The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-18
The EVENING STORY
Els substitute Stenocranhcr.
(By Stacy z. Bakery

1 8 -|e~-eOAA " 90 a 04414QcuL Indu. InlS 0lI-
| hdence, however. did not protect him
from the subtle vaccinations OF one
Greek god, Eros
Miss Holly, Dalton's substitute ste
| nographer, was, in the eyes OF the in
fatuated young insurance man, the
prettiest girl in all the world. Her
dark, swavy hair, black eyes, and her
slight, graceful form were indeed all
that was to be desired, and the fresh
daintiness Of the maid subjected her
employers heart to excited pit-a-pats
each time she entered the office.
Miss Moore, Dalton's regular typi5t,
and an antique. that had been handed
down to the successive owners of the
business since its establishment, was a
Vinegar-faced person, and her mere
presence in the Dalton sanctum had
been keener incentive for him to
plunge recklessly into the complexities
of business. Miss. Sophia Moore was
conspicuously homely.
Miss Moore was not demonstrative.
She either answered yes or no to her
employers rare questions, and she
knew his business better than he did
himself. In all his five years at the
head of the local branch OF the bust
ness his stenographer had been faith
fully at her. desk each day. Nor had
she awaited herself of proposed vaca-
lions.
Therefore Dalton. arriving one morn
. A1ssz w I11Oob a6LGcdOlY SURPRISED 10
find the office ancient substituted by a
most pleasing creation in femininity.
She raised her eyes in a cornprehen-
sive inventory Of Dalton and then
dropped them demurely.
II am Miss Holly a well-bred little
voice explained. Miss Moore's substi-
tute- Stenographer''
1t was like Miss Moore, in her SUI
perior egotism, to put some one in her
place without first consulting the
hos f14 he, Ar raIr
Isis Miss Moore HIP Dalton was
bashful in the presence of women
especially when they were pretty wo-
men, He would have liked to give a
intense disgust his voice broke to a
frightened squeak. The red blotted the
bronze from his thin cheeks.
"Oh, no!'' Miss Holly glanced curl
ously at the young proprietor she
vacation, that is all"
Funny" unused Dalton aloud. ',that
she didn't say anything .about'it. Not"
he added ironically, that it is any of
my business. only-well. office eti-
serves the CUSTOM
1t was the girls turn to blush.
ST am sure know nothing about
it." She advanced coIdly. Then. with a
touch, of the hauteur of the real incun1-
bent of that particular chair of stem
ography, she said: ANY letters %
Dalton rufI1ed the thick. black hair
over his broad brow with puzzled fin
al believe so.,The responded, his
moment of temerity gone. sI-I-why,
yes. I believe there are few"
The girl was no adept either with
she cast appealing eyes toward the
young man, causing him to founder
woefuIly in his dictation. Telepath-
ically, Dalton received this message:
- <zA1 <xe-e-
sheets, upon their EMERSON from the
were spotless no longer, but
and bit into By an emery
.oothed ink eraser. Dalton gingerly
fingered an effusion positively bristling
with errors.
"By the way. Miss Holly" casually
asked the real estate man. What
business school did you graduate
rom, and where were you employed
previous to your coming here %
An eloquent silence caused him to
urn and stare at the white faced
girl There was a terrorized. hunt
I'd look in her eyes hard to define.
Never mind" added the man,
hastily. mere idle curiosity. you
Know" he added weakly. "I-eh--just
Miss Holly gave a relieved gasp.
lone would have thought 1 had |
Dalton to himself. His thoughts re-
Terted to the absent Miss Moore, and |
Ter sublime nerve in leaving this most |
Incapable slip of girl in her place. |
And still
e He was gladl
Dalton, although uncomfortable in
he presence of pretty girls, was a
most appreciative admirer-at a dis
ance. The other sex, in wholesome, /
lonest way, appealed to him. But
lard struggle with Fate had given
more frivolous youths with doting |
or,I ~
he advantage. When Dave Dalton
vas financially able to rest from the
abors of his early years and take his
Measure with the sugar-and-cream
outh of the land he found the mex
licable fear in his heart that would
ave been .weaned away had he had
he time to mingle with the fair sex
4 early youth.
He watched them from a distance. I
Despite the work turned out by
his girl substitute she was unusually
air to look upon. Dalton revealed in :
er presence, even though he writhed
t her spelling, her punctuation, her !
roneness to error.
A month passed. Dalton, now ,
indy accustomed to an extremely (
ad stenographer, wondered at the /
rolonged absence of Miss Moore.
''By the way, Miss Holly" He APP q
reached the subject without a symp- e
I'M of the bashfuI preamble that e
'ould have weakened the phrase
,me months before. He and the slim C
laid at the typewriter were on a | S
rm footing of friendship. when is S
-iss Moore to return?' T
Results were surprising. Miss Hol
turned a painfully red face to her n
nployer, and her eyes were deep | C
it'll the old appeal. "
Am lam not doing the work n
l right?'' The question quivered on Y
e sensitive lips of the girl Dalton
rove his best to hide the telltale
yht in his eyes, as they rested upon
lie becoming stain covering her
leeks.
s.XNhr certainly, he hastened To I.