The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-09-21
ss,is'ssa ii~S-i.-isi-s>ss E 2 l-..'!rs
Nov A R0AsAN
COT an OFFICE.

- 80 : - = \ = = = - - sFa I
ionsinail
katherine Gle was an up 10 date I
young woman. Her seS had come 20
occupy many positious formerly hlled !
by men. bnt thsre was one OF which |
she considered w5e1en dia not fht !
their share. The politiisl yfifresl wsfs
still held almost exclusively by men
Katherine vas Interested In the mat
ter not because she relished a struggle
with the nrn f,f womaus rights. bat
because she wanted Sp phlee. She pro-
posed TO herself a short cut TO equalize
her chances with them. She would
seek an office not as n woman. but as
man.
Not long after katharine Gle came
70 this decision n young man, TRULY
Middlebrook, OF rather feminine ap-
pearance, settled In the town Of STARK
VILE and soon secured a position as
stenographer with Francis Merriam.
grain shipper. Middlebrook's employ
er told him that he had had several
women steuographers, but didn't want
any nj pre- OF them. He considered
them al empty headed lot. excltable.
hysterical-indeed. everything ending
with "al," not excepting dlabolical.
But he desired Aliddlebroos to be
careful not to meE,ion his opinion of
the sex, for he had long been striving
10 get the nomination for mayor. aud
It wouldn't be policy for him to be
known as n woman hater
Middlebrook remained In Merriam's
employ two years before the ambition
Of his employer was attsined. Mer-
riam was nominated. and he was 81
good a man that the opposition hest
tated about putting upsa candidate Of
its own Indeed. Merriam was COM
graduating himself on the prospect Of
having no opposition whatever when
be saw notice one morning IN his
newspaper that astonished him. II
was no less tfinn an announcement
4 OF his stenographer, TRULY Middle
brook. that he would bo candidate
for mayor as the coming election.
Now. there had beon the best OF feel
Ing between the two men, Merriam
had raised Middlebrook's salary sew
eral times and had supposed that the
stenographer was devoted to him.
MI. hNAN A
have seen your notice. You have
perfect right tc run for office against
me, but -but-well. your action is just
like thousand things your predeees-
sors have done who were-women.
That's aii.p
Mr.. MiddlebroolS withdrew without
word. aud what filed the measure OF
his employers astonishment was that
he thought he saw u tear in his stenog
rapber's eye.
There was another surprise IN store
for Mr. Merriam. A few days before
the election his political manager came
20 him to say that Aiddlebrook, who
had been gaining in favor ever since
the announcement of bis candidacy,
would surely be elected, Merriam was
dumfounded lie asked his mnnaget
what was the secret of Middebrook' g
ntrength aud was informed that he had
some mysterious influence over the
women which was turned TO account
in gaining the votes Of the men.
From this announcement to the day
before the election the official inter
course between Merriam and his ste
nographer was extremely embarrassing
for both, though especially 80 for the
latter Merriam had accepted the sit
uatlon. he was still puzzled at bis
employee interposlng himself between
him ana the office he coveted, but he
was above lifting finger to defeaS
that employees intention. The even
ing before the election Middlebrook
took his chiefs dlctatiOn, as usual
and was about to retire when he turn
ed. evidently shaken by considerable
emotion. al j said:
"Mr Merriam. I've been a mean
wicked thing. You've been just toe
lovely to me for anything. and in re
tyrn I've attempted to deprive yOu oi
what you so earnestly desire and ars
80 much better fitted Tor than l"
The young man took out his hand
kerchief and yiped tears which were
flowing from bis eyes.
what in thunder does this mean 2
exclaimed Merriam. ''You talk ana &C
for all the world like one OF those cor
founded women"
81 am a woman. My name is Kath
crime Sile l wanted an office and dis
guIsed myself as man to get one.
wish-I wish l was at the bottom o
the sea.y
She turned away in an emotiona
storm. Merrianlsat gaping az her 90
a time: then. with a twinkle in his eye
ne replied to her last remark.
"You wou,1 there fud Mr.. McGinty
ami you would have to continue Il
mans clothes TO beat him at his leeiti
mate work-the work OF a fisherman" "
81 didn't intend" said the girl, be
back still turned toward her employe
and political opponent. Ito run againa
you. ! had conhdantes who manage
for me. They did it."
1T wasn't a bit nlce OF them" II
piled Air, Merriam, with q trace 0
irony in his voice.
40; do1't want 70 be mayor. II
going 70 announce my withdrawal"
u couldn't permit that. My manf