The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-01
BY EDMUND MoBERlY.
Copyright, 1871. by Associated IAt-
erary Press.


erary Press,
Mr.. Rufus Cartwright gave start
led Jump Gas the huxzer on the wall
beside his desk raspcd out sharp,
insis.e1t summons.
Cartwright had been CHEZ clerk OF
the Globe Foundry Company for five
years, bur he had never outgro~n his
habit OF jumping when he heard that
nuxzer Its penetrating rasp was the
voice OF authority. for IL was controll-
ed by a button on the desk Of Mr.
Payne the irascihle president OF the
company. Whenever il emitted lis
raecous call It told Cartwright that the
president desired his presence
Swiftly but noiseiessiy Cartwright
presented himself at the elbow Of Mr.
Payne. III the private office Of the lat
ter
.'f-artvricnf." snapped Mr. Payne
Il want you to fire that Miss simp-
son.
.'Bat--hut. sir ftarnmered thc
chief clorl1 = thought you hcld a
high opinion of Miss simpsons ability
as a steaosrapher,
$50 dld--untf recently"
''Wh what has happened TO alter
your opinion. sir
''She IS getting careless in her work >"
You must he mistaken. sir Miss
Simpson is a very careful worker
rs sire, indeed Perhaps you COM
slider his ap evidence Of r. sucered
Mr., Pa! ne. rs he produced a typewrit-
ten lette, which had beeu placed on l8is
desk for his signature. This Ia let
ter making a quotation on gray iron
castings 10 the Co!dren Speyer Com
rany What do we read? Gentlemen,
We are pleased To- quote you on gray
eyed castiuKs-~s" The presidents
a.
stop.
''Cray-cyei castings" he exploded
presently. There's a rsFnple OF the
NEnrk- II AaQI- careful worker. ~ E.
this letter would have made laugh
ing STOCK of this company, had II slipp-
I'd by me and that Isn't the worst
part of < Look al this at the bottom.
Yours affectionateiy Two fool mis-
lakes Ia ena letter. both due to care
iessness. CT what is worse~incompe-
renee. t6fi Tsu, afr, Ill hara m slip
shad' ofkers around me. And | might
add. Cartwright, that youll find It to
yolIr interests 10 scrutinize more care
fully Tie correspondence you place on
nay Gesk far nay signature. You should
have caught both Of these errors II sou
mad been attending properly 10 the
WORK fer which this company pays
you
Perhaps # l should warn Miss
Simpson" ventured Cartwright. there
would to no further cause for COM
plant"
IT would he wasted effort This
ism the first ofrense. Her letters OF
late have been fun III misspelied
words and erasions far too many pf
them. | have been long suffering in
this matter. nut this Golden SpeyeT
letter passes tho limits OF my pa
tience. Shell have to go"
but sir"
kindly do not obtrude your opln-
ions upon me until requested. Cart
wright" broke in Mi. Payne testify.
Efficiency il the watchword of this
plant. Miss Simpson is inefficient.
and is therefore a stumbling block
in tho path OF our progress She
must he removed. That is final"
Fer q moment Cartwr!Ghts gray
eyes gllnted unpieasantly behind his
thick glasses, and his meager figure
Strengthened, but his resolution died
within him as the steely glance OF the
president bored through him.
Very we'll. cir" he answered
meekiy. as he turned 70 go
Cartwright. IN the capacity OF chief
clerk. had been obliged 70 disc harge
SQbordinates more than once but
they had always been men. He had
neyer been called upon 10 IRE
woman,
The foundry business was an open
book to Cartwright woman was the
reverse. Like the average human
being he feared what he did not cura-
prehend. He was In panic rs h.
faced the dreadful prospect ~ telling
a woman that the company no longer
TvssuiTet; ircr services. AND such d
woman, Not eue 81 the fuzzy. frlv-