The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-05-28
DIyERTIN6 his MIND.

4
hat was pulled down to his ears, and
his brows drawn together in black
bridge over his eyes. The two stenog-
raphers quailed under his glance and
even the Office boy was shaken from
his usual calm. The chief aeknowl-
edged the salutations of the head clerk
with grim nod, and then strobe into
the junior partners room. His voice
came through the partition in con-
fused growl.
Going to be chilly day with the
boss, I guess" the Office boy said to
the stenographer who had been with |
the firm for ten years.
you should call him Mr. Barnett" |
she answered reprovingly, and added |
little lecture on the duty of respect
to elders and employers. She was fin
ishing her lecture as the senior part
ner emerged from the inner ROOM, He
comprehended her and the Office boy
in swift glance of disfavor.
Miss Murdoch" he said, icily, "if
you're not too busy talking to William,
I should like. to give you some dicta-
! ton"
She rose with a deep flush on her
cheeks and went into the private Of
/ flee. He stopped moment in the tele-
phone 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 a deeper
frown.
In half an hour Miss Murdoch came
out. II don't know what's the matter
with him." she said to the second clerk
in an awestruck voice. Hes just
dreadfully cross this morning. He
even made me spell difference with
enc f."
"He acts as If he thought we were
just dirt" the new stenographer said.
II wish I'd stayed with that lumber
company"
The fidelity Of years hared up in
Miss Murdoch. Hes generally the
kindest man 1 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 a few minutes he rushed
from his room and shut himself into
the telephone booth. Each time he
came out more cross and haggard.
By noon the Office force had fallen
into state bordering ION 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 guess 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
forehead and tears in his eyes. He
looked round the room and smiled
TREMENDOUSLY. "She's come out of il
beautifully, the doctor says. The
anesthetic went off and she walked like
y a baby. And he says the cut in her
throat can be covered by a string OF
beads
: He beamed tenderly on them all.
what are you talking about?" his
= partner asked.
WY lily ALIAc SlIA = Ut TIC uOSp1
tai and hadan operation on her throar
y this morning, and the doctors JUS
" telephoned that it's all right. HI
:. :. wouldn't let me stay at the hospital
, said it was better to come down herr
!. and divert my mind by tending t.
business"
"Well, you've at least diverted ou
minds" Burke answered. "Why
didn't you tell us so we'd understand? p
Mr.. Barnett gave. shamefacet
smile. II just couldn't" he said sim
ply, "but now 1 want you all to TAX
q vacation this afternoon. IT.
Wednesday, and. you shall all hav
= matinee tickets as my treat And nov
4 I'm going to buy some beads for An
ME-"
d" When he had gone the two stenog
~ raphers wiped their eyes and nodde'
" sympathetically. The older men clear
I ed their throats, but William, the OF
fee boy, looked about him belligerent
:. ly.
- Didn't I always say he was a.
- right?" he asked.