Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-03-05
Miss Dane,
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John Dunham, millionaire capital
ist and bachelor, aged thirty-fve,
swung around sharply in his swivel
chair.
What on earth can be the matter
with Jim this morning?" he asked,
half aloud.
As IL In answer to his question,
the phone bell rang shrilly. A mo-
ment later he hung up the receiver
with a bang.
"Confound it," he muttercd, cit
never rains but it pours. Here I've
got to take that deposition this morn
ing, and Jim had to get sick. Well"
he continued. swinging back to his
desk again, I've just got to get it
out to-day. so I'll have to hunt a
stenographer for the time being"
and, reaching for the telephone di-
rectory he started to look for a pub
lie stenographer near at hand.
why under the sun didn't think
lighted upon the legend:
Dane. Miss. public stenographer
and typewriter -
She's right on the floor below
I've seen her sign coming up in the
lift" Hurrying out of his Office. he
signaled the elevator. In a moment
he was standing before a door or
which the lettering read: Miss
Dane, public stenographer"
AS he caught a glimpse Of the pub
lie stenographer he started just a
little. He had expected to see a staid
woman of at least thirty or thirty
five years. but the girl bending over
the typewriter could not possibly be
more than twenty-five at the most
A shade of disappointmeFl passed
over his face--his expslence with
young women stenographhrs had been
unsatisfactory. Butt kountenanee
slsarsa Gle 1fses little Is eh 'GS and a'Pse she
rather steady gaze IN the eyes of
the sweet-faced girl before him. She
looked at him calmly. waiting for
him to state his business.
Miss Dane, | presume" he said, in
his most business-like tones and in
response to a low "Yes. SIR" he con-
tinued. My stenographer Il sick
and | must take deposition Today
without fail. If you are not other
wise engaged I would like your SER
vices for the balance of the day"
What l was doing can wait" she
answered in calm, even tones. "How
long do you think it will run?" she
continued. with her hand upon bun
die of notebooks.
Better take plenty" answered
John Durham, and the girl dropped
a hali-dozen into a green bag.
How soon will you want me?"
she inquired.
I'm telephone for my car imme-
diately." he replied 1T will be here
in half an hour. VIII that be too
soon?"
Not at ALI I am ready to start
at any moment. she returned. and
leaving the room Dunham made his
way to his own office.
In short time the car arrived, and
Durham ushered Miss Dane into the
elevator and through the corridor.
Then, handing her into the tonneau,
he gave some directions to the chauf-
feur and jumped in beside her. In
an instant they were whizzing merri-
ly through the crowded thorough
fares.
Meanwhile John Dunham painstak-
insly explained the nature of the
business to the girl beside him. The
ordeal was not trying one, either,
for what man cannot talk with pleas
ure when sweet-faced woman pays
strict attention to what he is saying?
The day wore on and the work was
finished. When il was transcribed
Dunham was exceedingly pleased
with its style and neatness. He told
Miss Dane so. Also. he offered to
recommend her to his business
friends, and the influence of John
Dunham was no mean thing: so the
business of Miss Dane grew apace
1t was astonishing, too how much
Dunham's need for extra help in
creased
James Horton, Dunham's private
stenographer. was back at his post
the next day, and the office routine
went on for a time as usual. But
when it became necessary for Dun
ham to take a stenographer to varl-
Gus places with him. instead of TAX
ing Horton, as formerly, he would
give him an extra amount OF work to
do Just before the trip was to be
made, and request Miss Dane to ac-
company him.
For a young man, James Horton
had rather good insight into human
nature. Often, too. his gaze was re-
warded by seeing Dunham and Miss
Dane drive off in the car; and then,
with rather enigmatical smile on
his face, he would go back to his
work. Later in the day, when his
employer returned in high humor
and would tell him of some deal that
was about to be consummated, he
would ehuckle softly to himself.
But the automobile trips did not
stop there. John Dunham, rather
shyly, too, for a man of such large
business affairs. had asked II he
might be allowed to call. Receiving
an affirmative answer. he availed
himself of 1t the next evening.
Thereafter he became a constant gis.
itor at tae little home on Northwest