The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-18
THE EVENING STORY
Stephens Promotion.

| (BY Edmund MODeTly.1
| Jane Merton. her golden head bent
over her notebook, was not aware OF
the fond light in the eyes of the man
whose dictation she was taking.
| Relative to the delay in shipping
your order" he intoned, and then
paused to watch the stenographic
1 strokes and hooks fly from her pencil
point. Thence his gaze wandered to
her calm profile and the business of
1 the Vulcan Machine works was tenn
porarily forgotten.
YES" ventured the girl.
! ooh, yes-where was ?' he asked
/ hurriedly.
Relative to the delay in shipping
your ORDER" she repeated crisply.
we desire to state that we have
been greatly hampered by our inabil-
| ity to obtain cars from the railway
ed his gaze to dwell upon her, and
again the company's business suffered
as consequence
ST have that she said after brief
, wait.
And then Stephen INLAY descended
from the clouds and became a prosaic
chief clerk once more. In snappy
tones he finished debating the letter
so haltingly begun.
That's ALL" he said finally.
AS she sought her typewriter in the
adjoining room his eyes followed her
| wistfully.
and good sense!" he unused. IF I
were other than a seedy dub, well on
toward bachelorhood, 1 might ask her
to leave all this-but shucks! She
wouldn't consider me for a minute
After this diScouraging reflection
INLAY again turned his attention to
prosy commerce, and began to put
through the days work with accu-
racy and dispatch.
An office boy entered and stood at
his elbow.
in his Office
the look he turned upon the boy.
"Mr. Whittredge-did you say?" he
asked
Eyes, sir"
The chief clerk approached the Of
flee of Mr.. Whittredge, the company's
president, with some trepidation. This
was the day for the quarterly meeting
of the board of directors, and he knew
in the presidents office. Why such
an august body should require his
presence he could not imagine He
entered, wondering what sins of omis-
his door.
Gentleman" said the president,
this is our chief clerk, Mr.. INLAY
stephen acknowledged the intro
duction with bow.
INLAY" continued the president,
you are thoroughly conversant with
the foreign business of this company,
aren't you?"
Eyes, SIR
you have made a special study of
conditions in the export field, I be-
lieve.''
st have"
gentlemen here. We have just de-
cided, INLAY, that the time is ripe for
us to make an aggressive campaign,
with a view to increasing the profita-
a hf1Ci -
enjoy. To do this, we feel it will be
necessary to establish a branch office
In London or on the continent, instead
of intrusting the business to foreign
agents as has been done heretofore
We have concluded that you are the
logical man to be placed in charge of
this branch of our business, and we
nave therefore called you in to tender
the position to YOU
Why, Mr.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
That's all right Inlay" said the presi-
dent, kindly. You needn't answer right
on the spur of the moment. Take a little
Tune to think it over We can settle all
the details later. The salary will be made
satisfactory to you IF Won accent Vo,1
may sail any time in the next six weeks"
The chief clerk returned to his office
IN daze. In his widest flights of fancy
he had never aspired to such heights in
the service of the company as these which
he had attained in a single leap. He would
consume very little time in deciding, he re-
Elected. Why should he? No man in his
senses would turn his back on an oppor-
tunity like that. He had no home save
his boarding house. Verify, it was pc
culiarly fitting that he should be a foreign
representative.
But when he thought of Miss Merton
Going abroad did not seem so inviting
after all Here was troublesome factor
that would have to be reckoned with in
making his decision. For time he pom
dered, and then he was suddenly stirred
to action.
Il
breaking his speech.
His hand moved toward the button
which he ordinarily used to summon Miss
Merton and halted suddenly.
TT would hardly do to ring for her in
a case like that he unused striding
toward her little office.
The girl was rafting the keys of her
typewriter busily when he entered.
81 have been offered a promotion, Miss
Merton, he said.
That's fine her commend.
1.-THE president and board have decided
to open European office, ana have offer
ed me the managership.''
replied with a nervous little laugh. "Of
course, you lost no time in swapping up
such chance
ION the contrary, I am quite unable
to decide whether or not wish to CO."
Surely there is no consideration that
would prevent your making an instant
and favorable decision, Mr.. INLAY
I knew I could take you with me, Jane,
my acceptance would be prompt and I'M
qualified Oh, I know it's a bold pre-
sumption, but I've wanted you for a long
time. With the prospect of having you for
my wife, could embrace this opportunity