Sharp County record., 1909-06-25
TAKEN ON
TRIAL
The man whlrled about,

The man whirled about,
I'm try you for week. ne
snapped, and your pay will be $1O,'
The Sirl paused on her way to the
door,
Thank you,1 she said II expect
70 make myself worth more than
that"
When he came down the next morn
Ing and traInped into his office, he
found the girl seated at her table, her
brown head bent over her work. He
was lust little surprised to find her
there. Persons mo had engaged had
a way OF promising to come back and
falling 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 If 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 ef-
| feet Of the black frock. And In
little vase in front Of her was flow
era red flower Of some kinda flow.
er he told himself, that looked
strangely out OF place IN the dingy
room.
And then the man suddenly stared
about him. Both the windows were
open, and they we're clean, and the
sunshine was streaming In. And there
was a 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
such liberties? He would show her
| that he was not the sort Of man that
could be imposed upon. No doubt she
had been spoiled in the office 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 to
arrange for moving the phone" she
said, land the typewriter is being put
In order. Do you feel the draught
from the windows?"
He growled an inartlculate 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 It seems much nicer here,
doesn't III"
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 labor'savng and
time.saving devices he had despised.
And with the departure OF the old
fashioned methods his oldfashioned
brusqueness seemed to depart, too.
Customers who had been offended at
his irritabllity and plain speaking
came back The business was ia bet
ter shape than ever.
"Im losing my grip" he growled to
himself. II don't know anybody who
fears me. And yet, confound 1t, the
old house seems to have new lease
OF prosperity. II only Robert"
He had been thinking good deal
about his son. No doubt II was an
other proof Of his fetuous weakness,
He arose suddenly and took the va.
cant chair by the girls table,
Miss Norris" he abruptly said,
I'm troubled"
mot about the business, Mr. Thur.
ber?"
mo, the business is all right, Per.
haps, II II wasn't, ! could keep my
thoughts on It. II ia 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 a
child, He rebeled, You drove him
away"
1T 10 all quite true" said the man,
TITS very hard for me 10 think was
wrong Robert was q good boy Per.
haps forgot that ho had grown 10 be
q man"
Tho girl leaned forward
mi Thurber," he said, what Ia
my position here9"
He looked at her blankly,
II hardly know" ho answered. "
will have TO think II out. 10 there
any special title you want'"