The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-10
BETWEEN STENOGRAPHERS
BY MAINE LINDSAY.

Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.) ) The plate on the door told that in- side was the office of L. Grieg and M. Brakespear; and went on to say that they were stenographers. It did not look as if many people called. Perhaps that was the reason that the girl in black who was climbing the narrow staircase on the afternoon m question did not exhibit any symptoms of haste; but toiled up wearily, one hand on the bapister, and the other
 holding notebook. She dived into her pocket at the top, brought up latch key, and opened the door.
 | The, June sun streamed in at the curtainless window. The room was
 very small. and it was filled with office furniture and litter. The only things | that relieved the sordid aspect were a | couple of red roses in a tumbler- dropping, poor things in that stuffy | who was clicking of letter on the l typewriter. The clear-cut features and wistful gray eyes were almost | beautiful, though certain lines about | the mouth took the freshness from l the face and there were ominous blue shadows under the eyes.
 Well, did you take Snuny's let | ters9'
 The girl in black laid her notebook | upon a table and dropped into chair before she answered. She. too, was thin. and looked badly riourished, but
 there was a defiant sauareness about her mouth and chin that counterbal- ] anced the weary eye sand pallid face "Yes--four. And he kept me wait ing hree-quarters of an hour before he came in to give them. Lilla, of all our respected clients I do think l hate Snuffy most. He is so bearish. | so stingy. and so unclean. Have you noticed his finger nails?
 My dear girl, never look at the beast But as a matter of fact
 I much prefer snuffy to Mir. Simeon. His unctuous politeness. and his way | of leaning over one while he dic- tates, with the general flavor of hair | oil and rings there is about the man
 make me feel quite sick. He empha- | sized a remark yesterday by laying | that fat bejeweled fore-finser caress- | ingly on my hand. When l whipped 1t away he rolled his eyes in lam | gushing manner and smiled nine- inch smile"
 "Aht" The girl in black looked l thoughtful If you like. will take all MT. Simeon's work in the future We can arrange somehow"
 Tt really does not matter. It's all part of the discipline of life, l sup pose. They're mostly like that, or
 
 make living"
 Must one? I don't think so. That's
 only our egotistical way of looking at things. Now, a little. charcoal and
 some brown paper pasted over the
 chimney would be much less expensive and would rid the world of pair of superfluous women" The other girl was fixing a sheet of
 paper in the typewriter. She stopped suddenly, wheeled round, and gave her friend long, critical glance. You've had no lunch."
 q admit the soft impeachment To tell the truth. I didn't feel like eat
 ing"
 l/ Therefore you come back at three b m. and make morbid remarks. [. I've just to finish this specification for
 MT. Axworthy, and in tho meantime YOU might make tea. By-the-bye, wish you wouldn't keep the methy- lated spirit in the ink bottle" T always had a soul above detail.
 Yes-I think a cup of tea would do me good.
 She opened a cupboard. rummaged in it and set out a spirit lamp and the | teapot For some minutes the typewrit 1 CT clicked on to a running accompani- | nent of rattling teacups. and the song 1 a fthe little tin kettle 0 nthe lamp. There" The girl at the typewriter
 pulled out the last sheet with rattle 1 and tossed 1t down upon the others.
 Thank goodness, that's done And | now, my dear Mildred, for tea" They pulled their chairs toward the table, and the girl in black poured