The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-07-23
CROSS AS TWO STICKS
BY ALLIE FORD.

"There!" exclaimed the little stenog-
rapher. taking her watch from her belt
and setting 1t in front of her. I'm go
ing to hold my breath till it's five
o'clock and then I'm going to run! I've
always felt above watching the clock,
but I'm beginning to understand few
things! Besides, I've had horrible
time today trying to get ready for the
Fourth"
The bookkeeper slid his ledgers back
on the shelf. Now what's the mat
ter?" he asked, with an exaggerated
air of resignation.
"Oh, I'm tired to a frazzle and as
cross as two sticks!" The little
stenographer. exploded.
"Well, don't take 1t out on mel OBJ
jected the bookkeeper amiaby. What
has happened, anyway"
"Everything!" returned the little
stenographer dramatically. "Tve been
turned into a housekeeper, general util-
ity man-anything but the stenog-
rapher | thought | was, the stenog-
rapher trying to get things shipshape
in preparation for the holiday.
This morning | had to devote two
solid hours to checking up his club
bills for Mr. Gray! And my files a
mile behind, waiting for clear min
ute! II those men don't hear my type
writing machine rattle they think I've
nothing to do! And they bother
around for an hour to think up some
thing to help me pass the time. Mr..
Gray smiled generously when he hand
ed me his bills, as If he were giving
me the time of my life by permitting
me to see how he spends his money
and incidentally keep his personal &C
counts for him!
when ! finished that Mr.. Nicholas
called me in and said his wife had
asked him If wouldn't be so kind as
to write out her club programs for the
whole of next year, The club was
about to adjourn until fall and 1t was
saving money by doing its own pro-
grams instead Of having them printed.
Mr.. Nicholas beamed on me as If he
were comforting an honor upon me that
could never be estimated in letting me
get SO close to his wife's club as to
spend few hours writing out the club
programs! Then she'll feel 80 right
eous when spending on charity the
money I've saved for her, when the
full credit-well, 1t belongs elsewhere,
If do say 1t myself!
"Just when | was working as hard
as could to get that finished, SO that
/ could get started all that awful filing,
who should come out and look over
my shoulder but Mr.. Brown himself!
could tell that he thought l was pre-
suming good deal in writing some
thing that was not business letters, SO
| FASTENED to explain what it was |
was doing. That gave him an idea and
he went back into his office and re-
turned presently with his silk gloves.
Won't you please, when you have
a little time, just catch these threads
together?' he asked And he showed
me fingers of his gloves that were al.
most entirely gone at the tips
Catch them together!' Why, | had
positively to crochet new tips on them!
And | didn't dare do anything but my
very carefulest work for him.
That's the way it's been all day
long! Mr.. Gray asked me to pack his
suitcase-from that drawer where he
keeps shirts and collars, you know
for he had to go out of town for the
Fourth, And while | was at that Mr..
Vandewater had a bright idea. He
suggested that l phone a reservation
for him-and then run down and get
1t! And-oh, well, what's the use2
I'm going home!"
She half arose from her chair. As
she did so Mr. Brown emerged hastily
from his Office.
Here" he said, I've got to run for
my train. VIII you shut my desk and
close the window and sign the letters
left there"
The little stenographer nodded and
said no word.
And" called the bookkeeper, as he
poked his head back through the door !
as he was leaving, don't forget to put
the cat out and wind the clock"