The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-04-14
WAS DlvERT,No HIS MIND.
But His Conduct Was Anything Else
Than Diverting to His
Employees.

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 stenographers 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 grim nod, and then
strobe into the junior partners room.
His voice came through the partition in
a confused growl, relates an exchange.
"Going to be chilly day with the
boss, l 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 finish
ing her lecture as the senior partner
emerged from the inner room. He COM
pretended her and the Office boy in a
swift glance of disfavor.
Miss Murdoch" he said, iciiy. elf
you're not too busy talking to William,
should like to give you some dictation."
She rose with a deep flush on her
cheeks and went into the private Office.
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 cor
ners of his mouth, and his forehead was
crumped in deeper frown.
In half an hour Miss Murdoch came
hot - %hA at nr
with him." she said to the second clerk
in an awestruck voice. Hes just dread
fully 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. II
wish I'd stayed with that lumber COM
pany."
The fidelity of years flared up in Miss
Murdoch. Hes generally the kindest
man l ever knew" she said. The Office
boy nodded. That's right"
Within few minutes Mr.. Barnett re-
fused to see three valued clients. At in
tervals of few minutes he rushed from
his room and shut himself into the tele-
phone booth. Each time he came out
more 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 tele-
phone booth. the astute 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 trem-
ulously. "She's come out of it beau
tifully, the doctor says. The anesthetic
went off and she walked Ikea baby. And
he says the cut in her throat can be COW
cred by string of beads"
He beamed tenderly on them all.
What are you talking about?" his
partner asked.
"Why, my little girls at the hospital
morning, and the Doctors just tele-
phoned 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 us so we'd understands
Mr.. Barnett gave shamefaced smile.
II just couldn't" he said, simply, but
now l want you all to take vacation
this afternoon. It's Wednesday, and
you shall all have matinee tickets as my
treat. And now I'm going to buy some
beads for Annie"
When he had gone the two stenogra-
piers wiped their eyes and nodded SYM
pathetically. The olde- men cleared
their Threats, but William, the Office
boy, looked about him belligerently.
Didn't always say he was all right?"
he asked.
A Five-Dollar Bill,
Borroughs-You haven't got IS bill
about you. have you?
Bracer-Yes, have. How did you
guess it?
Il just thought you might"
1T only came this morning. I'll
read it to you: j. Bracer to A. Taylor,
DR.. To one pair trousers, S. Phil
ade]ph.a Public Ledger.