The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-04-09
MISS MILLS
and DICK.
BY ANITA WENTWORTH.
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

Literary Press 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The name of the firm was Brownlow
& 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 years
old. He had been squeezed through
college and made many trips abroad.
He was a member of three clubs, and
it had cost his father $4,000 to get
him to his present point in life.
He was just recovering from a hilari-
GUS smashup in an auto and was feel
ing a bit repentant when his father an
nounced the partnership and induced
him to make certain resolves.
Dick had been using the office as a
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.
Then the older Brownlow decided that
the son ought to have stenographer
all to himself, and an advertisement
was accordingly inserted. There were
forty-nine answers, and it was for
Dick to peruse them and 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. It 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 in patronizing 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 a 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 if she intended
to give notice and resign her place on
the 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 if he was
not glad of it Miss Mills was. It was
two days before the invitation was re-
neWed and as promptly refused, and
then he observed:
"Of course not if you don't wish to,
but l must confess that can't make
you out"
81 am here as stenographer and type
writer, am I not?" she asked.
Certainly"
"And have you any fault to find with
my work thus far?"
"Not bit. but, you see-you know
1 invited you to lunch"
"And l preferred to go by myself"
That was another setback for Dick,
and it naturally set him to studying
the problem. He was not accustomed
to being refused anything by any
body. 1t was a real relief to him
when finally he decided that the girl
stood in awe Of him because he was
the junior partner of the house. 1t
seemed to him only kind that he should
dissipate that awe.
At the end of another week he made
it his business to overtake her on the
street as she was going home. Bow
ing with the utmost respect, he said:
Miss Mills, a 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 meT
'I-I 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 a new kind Of girl to him,
but he was playing fair. He'd have
wagered 10 to 5 that she would jump
at the chance, and why she didn't
jump puzzled him He could only lay
it to her feeling Of awe. He hadn't
broken that down yet.
Miss Mills went to her duties next
morning wondering If she would be
told that her services were no longer
required. but nothing Of the sort await
ed her On the contrary, about mid