The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-07
BRADFORDY
CONVERSION
BY CEcILY ALLEN

BY cE1LY ALIEN


h------------------- -----------------------t0
George Bradford, purchasing bro
ker," read the girl, hesitating before
The door. She extracted tiny newspa-
per clipping from her purse and re-
read H.
wanted.--A stenographsr: male prefer.
red. 10 Exchange place. q. b.
With trepidntion she opened the door
and entered n small, unprepossessing
Office room.
Good morning" said Bradford, ris.
ing and then sitting down abruptly.
Business was business.
''Mr. BradfordT' asked the girl. hand.
ing him the clipping. This Is your
advertisement, | believe"
FL had In mind young man." be-
gan Bradford, obviously III 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.
"Yes, male preferred Ii stated In
your advertisement" acknowledged the
girl. but wanted position, my first
one, very much, and well. I've come
TO see II fate viii be kind"
II was just Ike girl 10 introduce
such filmy, uncertain elements as fate
into business! And set Bradford was
not 80 preJudlced as he had been ten
minutes before. lie faucied the dingy
Office was brighter already. Then there
was another consIderation-wo de.
manded smaller remuneration for their
work, and this was still matter Of
moment with Bradford
''This--er- you say Is your first posi-.
uoni" ventured Bradford, admitting
uhcohsciousiy 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 stenogaphy."
Bradford liked her soft, well modu-
lated voice II would sound well to
his customers over the phone, A mans
voice would not sound half so well.
"Ofiice work Is condning." he sug-
gested by way OF dlseonraging her.
"Yes; but when woman has to
make her way In Ahe world she puts
ON smile and faces the worst" she
replied with just suspicion Of an
accent on the last word and with an
undeniably roguish twinkle In her eyes.
She could not quite east aside the man
ner that had been her charm In the
old life. Family fortunes may take
wings and ny, but innate coquetry Ii
not to be stifed by mere financial de-
preston.
Bradford could not deny that her
smile had individuality. He wonder
cd why the women be 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 Il the
building.
nd-about--about salaryT' he ask
ed awkwardly. II was all rot-this
women in business idea. They had no
right there. He would have a man.
He felt like a cad talking to a woman
about salary. What did she know Of
of buslnessI
"I believe It is the employers pre-
rogative to name the salary" said the
girl simply.
Bradford. after searching hopelessly
In his mind for n combination Of words
and figures In which to adjust the
financial end OF the 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 40
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
vcnlence.
That, too. IL your prerogatlve," she
replied, an odd little expression of def
ercnce In her eyes.
Tomorrow? Is that too soonT 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
hourr This man had not told her
Of bis demands upon bis en-
ployees. She had fancied herself de-
parting with list of rules page long,
to all Of which abe must adhere rigidly.
'Oh, about 9:So," he said he had
decided when he had inserted the ad-
vertisement that he would get to busl-
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.
II will be here at that hour, Mr..
thank you" And she closed
the door.