The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-09-13
BY E. C. DAWSON.

son, without looking up. She never
encouraged the Professor to be en-
thusiastic at $50 a. M; 1t involved
working through the luncheon hour
without a break, which was bad for
both of them.
"A delightful morning" pursued
the Professor, unchilled. When not
conversing academically he tried to
be conventional, and became COM
monplace. II believe the market is
going up" he added, after pause
and a flash of inspiration,
Down" replied Miss Dickson,
pursuing the damping process.
She dabbled mildly in shares, and
the Professor heard of her ventures
with the puzzled interest that man
with a banking account and no use
for money would naturally evince to-
ward woman with gambling pro-
pensities---and a salary.
Next to the Theory, Miss Dickson
was an indispensable adjunct to the
Professors welfare. Every New
Years Eve a check, for the purchase
of additional shares, lay on her desk,
presented with the gratitude and es-
TEEN of J. Borthwick."
She was little, energetic woman,
agreeable, well educated, we'll read;
ten years as the Professors secre-
tary had grounded her so effectually
in the Theory and all pertaining to
it that she had become a source of
reference on the subject, consulted
by the Professor and the geological
staff, unfortunately. A kindly ma
ture enhanced her mental attain
ments, coupled with an assured man
ner. She was self-sacrihcing and
self-assertive as occasion demanded,
championed her chief in public, and
bullied him in private as one who
knew his weaknesses and corrected
his spelling.
He turned to his desk and the
mornings correspondence. Miss Dick
son laid aside her paper.
"The new batch of fossils came in
this morning" she said. 81 had them
arranged in the sampling room"
4 L
Professor replied; from what he
said it's just possible they have hap
pened upon something new"
He reverted to his letters. "Noth-
ing of importance-ah, yes, unfortu-
nately-a reminder from the Editor
of The Scientific Journal about the
contribution l promised. He shall
have that note on a Fossil Fish Tooth
from the Devonian-when it's fin
ished, only"-he referred again to
the letter and glances toward the
sampling room door regretfully-
'he wants it at once.P
"And you want to get to the fos-
sils, so The Journal must wait,
suggested Miss Dickson, conniving
with the Professors inclination
against his conscience.
"a promise" began the Professor
pedantically, drifting toward a bu-
reau.
From a drawer containing manu-
script he extracted the Fossil Fish
Tooth sheets. Miss Dickson took
them from him compassionately.
"I'll look through it and see what
alteration is needed-your attention
would be so divided she said.
The Professor bore the imputation
with meekness and made a bee line
for the sampling room.
"Be sure you come to me If there
is anything unnecessary or unintelli-
gible, in your opinion" he paused to
add from the threshold-to propiti-
ate Miss Dickson and palliate the
sense of wrongdoing.
Miss Dickson nodded and smiled !;
the Professor, artful and conscience
stricken, was genuinely humorous.
Left in solitude, she commenced
work on the Note; 1t covered several
pages, closely typewriter, and even
to her scientifically adjusted mind be-
| for diversion, to the Professors cor
respondence and prepared the replies
for his signature.
Midday struck; the janitor
Knocked at the door with telephone
dinner invitation for the Professor.
Ask for the number and say the
Professor will ring up later" replied
Miss Dickson. "He is busy with
some fossils, and can't disturb him. u
1t was her custom to waive matters
of minor Importance without refer
ence to him, an authority the Pro
fessor never resented.
| In the next hour various individ-
uals dropped in for conversation with
the Professor, and stayed b enjoy II
with Miss Dickson. 1t was past the
luncheon hour when the last depart.
ed, and thu Professor was still clos.
eted in the sampling room Miss
Dickson decided to give him another
half hour, and reverted. hungry but
patient, to the Fossil Fish Tooth. Al
the end of the period she knocked al
the door and entered.
Time you went to lunch, Profes
sor," she said.
He was seated with his back to-
ward her, before table Uttered with
rock specimens, his head sunk be
tween his shoulders, his elbows rest
ing on the table.
1t struck her, for the first time
that he looked very old and shriv
elled and fragile; the reaction, posi-
BIZ, from his earlier elation. She
approached softly, to avoid startling
him.
He seemed unconscious of hel
presence; his eyes were glued to {
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