The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-04-11
BRADFORDY
CONVERSION
Copyright, 1901, by K. a. Whitehead
By CECILY ALLEN

he door. She extracted tiny newspa-
per clipping from her purse and re-
read it:
Wanted.-A stenographer; male prefer
red. 16 Exchange place. @. B.
With trepidation she opened the door
and entered a small, unprepossessing
Office room.
Good morning" said Bradford, ris-
ing and then sitting down abruptly.
Business was business.
Mr. Bradford?" asked the girl, hand
ing him the clipping. This is your
advertisement, l believe"
Il had in mind young man." be-
gan Bradford, obviously i'll at ease
He had never associated with women,
either socially or In business In the
latter capacity he had strongly disap-
proved of the sex; In the former-well,
he was determined to make money first
and love afterward.
Eyes, male preferred is stated in
your advertisement" acknowledged the
girl, but wanted a position, my first
one, very much, and-well, I've come
to see If fate will be kind"
1t was just like girl to introduce
such filmy, uncertain elements as fate
into business! And yet Bradford was
not so prejudiced as he had been ten
minutes before. He fancied the dingy
Office was brighter already. Then there
was another nsideration-women de-
manded smaller remuneration for their
work, and this was still a matter Of
moment with Bradford
"This-er-you say is your first posi-
tion?" ventured Bradford, admitting
unconsciousiy that the place was hers
already.
The girl saw this, but was too tact
full to give evidence of the fact. "Yes,"
she said Il have just finished my
course in stenography."
Bradford liked her soft, well modu-
lated voice. 1t would sound well to
his customers over the phone A mans
voice would not sound half so we'll.
"Ofice work is confirming" he sug-
gested by way of discouraging her.
Yes; but when a woman has to
make her way In the world she puts
on a smile and faces the worst" she
replied, with just a suspicion Of an
accent on the last word and with an
undeniably roguish twinkle in her eyes.
She could not quite cast aside the man
ner that had been her charm in the
old life. Family fortunes may take
wings and fly, but innate coquetry is
not to be stifled by mere financial de
preston.
Bradford could not deny that her
smile had individuality. He wonder
ed why the women he had been forced
to meet had never smiled in just that
way. He never knew why, but he
suddenly wished the Office were clean
er. He would certainly speak to the
woman who scrubbed and busted in the
building.
"And-about-abo salary?" he ask
ed awkwardly. 1t was all rot-this
women In business idea They had no
right there He would have man.
He felt like cad talking to a woman
about salary. What did she know Of
of business?
Il believe it is the employers pre-
rogative to name the salary" said the
girl simply.
Bradford, after searching hopelessly
In his mind for combination of words
and figures in which to adjust the
financial end of tie transaction, named
the amount which he had had in mind
when inserting the lad"
THAT will do very nicely" said the
girl, rising. After all, this business
life was not so hard; men were not so
heartless.
"And your manner" asked Bradford
Henderson = Marjorie Henderson"
she said, smiling.
'And when will you Gomez" Brad
ford surprised himself at the way in
which he let her suit her own con
ven1ence.
THAT, too, is your prerogative," she
replied, an odd little expression Of def
erence in her eyes
Tomorrow? Is that too soon" He
had not expected to have his stenog-
rapher until the following week, but,
after all, no doubt the sooner he had
one the sooner his business letters
would commence to bring good re-
suits.
VERY well, tomorrow And at what
hourY This man had not told her
anything Of his demands upon his en-
ployees. She had fancied herself de-
parting with list Of rules page long,
to all of which she must adhere rigidly.
"Oh, about 9:30," he said He had
vertisement that he would get to bust
ness earlier and have his stenographer
there with him. Butch, well, women
should not have to get down too soon
1t was hard on them
IT will be here at that hour, Mr..
Bradford, thank you" And she closed
the door,
Alone, Bradford lit cigar and lean
ed back In his desk chair. What had
he done? He had engaged a woman, a
girl, as stenographeri She would al
| ways be In the Office. He could not
swear; he wondered If he should
smoke. Neither could he take off his
coat and put his feet on his desk when
he wanted to think things out and
bring an unruly customer to time.
But the next morning found him ca
gerly waiting for $50. He could not
tell why, but the appearance of trim
little tailor clad figure in the doorway
made him glad
IL may put my hat ON your desk p
she asked laying neat felt hat on the
top Of his desk. She had only fiat
table
"Oh-oh, no." he said. "Let mel
say, we will have to have a hook over
| there above the washbowl. Yes, put II
there" What nuisance women were,
he tried to convince himself. A wom-
/ ans hat on mans desk!
| An atmosphere of strangeness, Of en-
/ barrassment and awkwardness filled
/ the tiny office all day, and yet Brad
ford did not look at the dirty, dingy
elevated road for light as he had been
accustomed. 1t was brighter in the of.
| fee He dictated his letters and was
| pleased to note their faultIess pages
their neat arrangement, their work
manlike appearance. Perhaps, after all
woman could learn to be business
/ like.
Il will bring a little mirror and-a
towel and some soap in the morning
Mr.. Bradford, If you don't mind" she
/ CHI 10
"a mirrorl" Bradford sighed. This
was only the beginning But he was al
ways glad when $50 arrived and sorry
when closing time came Business
seemed to increase; he sent out SC
many letters. Miss Henderson was
/ quick, and often she suggested little
ideas for featuring goods he was ad
] -. L