Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-21

X was just one of those advertise
ments which hundreds who have an
swered them in vain term heartless;
young lady stenographer and typist
wanted in business office. Must be
quick and accurate. State salary want.
cd"
OF the thousands who read it and
the scores. if not hundreds, who an
swered by letter was Kitty Durham,
daughter of a widow living in one of
the suburbs of the city. She had seen
and answered many such before.
There was grave need that the little
income left by the father should be
eked out in some way.
She had little hope when the answer
was sent off in its blue envelope that
it would be heard of again, but to her
great surprise and almost to her con-
sternatiOn she received a curt message
asking her to CALL To make her way
to business Office. to be questioned by
the abrupt manager. to lie tested as to
her qualifications and perhaps told that
she wouldn't do at all-all this was a
nightmare to her. Then she must state
the salary wanted. That in itself
showed n want of fairness on the part
Of the firm. 1t was taking advantage
of the applicants.
Kitty spent an hour figuring, so
much for street car fare daily. so much
for lunches. so much left at the end of
tha yraaL ont IF tho S,,p, clio bad r,oado
up her mind to ask 1t would be only
pittance. ard yet she must take it
and hope for advancement. No man,
old or young. could put himself in the
place of a, girl of nineteen applying for
situation for the first time in her life
and being ushered through an Office
where dozen men were at work into
pected to meet an ogre and to be shout
ed at. She had only entered the door
when she would almost have given
her life to be flying down the street
Next moment the feeling disappeared.
There was no ogre. There was nc
shouting. A kindly faced man of for
ty-five looked up from a letter he was
SlCcttu ucI tuuS
"Ah. Miss Burnham. was expect.
ing YOU. Please sit down. and will be
| through in moment"
The kind words rallied her. and three
| minutes later she was answering cues
| lions and saying to herself that the
man probably had a daughter of his
own and was sparing her as much as
| possible. She had heard over and over
| again that there was no sentiment in
business and that the woman Who took
| mans place in an Office must expect
to be treated like man. but here seem
| ed to be proof to the contrary.
"Ay name is Mr.. Gray, and am the
| Junior partner in the firm" said the
man when he had finished his letter
GAS this will be your first place yor
cannot expect the salary of an expert
enced girl. What figure do you tllinl
will be righty'
i IL had thought of IS week." sh,
replied. but If you-you think that Il
too much I'll take So" She didn'
want to run away now She wanted
the place, and she didn't want the firm
to think her too grasping.
LET me see as to your stenography,
said Mr.. Gray. with a smile. "No neet
to be bit nervous. Just imagine tina
you have been here for weeks"
he was not lightning dictator. II,
did not tramp up and down the room
and interrupt himself every moment t,
substitute words. In quiet. easy wa.
he dictated letter. and when 1t wa
| finished he nodded toward the type
writer In the corner. and the girl sa
down and transcribed her notes.
at couldn't be BETTER" he said as sh
handed him the sheet. To-day
Wednesday, but as am bit hurrie,
You might come tomorrow instead Q
l waiting TIL Monday. As to the salary