Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
DAYS AND
DOLLARS.
BY CARROLL WATSON RANKIN.

5151515151515151515 151515151515751l
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Telka, who was seventeen years old,
felt very important indeed, for sur
prising thing had happened. 1t was
only five days since she had been
graduated from the high school, and
here she was with working knOwl-
elge of real estate business already
at her finger-tips-l literally, because
her business was principally con-
cerned with the typewriting-machine
In the Office of Armstrong & Wolfe.
The knowledge, perhaps, did not ex-
tend far beyond her finger-tips, be-
cause most of the letters she wrote
at the dictation of her employers con-
veyed absolutely no meaning to her
mind; but this did not trouble Tekla
or anybody else.
Her copy was neat as well as &C
curate, and there was nothing about
the completed letters to indicate that
the typewriting young person was as
innocent as the typewriter itself Of
the difference between the east half
of lot fifty-seven and the northwest
forty in Skandia township.
You're wonderfully fortunate" said
Geraldine Pease, who was four years
older than Tekla. ''Ive always wish
ed | could work for Armstrong &
Wolfe-it's such good place. How
did you ever happen to get it,"
"Oh," returnG& Tekla, overlooking
Geraldine's SOM what uncOmplimen-
tary emphasis, "Mr. Wolfe and father
used to be friends. He knew I'd have
to do something to help mother out,
and so when Miss Dodd's sick father
telegraphed for her to go East, Mr..
Wolfe came to me. I'm to have thirty
dollars a month
Mr.. Wolfe who was almost sixty
bit looked younger, was a large man,
so well-proportioned in every way that
his great height did not impress one
until he stood looking down upon
some ordiEary six-footer." His Shout
ders were broad, his hands and feet
huge, his good-natured mouth was
wide, his mild e,yes stood wide apart.
Every one loved and respected him,
and because of his kindly eyes, he
mad few enemies. No unfortunate per-
son ever appealed to him in vain,
vet in spite of his amiability, he was
seldom imposed upon.
Tekla was conscious of no desire
to impose on him; but she was young,
It was summer time. often there were
no letters to be answered, and she
found idleness irksome.
The baseball match between the
teams of her own town. and Of Iron
wood was the beginning of her fall
from grace. The Office closed at four
on Saturday afternoons and at half
past five on other days, and work was
supposed to begin at half past eight
each morning. 1t seemed to the rest
less girl that two hours playtime on
Saturday afternoons ought not to
make much difference to the firm, and
she asked if she might be excused.
1t is probable that she would not
have enjoyed the game so we'll it she
had suspected that Mr.. Wolfe, whose
large, blunt fingers did not lend them
selves gracefully to typewriting, had
been compelled to answer at consider
able length and with much discomfort
two important letters that had arrived
in the o'clock mail.
Mr.. Armstrong, the other partner
had not learned to use a typewriter
and always had enough to do, besides
in his own special department.
The ball game, however, was only
the opening wedge. Tekla was popu
lar. and her friends and classmates
were having a glorious time thai
summer.
At first, indeed, the girl stood Out
bravely, refusing all daytime amuse
ments; but after that first baseball
game Tekla found it so easy to ask
and to obtain leave of absence fol
part of Monday morning, all of Tues
day afternoon, or every bit of Wed
nesday, that Mr.. Armstrong, an iras
chile, wiry man with nervous dyspep
STA, feared Mr.. Wolfe was in danger
Oh DeAnS COApSlleu " w oil IAS type
writing.
One forenoon Mr.. Armstrong oh
served Tekla, who had arrived three
quarters of an hour late, looking al
her watch with more than her usua
irritating frequency. When she was
not occupied with this futile employ
ment, she was casting impatien
glances at visitor who had, in he
opinion, already stayed far too long
Mr.. Armstrong knew what her impa
thence portended. The door had bare
ly closed behind the visitor before
Tekla had taken the intruder's place
beside Mr.. Wolfe's big desk.