The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-11-13
The CracRqjack|



Say" said the Junior ONCE Boy,
who was a graduate of the Bowery,
to the Senior Office Boy. who was q
graduate of Harvard, the Chiefs GO
ing to get a new stenographeT.
This piece of news failed to interest
the Senior, who had watched with in
difference the entrances and exits Of
a bepompadoured procession Of dam
sells and had. without regret, seen
them go their ways after brief trial
by the irascible Chief-not because
they were incompetent; quite the re-
verse; because they transcribed the
Chiefs words instead Of his thoughts,
which were often quite at variance
with each other The Chiefs ideas
were all right. but he could not ex-
press them, and he wanted mind
something which the stenogra-
phic employment bureaus had hereto
fore been unable to supply.
Another" The Harvard Graduate
raised his eyebrows.
Yes, but this ones a crackaiack.
She's a peach, / tell you. She's your
sort, too, she says 'hawf' and 'pawst. "
The mention of this shi6boleth Of
the others class, the Junior thought,
could not fail to call forth his enthus-
iasm. But he was doomed TO disap-
pointment. 1t was but languid in
terest that was aroused in the Senior
at most
But the next morning when the
Crackajack arrived the Junior had the
satisfaction OF seeing the Seniors
eyes widen with admiration and sur
prise.
didn't I tell you?" he teleTaphed
across the mailing desk triumphant
~.
"Ten-why, any one with half an eye
could see. She walks a goddess. /"
The Harvard Graduate felt that even
Virgil was scarce adequate to the oc-
casion as he followed with languishing
glances the figure that was just dis
appearing behind the ground glass
door OF the Chiefs room.
Every ear was strained to catca
the conversation that followed behind
the partition-if the Chief were dis
pleased his displeasure would be quite
audible-but, oh, how deyoutly every
man in that Office hoped that he might
not be-
The Chief was not displeased. On
the contrary, he seemed quite subdued
even conciliatory, and presently,
when the interview had ended and
the Crackajack came out Of the private
Office and took her place at the type
writer desk, it was clear that the terms
of capitulation were all in favor of
the lady
THE Old Mans met his match this
time" whispered the Junior ONCE
Boy with a wink
With the advent of the Crackajack
came a revolution in Office etiquette.
ShirtsleeTed deshabille fell into dis
favor; cigarettes were tabooed and
strong language was absolutely forbid
demand that by the Chief himself,
who. while his conventional vocabu-
larry was limited, was as varied and
forceful as Job himself in invectiye
He soon found it necessary to install
a telephone booth to which he might
retire when his feelings became too
strong for expression over the desk
'phsne.
Nor was the revolution confined to
Office etiquette only. The Chiefs let
tiers had become, under the magic
touch OF the Crackaiack, models of
English, and he, whose stumbling eff
forts had heretofore been transcribed
with fatal accuracy, was abjectly
grateful therefor. He was big enough
man to realize his own illiteracy, and
although at first it had gone sorely
against the grain to take correction
from a chit of girl. it was not long
before he came to trust her and to
accept her amendments without ques-
tiOn.
"As you have explained the matter
to our satisfaction, we viii disgorge
one-haIf the amount charged" he had
dictated the first day.
"Refund?" suggested the young lady
quietly. The Chief frowned slightly
and proceeded. IF you will peruse
the foregoing verbiage
"Remarks?" Again the pencil was
psised guestioningly.