Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-08
The Junior Clerks Counting


his occupation of cracking Brazil nuts
in the copying press and regarded the
very junior clerk with grave solici-
tude.
Il say, Jimmy, what's up?" he asked.
You got a face on you this mornin
like farden kite. Amt bit an lost
nothing, ave your
Jimmy sighed.
"Only my art, ole man. he said,
sentimentally.
Come again
I'm in love- the other explained.
with blush.
"Takein' anything for it,"
81 was thinkin' O. prussic acid" said
the very junior clerk.
Last time l was in love-" unused
the office boy, Il thought of four
penny buttonhole. But p'raps you're
wise
''You!" scornfully. why you're on
ly kid as yet
so kids are always tellin me" was
the ready retort.
The very junior clerk started from
ence to mundane things, and looked
exceedingly ferocious.
IF you're goin' to be funny" he
said, I'm afraid I'll ave to wollop
you
Quite right to be afraid" remarked
the office boy. Then, as the other
reached for a ruler, he added, hastily:
but I do symperfize wi yor. really,
ole man. | was merely tryin' to cheer
you up. Only you're SO 'asty."
Tier name" said Jimmy, somewhat
appeased, lis Emma Smith,
Never mind said the Office boy.
f''What you mean?"
81 was thinkin', p'r'aps, you might
get her to change it. She'd still be
Emma, though, Of course" he reflect
ed, modify.
There's worse names n Emma"
said the very Junior clerk.
1--WE been called worse myself the
office boy admitted, frankly.
1--WE met" quoth the lovelorn one,
dramatically. lin the 'Olloway road.
I'd got the fair pip. Hadn't the faint
est idea 'ow L was goin to spend my
evenin'- 'avin' nothing else to spend"
Friday, l apose?'
Cow did you guess?" -.
Fridays such an unlucky day-for
those who happen to be paid weekly.
"Still, | remember times" said the
very Junior. clerk, when I've had as
much as a tanner on Friday before
now"
GIVE 'ad as little as sixpence my
SELF said the office boy
well, as 1 say, I was moochin'
about in the 'Olloway road. with
cigarette in my mouth that | didn't
like to light, because it was my last,
when | saw her sauntering along just
in front O. me- l liked the look OF
her at .nce, though mind you | 'adn't
seen her face and for all knew she
might khave been quite plain and as
old as old"
COW old is that?" asked the Office
boy.
Twenty, say?"
Women amt really old at twenty,
though, objected the Office boy.
sWhy, I've known some twenty-three,
or twenty-four even, as reckoned their
selves quite young"
"She," said the very junior clerk,
was just the sensible age"
"When?"
81 mean she's just the sensible age
now"
Never knew they 'ad a sensible
age" remarked the office boy, mo-
rosely.
81 crossed the road" Jimmy went
on, ignoring the gibe, quite properly,
"and scooted down the other side O
the way and then crossed over again
and came back. That brought us face
to face. And the moment | set my
eyes on her l knew it was all over"
what! Before it 'ad begun?
"All over wi me, fat'ead She'd
I mean she has-got one O those faces
that grow. on Teller"
Pretty"
''As a picture"
"Pity one never grew on you.
Though I've seen pictures hurriedly,
chat was almost like life, so ugly
they were
q rose my at" said the very junior
clerk, aand bowed. She smiled"
81 s'pose it was your thinkin' you'd
got topper on stead of cap made
her laugh?"
81 said Smiled An did ave my
topper on, as it happens. went up
to her and id, Good evenin, miss"
81 must remember them words;
| they'll be useful
"She said: 81 don't think | know
you. sir | said, No; that's pleas
| ure in store"
"You didn't say who it was in store
for?"
"she understood. She isn't a fool,
| like you
.'Fools never are like me-" said the
Office boy.
"And then I said, May I see you
'ome, miss?' I tell you, she was all
in flutter"
"Praps the poor girl didn't want
to go ONE"
ooh, you always open the ball like
that You must say something. You
can't stand mum like an imbecile."
Though it has been done said the
office boy.
can then, in less than 'alf O no
time" the very junior clerk went on,
"there we were, chatting away to-
gether like two old friends. 'Ah, I've
never cottoned to a girl as l cottoned
/ to Emma, some'ow. There was anoth-
er girl with her, by the way"
There always is"