Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-06-18
TAKEN ON TRIAL,
he man whirled about.

III try You for week. he slammed
Hand your pay will be So"
The girl paused ON her way to H..
door
THANK you,' she said. q expect ~
make myself worth more than THAI
When he came down the next mon,
ing and tramped into his office. he fo,ra
the girl seated at her table, her brour,
head bent over her work. He was rst
ia little surprised to find her there Per
sons he engaged had way of prgm;s.
ing to come back and failing to do ~
He knew that he was to blame ion rIis
and he rather gloried in the thogobt
But here was this strange girl at her
place and looking as if she meant n
stay there. She was a neat -looking girl
Her hair was tidy and there was hi.
of white about her neck that softepai
the effect of the black frock And in y
little vase in front OF her was d fuwer
red flower of some kinda flower
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 were clean, and the sun.
shine was streaming in. And there wac
general air OF freshness about the
place that was quite amazing-and the
odor of cleanliness was fairly pungent.
Good morning" said the girl sweetlv.
This girl was going altogether too
far. What did she mean by taking such
liberties? He would show her that he
was rot the sort of man that could he
imposed upon No doubt she had been
spoiled in the office of her father-ber
dead father.
He looked up. The girl was standing
| by the desk.
1.-THE men from the telephone com.
pany will be here at 10 o'clock to ar.
range for moving the phone" she said
"and the typewriter is being put in or.
der Do you feel the draught from the
windows?
| He growled an inarticulate word or
two and the girl turned away.
| ''0h," she said and turned back. MARY.
the woman who cleans, asked me to ten
you that she wasn't in any way respon-
sible for the improved appearance Of the
office. She said she was quite willing to
let me take all the credit. 1t seems much
nicer here, doesn't it 2"
| Here was his chance to assert his au-
thority. But, strange to say, the only
form of expression his anger took was
another vicious slam of the much sui,
fering private drawer.
The girl brought new methods into
the business, the labor saving 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 better shape than ever.
I'm losing my grip" he growled to
himself. 81 don't know anybody who
fears me. And yet, confound it, the old
house seems to have a new lease Of
prosperity. If only Robert"
He had been thinking a good deal
about mis- son. No doubt it was another
proof of his fatuous weakness. He
arose suddenly and took the vacant chair
by the girls table
| Miss Norris he abruptly said. I'm
troubleda
Not about the business. Mr.. Thur
ber?"
mo. The business is all right. Per-
haps, if it wasn't, I could Keep nv
thoughts on it. 1t is my son Robert
who bothers me-"
"Yes, Mr.. Thurber.'
But you don't ask me why?'
Il know something about the story,
sir. You disagreed Your son felt that
you were treating him like child He
rebelled. You drove him away"
| Its all quite true" said the man.
Its very hard for me to think I was
wrong. Robert was a good boy. Per
haps | forgot that he had grown to be
a man.
The girl leaned forward.
Mr.. Thurber," he said, "what is my
position here?"
He looked at her blankly.
Il hardly know" he answered. 4
viii have to think it out. Is there any
special title you want ~
She smiled
Let me be your confidential adviser
| for just moment or two she said
You told Robert you would never cali
him back"
yes"
*Will you let me call him?9
He stared at her.
Let you call him! Do you think he
will come 2"
4 am sure he will"
"Then you know Robert 2"
Yes. | knew him before came here.
| talk with him every day."
He drew his breath sharply. Isis
this gamer" he demanded.
Its game in which the happiness
OF three persons is at stake" the girl
answered.
"And you came here Toto tame mee'
| Il came here because / promised TO
marry Robert, and / wanted his fathers
consent"
And the girl leaned forward. waiting.
Presently ne looked toward her. Then
he pointed with shaking hand at the
phone
Ring him up" he said.-Ceye'aul