The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-08-15
never in tune. Roach was unmistak.

never in tune. Roach was unmistak,
ably irritated when Eben suddenly re.
sumed the dictation of letters. To dc
this it was necessary for the old fel.
low either to call Miss Gilders1eeve
into the main Office or to intrude upon
the privacy of Roach's sanctum.
The Judge began to conceive deep
rooted, but unreasonable hatred for
his old partner. Lufkin's correspon-
dence began to surpass all reason.
The amiable Miss Gildersleeve was
forever taking notes. But now it was
Eben who monopolized her time.
The Judge tried coming down ear
ly. He arrived one morning at 7
O'Clock. But Lufkin was already at
work. Then he tried lettering in the
evening, but Fben insisted on clock
ing up"
''I believe the old fool thinks Miss
-EGlderSleeHa- Jh3S enspared- me - re-
1.-The ineddlesome fossil !''
AS matter of fact the Judge had
found his stenographer so quick wit
ted, so modest, so amiable and so
comely that he was beginning to con-
slider the propriety of showing her
little more personal attention. You
see, she was the daughter of an old
and respected client and she had come
to town an utter stranger. Her man
ners were those of the nurtured south
ern lady. She was young, difident,
industrious, discreet. Why not show
her some of the consideration which
is usually omitted between employer
and employe? So thought Judge
Roach. It could do no harm, for in
stance, to take her driving in the park
after dark. Nobody would see them.
He could keep away from the crowd
ed drives and fashionable resorts.
So he asked her.
"Oh, thank you, Mr.. Roach" she
had answered, "but 1 promised a
friend to attend the concert this even
ing. It's very kind of you, I'm
sure"
He saw that she was pleased, fat
tered. he guessed, and by the merest
chance he drove that evening past
the music stand in the park. He saw
her, her face radiant, smiling, chat
ting gayly to man.
The next day, having asked Miss
Gildersleeve to withdraw, Judge
Roach, looking quite solemn, his
hand trembling a bit, his face flush
ed, called Eben into his office and
closed the door.
"Eben," he said awkwardly, con-
fused, "I've been thinking - of
course, it's just notion of mine, but
I-have you thought anything of
drawing from the partnership-going
in for yourself, Eben?"
eyes, I've thought of it, George" F."
said Lufkin, quietly, a sad kind of
smile lowering about the corner of
his gentle mouth. "I think I'd have
bit late now, I'm afraid. You see,
I've been fitting myself to your ne
cessities so long that-but if you
wish it, George"
ooh, I don't wish it, Eben," blurt-
ed Roach, who was beginning to feel
very CHEAP" "I don't wish it.
"I've no fault to find, but you're
different kind of man from me, you're
a little too-that is, why you're too
slow p concluded the Judge, try
ing to justify himself by becoming
brutal.
GAS you say, George" answered
Eben, very softly. "I'll drop out.
It'll be especially inconvenient just
now"
"Why?" The Judge was resolv-
ed to have no mercy.
"Well, you see, l had arranged to
be married at New Years and"
Married." Judge Roach forgot
his resentment in the surprising news.
eyes, George" resumed the quiet
man, "we-er-that is, Miss Glider
sleeve"
You don't mean. to tell me that
you and Miss Gildersleeve are to be
married, Eben !" Mr.. Roach was
growing gray about the lips.
1--WE intended to keep it a secret
for while, George"
"Stop Shut up, will you Just
for a minute, please, Eben." The
two friends sat quite silent for few
minutes and then; "Eb, old boy"
said the Judge, "you don't want to
remember anything 1 said about
breaking up the partnership. didn't
mean it. just wanted to see what
you'd say before 1 went away. in
tended to tell you that I'm going to
Europe for a month. I think I'll
start tomorrow. Courts adjourned
and you can look after everything,
including the correspondence. Eh,
Eben?"
There was vague smile as he said
this, but Eben laughed softly, and
they shook hands, and when Mr..
Roach was alone he looked absently
out of the window and muttered:
"And 1 gave him credit for being
too slow -
HoW HE FOUNn TT OUT