Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-05-07
MISS MILLS
AND DICK.
BY ASHa WENTWORTH.
Copyrighted. 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.
BY aNMA NETWORKS.

>
Literary Press
S<se<ass>NsetsesNss
The name OF the firm was Rrowp,o,v
* Son. but every one who knew Dick
Brownlow knew that the "old man.
had taken him In without too MANY
hopes of making a business man of
him. Dick was twenty-three wears
Ola. lie had been squeezed through
college and made many trips abroad.
lie was member of three clubs. and
IL had cost his father $4,000 to get
him to his present point I'm life.
He was just recovering from hilari.
Gus smashup In an auto and was feel
Ing bit repentaut when his father an
nounced the partnership and induced
him to make certain resolves.
Dick had been using the office as n
sort OF "hangout'' for two or three
months and had at last advanced in
the business world to the point where
he could acknowledge an order by mail
and almost bluff the old office manager
and other employees.
the son ought TO have a stenographer
all to himself, and an advertisement
was accordingly inserted. There were
forty nine answers. aud 1t was for
Dick TO peruse them aud make up his
mind which applicant to take.
He had five OF them call at the Of
fee and chose Miss Mills because she
was the best looking of the lot. 1t was
Dicks idea that good looks formed
the basis of stenography and type
writing. His father didn't agree with
him, but he did not wish to introduce
any argument into the partnership
that might strain the young mans
brain. So Miss Mills appeared on a
certain Monday morning and began
her work
Although he was the junior partner,
Dick determined at once to prove to
her that he not only acknowledged
her right to live, but that he was rath-
er glad she was alive.
That afternoon the Son of Brownlow
& Son dictated two letters and spent
the rest of the time I'm patronizlng his
stenographer. He asked many ques-
lions and related some of his adven-
lures.
1t was thus that he sought to convey
the idea that stenography. while look
ed at In business way by some, had
a social side, to his mind
When noon came he felt that he had
made matters SO pleasant that he de.
| cided to ask Miss Mills to lunch with
him. She looked him sedately in the
eyes and refused politely. There had
been an expression In her face for a
| moment, however. as IL she intended
to give notice and resign her place on
tue spot. But evidently her glance at
Dicks frank. honest face overcome this
idea. If she had IT.
The junior partner was astonIshed
To do him justice. he was not indig-
nant, but he was piqued.
The setback made him assume more
dignity In the afternoon, and IL he was
not glad Of il Miss Mills was. II was
two days before the Invitation was re-
newed and as promptly refused. and
then he observed:
"Of course not II you don't wish TO.
but ! must confess that I can't make
you OUT
Il am here as stenographer and type.
writer, am l notY" she asked.
Certainly"
And have you any fault to find with
my work thus far?"
Not Bit but. you see-you know
! Invited you TO lunch"
And / preferred to 40 by myself"
1 That
and II naturally set him to studying
the problem. He was no. n. ustomed
TO being refused anythIr" by any
body. IL was real rci'ef TO him
when finally he decided laat the girl
stood In awe OF him because he was
the Junior partner OF the house. II
seemed TO him only kind that he should
dissipate that awe.
AT the end OF another week he made
II his business to overtake her on the
street rs she was going home. Bow
ing with the utmost respect. he said:
Miss Mills, n friend of mine who
was going to the theater tonight with
his wife has been disappointed and
has given ME the tickets. Wouldn't
you like to accompany me?"
IL have another engagement" she
replied. blushing both because It was
false and because he knew 1t was
false
"Oh-ah-I see. It's a great play"
Il thank you just the same"
That was another surprise for Mr..
Dick Brownlow, but he didn't turn on
his heel with the mental threat to dis
charge the "uppy" stenographer In the
morning
She was new kind Of girl to him.
but he was playing fair. He'd have
wagered 10 TO that she would Jump
at the chance. and why she didn't
jump puzzled him. He could only Law
1t to her feeling of awe. He hadn't
broken that down yet.
Miss Mills went to her duties next
morning wondering IL she would be
told that her services were no longer
required. hut nothing OF the sort await
ed her. On the contrary, about mid
forenoon. when she had written sew
erai letters the junior partner re-
marked:
Miss Mills, want to say that your
work gives the greatest satisfaction.
and from this time on your salary Will
De advanced from $12 to SIC q week"
But ! can't earn $40 a week-not
now" she replied. "I'm only begin
der, and I'm glad to earn So"
you refuse raise OF salaryp' he ex
claimed, as he looked at her In aston
ishment.