Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-05-05

CONVERSION
- CEcILY ALIEN
-
coVvl0At HA ~ K 4. WAasAsaa
~ cEcILY ALLEN

George BradfOrd. purchasing bro
her" rcad the giri hssitatins booDes
ths deOr. she extracted a tiny neRspa-
per clipping from her purse and re-.
rad it:
Wantsd.-A s~tsnographer: male prefsF-
fed e Exchange place q. "a
Win trepidatiOa she opened the door
and catered q small. unpreDOsssssing
o@ce room.
Good morning" said Bradford. re
ing and then sitting down abruptly.
Business was business.
"Mr. BradfOrdf' asked the giFl. hand.
Ing him the clipping. This IL your
advertisement, I believe"
I'll had In mind q young man." be-
gan Bradford. obviously ~ at ease.
he had never associated with women.
either socially OF IN business. In the
latter capacity be had strongly disaD.
proved Of the sex; m the fOrmer-wsl.
be was dstermiaed 10 make money nrst
and lore afterward.
Yea. male preferred IL stated N
your advertisement" acknowledged the
girl. but ! wanted q position, my hst
one. very much, and-well, I've eOnle
to see n fate win be kind"
Il was just like a girl to introduos
such almy, uncertain elements as fate
into businessl And yet Bradford was
not 80 prejudiced 81 be had been ten
minutes before. He fancied the dingY
Onics was brighter already. Then there
was another consideration-women de-
manded smaller remuneration for their
work. and this was stu q matter Of
moment with Bradford.
~~This-er-yOu say Il your arst posi-
tiOnf' ventured Bradford. admitting
uncOnsciOusiy that the place was hers
already.
The girl saw this. but was loo tact
ful to give evidence Of the fact. "Yea."
ahe said. II have just finished my
course In ~stsnOpraphy."
Bradford liked her soft well mCdu-
lated voice. II would sound well 70
his customers over the phone. A mans
Voics would not sound hall 80 we'll.
"omce work Il conhning." he Bug.
MN8NGA W WY - AAM-IlN4kAAM ANNs
Eyes; but when a woman has to
make her Way IN the world ne puts
On q smile ana faces the worst" abe
Seplisd. with Just Q suspicion Of an
accent on the last word and with an
undsniably rOguiah tWinkls N her eyes.
She could not quite cast asids The man.
Asg that had been her charm N the
old NE Family fortunes may take
wings and ay. but innate eOQuetry q
not 70 be Htl1od b. mere financial d.
preston.
Bradford eould not dsny that her
smile had Individuality. He wonder
Cd Why the women be had been forced
70 meet bad never smiled "a Just that
way. He never knew why, but be
suddenly wished the once were clean
e.. he would certainly speak to the
Woman who scrubbed aud busted In the
building.
"And-about-abOut Salaryr be ask
Cd RWkwnrdly. u wa all rOt-thls
women IN business idea. They had no
right there. He would have q man.
he felt like a cad talking 10 q woman
about salary. What did she know Of
Of business7
Il believe Il is the employers pre-
rogatve to name The salary" said the
girl simply.
Bradford. after searching hOpelessly
In his mind for q combination OF words
and figures in'twhich to adjust the
financial end OF the transaction, named
the amount witch he had had in mind
when inserting the "ad."
THAT win do Gerry nicely" said the
giri. rising. After all, this business
life was not 30 hard; men WsTs not so
heartlsas.
"And your manner asked Bradford.
Henderson - Marjorie Henderson"
she said. smiling.
And when win you conner Brad
ford surprised himself at the way IN
which be let her suit her own con
V~enience.
That. too. is your prsrOgativs." abe
replied. an odd little expression o. def
renee In her eyea
Tomorrow Is that TOO soony' Ne
had not expected 20 have his stsnog.
rapheF until the following week. but,
aftsr all, no doubt tfe sooner he had
q the sOoner his business letters
would commence 70 bring good re-
Bults.
VERY well. tomorrow. And 81 what
hOaFY' This man had not told her
anything Of bis demands upon his em.
Dloyoes. Ghe had fancied herself ds.
parting with q list Of rules a page long,
% al o. which she must adhere rigidly,
ooh. about ESQ.," be sid. He had
decided when be had inserted the I'D.
Vogtissment that be would set 20 busi'
Rsss earlier and have his st~suograDhsi
thsre with him. Butch. well. women
should not have 20 get down too soon
It was hard on thsm.
u viii BE- hsrs 20 that hour. Mr.
Bradford. thank you" And ahe closed
tie door.
Alone. Bradford nt q cigar and lean
"a back IN his desk chair. what had
~ donsi Ne bad engaged . Woman. !
SRI. as q stoa0gfapher! She would ~
ways b. IN tha ONES. He could ~
swear; be wondered n be should
smoke. Neither could hs take on ~
ooat and put his feet on his deak when
be wanted TO think things out and
bring en- unFuly customer 70 time.