The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-09-16
plvERTlNe HIS MIND.
a Cloud Settled Down on the Office,
But it Soon Lifted.

A cloud settled down on the Office
when the senior partner came in. HIS
hat was pulled down to his ears, and
his brows drawn together in black
bridge over his eyes. The two stem
ographers quailed under his glance
and even the Office boy was Shaken
from his usual calm. The chief
acknowledged the salutations OF the
head clerk with a grim nod, and then
strobe into the junior partners ROOM
His voice came through the partition
in a confused growl.
Miss Murdoch" he said, icily, III
you're not too busy talking to Will
liam, should like to give you some
dictation.'
She rose with a deep flush on her
cheeks and went into the private Of
fee. He stopped a moment in the
telephone booth and the Office force
could hear him berating Central"
He came out with heavier lines from
his nose to the corners Of his mouth,
and his forehead was crumpled in
deeper frOwn.
In half an hour Miss Murdoch came
out. 81 don't know what's the matter
with him." she said to the second
clerk in an awestruck voice. He's
just dreadfully cross this morning
He even made me spell difference
with one f."
"He acts as If he thought we were
just dirt" the new stenographer said.
Il wish I'd stayed with that lumber
company"
The fidelity Of years fared up in
Miss Murdoch. He's generally the
kindest man / ever knew" she said.
The office boy nodded. That's right"
Within a few minutes Mr.. Barnett
refused to see three valued clients.
At intervals of few minutes he rush
ed from his room and shut himself
into the telephone booth. Each time
he came out mere cross and haggard.
BY noon the Office force had fallen
into a state bordering on panic, and
even the junior partner, Burke, kept
out of range of his seniors sarcasm.
When for the tenth time Mr.. Barnett
entered the telephone booth, the as
tute William said, Il CUES he'll fire
us all when he comes out this time.
Mr.. Barnett stayed long time with
the receiver held to his ear. He came
out with beads of perspiration on his
tn y
looked round the room and smiled
TREMENDOUSLY. she's come out OF 1t
beautifully, the doctor says. The an
esthetic went off and she walked like
a baby. And he says the cut in her
throat can be covered by string OF
beads"
He beamed tenderly on them all.
What are you talking about?" his
partner asked.
"Why, my little girls at the hospi-
tai and had an operation on her
throat this morning and the doctors
Just telephoned that it's all right. He
wouldn't let me stay at the hospital
said it was better TO come down
here and divert my mind by tending
to business"
well, you've at least diverted our
minds" Burke answered. why didn't
you tell use so we'd understands"
Mr.. Barnett gave shamefaced
smile. Il just couldn't" he said sim
ply, "but now | want you all to take
q vacation this afternoon. It's We'd
nesday, and you shall all have natl
nee tickets as my treat. And now
I'm going to buy some beads for An
ME-"
When he had gone the two stenog-
raphers wiped their eyes and nodded
sympathetically. The older Ii. 2
cleared their throats, but William,
the office boy, looked about him bel
ligerently.
Didn't l always say he was all
right" he asked.