each. After two
or three minutes of writing he looked
up, winked his eyes as if coming out
said sharply.
Are there three or four type
writers down there now?"
There are four
we don't need any more then!
Let them crowd on little more
steam-work some nights-you and
have to time and again.
1T isn't altogether that" said Cliff
ford, speaking in the pleasantly de-
fd edsd Siz t9ne Whole whiGh the
they've got their work and do work
over time very often as 1t Is, but what
want is someone who can stay in
the little room next to yours all day
long and get this stuff into shape for
you. Its such chopped up work to
be always running up and down stairs
with it,
You're talking rot said Daubeny,
1T may be chopped up work, but it's
business, just the same, and I call it
better business to get it out of those
fellows down stairs than to charge up
another salary for the purpose of say
Ing the office boys sole leather"
Il wasn't" Clifford began.
We don't want another man." his
superior interrupted emphatically.
Going to get another man." the
Junior went on serenely. II was
going to get a girl
Daubeny stopped writing, with a
species of start
forcefully,-"we don't want a woman
around. I've no use for women in
business; they always give out when
you're rushed-or something Of that
sort"
Clifford began to gather up the
1T wouldn't be worth while to get a
man for this" he said, tranquilly,-"a
girl Will only cost half the amount
We don't want any fancy thousand
words a -minue-just a plain, every
day worker to run off these short slib bs
and put your annotations in shape.
I'm sure l can find one to fill the bill;
Ill see to it early next week. This is
all for now, reckon-thanks."
He picked up the last pa per. turned
( II lace down on the blOtter, put them
all carefully into an elastic band and
went out Daubeny was left with a
vivid impression that his advice had
been asked and his consent given, and
the pressure Of work prevented the
matters ever coming into his head
again, until month later it suddenly
occurre dto him that he had been
nearing the clicking of a machine in
the room beyond for several days. He
then recollected that the office boy
now went thru one door where he used
/ to always go thru the other, and it be-
came quite apparent to his mind that
Clifford had accomplished what he had
proposed doing.
! But Daubeny, being a busy man,
rather than a curious one, felt no in
/ clination to investigate the matter Cor
the room) further, and whatever
{ caused the machine to click from 9
4 In the morning until 6 at night, con-
I tinued to cause it to click, undisturbed
+ by him. Only one day when he and
Clifford were lunching together and
discussing their mutual affairs, he
found the opportunity a good one to
/ say. $50.
Well, you did get your woman
typewriter after all, didn't you?"
/ Yes said his friend, smiling
chow do you like her looks?"
/ 7 haven't seen her" the other re-
piled, "the boy always carries every
thing back and forth, you know,
Why is she a pretty girl?"
shes a widow said Clifford, land
she isn't pretty but when you do see
her do just notice her eyes. She has
l.
saw such eyes. I picked her out OF
two dozen on account of her eyes,
Daubeny glanced at him quizzically
ooh, don't care,'' he said, smiling
you may laugh at me and think
you see her you'll change your mind
you'll understand, then. You don't
now"
II do hope" said the older man
that you let her know how I fee
down strong in the bill, you know 80
Yes, certainly. I talked to her ir
good earnest before I engaged her al
all; told her that we preferred to en-.
ploy men because we could depend or
them-rush 'em when things were
crowded, and so on. But she just SIT
there looking straight at me and SAID
she understood perfectly and that shs
was sure that she could do the work
and so told her to try it for week
and she's been there over a month
now. Does all right, don't she?"
80 far as I know, replied the
other. carelessly, but as they passed or
to another subject he made up his
mind to look into the room beyond the
next day and see what his own opinion
was as to its contents.
But that very afternoon he was
called out of town and remained away
until the 2Sd Of the month. There
was q tremendous amount of work
piled upon his desk Wnen ne got dOWr
the morning Of the Gath and the cal.
endar above declared the next day was
Christmas and q holiday, of course.
II fancy the typewrter's chance tt
prove her stuff has come" he thought
a little grimly, and an hour later he
sent the office boy in to her with botf
hands full.
About that afternoon he went il
himself.
She was over by the window anc
when he entered she removed the
green shade from her eyes and looked
directly up to him. Then he saw
what Clifford had meant, for they
were truly wonderful eyes. big, brown
soft. sweet, honest, child-like, and ye
full of Womanliness.
She was quite tiny creature Will
a pretty figure and face which ma
. ture had desired to have rosy, bu
which New York evidently preferred
pale. She wore a plain--a very plail
s black dress with a white collar. ant
except for a wedding ring, was with
out the least ornament Of any kind
Il don't know your name? y said tn
general manager. bluntly, putting th'
remark in the form of a question.
alice Westcott,' she replied quiet
1y. her eyes fixed on the great roll o
letters which he held in his hand
Miss Westcott-" he began
Mrs. Westcott,' she corrected
quickly.
Anyhow" he said, almost impa
tiently, I've come to tell you tina