The Cairo bulletin., 1909-07-20
TAKEN ON
TRIAL
The man whirled about.

| Thank you" she said. Il expect
to make myself worth more than
that"
When he came down the next morn
| ing and tramped into his office, he
found the girl seated at her table, her
brown head bent over her work. He
was just little surprised to find her
| there. Persons he had engaged had
way of promising to come back and
| failing to do so. He knew that he
was to blame for this. and he rather
| gloried in the thought. But here was
this strange girl at her place and look
) ing as II she meant to stay there. She
was neat-looking girl. Her hair was
| tidy and there was bit of white
! about her neck that softened the eff
! feet Of the black frock. And In a
little vase in front of her was flow
| era red flower Of some kinda flow
er he told himself, that looked
strangely on. of place In the dingy
room.
T And then the man suddenly stared
about him. Both the windows were
open. and they were clean, and the
; sunshine was streaming in. And there
was general air of freshness about
| the place that was quite amazing-and
the odor of cleanliness was fairly pun
, gent,
Good morning" said she sweetly.
This girl was going altogether too
far, What did she mean by taking
T. h. 49,
that he was not the sort of man that
could be imposed upon. No doubt she
had been spoiled in the ONCE of her
father--her dead father.
He looked up. The girl was stand
Ing by the desk.
THE men from the telephone com
pany will be here at ten O'Clock 10
arrange for moving the phone" she
said. and the typewriter is being put
in order Do you feel the draught
from the wlndows?"
He growled an inarticulate word or
two and the girl turned away.
oh" she said and turned back
Mary, the woman who cleans asked
me to tell you that she wasn't In any
way responsible for the improved ap-
pearance of the office. She said she
was quite willing to let me take all
the credit 1t seems much nicer here,
doesn't it,"
Here was his chance to assert his
authority. But, strange to say, the
only form OF expression his anger took
was another vicious slam Of the much
suffering private drawer.
The girl brought new methods into
the business, the laborsaving and
time-saving devices he had despised.
And with the departure OF the old
fashioned methods his old-fashioned
brusqueness seemed to depart, too.
Customers who had been offended at
his irritabiity and plain speaking
came back The business was In bet
ter shape than ever
I'm losing my grip" he growIed to
himself. Il don't know anybody who
fears me. And yet, confound II, the
old house seems to have new lease
of prosperity If only Robert"
He had been thinking a good deal
about his son. No doubt II was an
other proof Of his fatuous weakness.
He arose suddenly and took the va.
cant chair by the girls table.
Miss Morris" he abruptly said.
Tn troubled"
Not about the business. Mr.. Thur
ber?"
ne, the business Is all right Per.
haps. IL II wasn't, I could keep my
thoughts on It. II is my son Robert
who bothers me"
Yes, Mr.. Thurber-
But you don't ask me Why"
II know something about the story.
sir. You disagreed. Your son felt
that you were treating him like
child. He rebelled. You drove him
away"
1T is all quite true" said the man.
ms very hard for me to think was
wrong, Robert was a good boy. Per.
haps forgot that he had grown to be
man"
The girl leaned forward.
"Mr. Thurber," he said, what Is
my position here'"
He looked at her blankly.
Il hardly know" he answered. II
will have to think II out Is there
any special title you want?"
She smiled
Let me be your confidential advis.
er for Just a moment or two" she
said. You told Robert you would |
never call him back"
"Yes."
viii you let me call him!-
He stared at her
Let you call himl Do you think |
he will GOMEZ"
Il am sure he will"
Then you know Robert,"
Yes knew him before came |
here ! talk with him every day"
He drew his breath sharply. Is
is this a gsme7" he demanded.
TITS game in which the happiness
Of three persons Is at stake" the girl |
answered.
And you came here TOTO tame
me7"
Il came here because I promised 10
marry Robert. and wanted his IA
theirs consent"