The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-03
copyright, 1903, by Robert Howard

The bell from the editors desk was
ringing sharply. and little Godfrey
hustled forward.
Here. boy, take that page PROOF IN
30 ~Donovan-it's all O.. I'D but he
hold the forms open for further ORDERS.
Send the foreman in here IN a hurry
The Chief was not often so per:mp-
tory-something had gone wrong.
mo use. he was muttering to himself
cant ge. ahead of the eame--eVen
giving I'D ny lunch hour Extremely
poor taste in Schmitt, to fall down Just
as we were closing the issue and de-
pending on his stuff"
The foreman ossthe composing room
was waiting for attention.
you sent for me. Mr.. Bridger?
YES, Hopper, we're il a squeeze.
you'll have to hold some of your men
for overtime tOnight-more opy has
to De made up. the whole German de-
partment is out as MIR. SChmltt has
lust sent word he's too sick for work.
No stuff in for his columns. l V
left this desk for five hours and l can't
starve any longer"
Please SIR LLIlC NCuIICy was NJ
ing to break in. "a woman or a lady
told me was you in an put this on the
editors desk
This was an OblOng paStebOard box
neatly tied up and bearing no address.
Great Scott, boy. don't bring Sny-
thing more here tonight or I'll make a
bonfire on the office floor"
And yet. he looked ~curlously AT the
box before handing 1t back. and
N-.--ls FIIrr - v-nu n Cold ~ ~
ment to be so heavy.
Don feel like paper exactly" ard
he balanced il carelessly, 50 careiesSly
It slid from his hand. stru-K a corner
sharply on the desks edge and, as the
slender cord burst. the cover slipped off
To the famished sight of Mr.. Bid
ger. neat rows of dainty sandwiches
seemed divinely sent.
Here! GOdfrey-which Of those ladies
in the office got up this little surprise?
Come boy, no mysteries, cut with it.
yon needn't be afraid,-I think she's
saved my life"
He vas ~devOuring the small wedges
of fresh bread and finely minced ham.
dressed with chopped egg; and thinking
nothing So reIishing ever happened to-
cether before.
'"Taint none OF our girls. sir, no one
] ever seen she just give me the toX
an set down outside!"
Afr. Bridger at the moment sDied a
little folded note beside the cover.
which must have fallen from the pack
age,-it was so unlike the pages OF MS.
Ittering his desk.
In q quaint compact hand it ran
thus
Gentlemen:
you are at the top, I am very near
the bottom. Will you help-me up? If
this luncheon suits you. Will you give
me an order for future supplies?
Mary Oharmann."
Cod. she deserves help IN such a
sensible enterprise"
He had nearly finished the supply
when he sent for the vendor, expecting
to see q decent body like Old Mary the
won down at the curb d bit
tidier, perhaps. He was unprepa1ed
for the slender dark-eyed WOman-tOO
well dressed for such lowly occupation
who presently stood at the corner OF
his desk.
Are you the writer Of tn1s curious
letter."
AIr. Bridger appeared to forget that
he had just announced he owed to lie
the preservation of his life.
"Yes.-and l prepared the sandwiches
I see they were appreciated!'
why yes. it was a very lucky acct
dent brought you up here just at this
mOme-. l had no time to go out t.
lunch today. L suppose it was savage
hunger made those particular sand
wiChes the best l ever ate.
Butt didn't come by accident. sir
I planned to come at just This hour he
cause l know many busy men like a
little bite of something relishing to stay
them till Il late dinner"
Her tone, her tanner, We're ~Cur:ouSlv
at varience with the whole situation
- - ~ ~ n v
h~esitanCy and yet much curiosity in
Are you starting a lunch ounIe- in
this building?'
"Oh no-nothing So ambitious as that
but l thought l might get enough reg
uIar customers to serve in the offices
and make Il decent living,-for the pre-
sent at least"
Her lips were compressed in a bitter
sort of smile.
But how does it happen a. woman
of your apparent education. csnnot
find something more worthy of her
mind? Anybody can do this sort OF
thing you know"
Yes. but L consider anybody VII
aot do it so we'll. To make these sand
witches Special more tempting
than the lunch counter offers, materials
must be the freshest and best, the breaC
cut evenly and thin. the dressins
minced very fine and the serving mus
appeal to the eye. / have tried vaI1l1
to set an office position, but the mar
ket for educated women seems over
stocked. l can't afford to wait till scmt
one dies-to make roomi"
Cyrus Bridger fiattered himself h
hadn't 4 remnant Of sentiment LETT II
his COmposition-and on general princl
Piles he objected to women in offices.
But the calm impersonai logic Of thi!
woman. the absence of any dra1ndti'
appeal her simple statement of fact IN,
terested him.
Take q seat madam" and he pushed
a chair toward her; with a hand wave
of dismissal to little Godfrey who wa:
lending a wide smile and n pair o
greedy ears to the conversation. Pos
Bibly I might find something better for
you than a travelling lunch trade
What sort of work were you looking 70
before this idea struck you-a might!
good idea, I contest" and he glanced
approximately at the box emptied Of al
but its wallpaper lining, and the pape