The Press., 1907-06-26
We want them to get all that's coming


 to them"
 ''What do you think of thatP, de. manded the girl, with an injured ex- pression, as she turned to a helper, "What's come over him2"
 Something had come over Ralnh pnt- nam, a curious sense of panic. He hurried back to the cashiers desk ana leaned against 1t as if for support. He almost expected to see the reprimand- ed girl dash out, because never before had he dared assert his authority. But instead the girl really cleaned up the butter dishes. and the girl whose grand mother bought her clothes watched her do 1t from the tail of an observing eve.
 Sally LOftus had a busy day, but when she was relieved at z o'clock she was not ready for home. She entered Ralph's tiny private office, some slips in hand.
 evil you please help me with the accounts?" she asked in friendly tones.
 ''Why, you don't have to-the other cashier''-
 'I know, but I want to learn every thing about the business, and I know you can teach me-"
 Ralph fairly gasped, but he spread the troublesome slips and bills before her. In fifteen minutes she had the matter strengthened out, and with a quiet Thank you, I can do it after this," left her employer with a sense that somehow an angel had suddenly H1,1rra nod n h nv1c
 From that day on affairs at the En- pire lunch room, No. 5, ran differently The quiet young woman in the cash ier's window was forever telling Ralph Putnam how sensible he was to do this or that-things which he had wanted to do, but was afraid to undertake and straightway he went off and did them. The cashier was constantly in vesting him with business virtues he did not possess, and as constantly he tried to assume them. The climax came when an elderly man tipped Kit ty Behman with a nickel, and as the girl dropped the coin into the pocket of her white apron she said to Ralph, who was almost at her elbow:
 \ that Russell Sage was dead"
 The old gentleman told Sally Loftus about the insult as he paid his check. Sally glanced up quickly. Ralph, red of face was folding and unfolding a napkin, and Kitty, with dancing eyes and impertinent tilt of head, was tell ing the other girls what smart an swer she had given her stingy cuS- toner.
 Ralph strolled over to Sally's side. She made change for little type writer. Then she turned to Ralph.
 ''There is one thing admire in Kitty Behman. She is gritty Not many had just been dismissed for imperti nence."
 Ralph threw back his shoulders.
 "Then you think 1t would be all right to fire herr" he asked.
 ''The only thing you could have done" replied Kitty firmly. "I felt sure you would see 1t tlat way"
 Ralph had not thought of firing Kit ty. She had ruled the entire floor SO long-but now
 That night Kitty was summoned to the tiny office. Ralph was tride pale around the lips, and his voice was husky, but his intention had not waver- ed. It was we'll for him, however, that dismissal came so suddenly to Kitty that she actually lost the power. of speech.
 .
 Three months later Tim, who checked umbrellas and ran errands at No. D.. met Kitty on her way home from work.
 "'How's the little old maidY she in- Quired fippantly.
 'Wots eatin' youT' he inquired say agely. She's goin' to beat you to the altar by a mile. She's trOttin' in the class with his. nibs, too-an' the old mans tickled to death. Says she's made a man of his boy, an he don't care who knows it."
 "Well, what do you think of that" exclaimed Kitty, smoothing her marcel waves refectively.
 "That some of you wise ones ain't one, two, three with the old fashioned sort with the right kind of wheels in her think pot. So long,"