The record., 1914-11-12
CROSS rs TWO STICKS
BY ALLIE FORD.

There" exclaimed the little stenog-
rapher. taking her watch from her belt
and setting il in front of her. I'm GO
ing to hold my breath till it's five
O'Clock ard then I'm going To run! I've
always iclt above watching the clock.
but I'm beginning To understand few
things, Besides, I've had "A horrible
time today trying to get ready for the
Fourth"
Tho boukk"cpcr slid bis iodgors back
on the shelf Now what's the mat
tcr?" he asked, With an exaggerated
air OF resignation.
oh. I'm tired TO fra2zle and rs
cross as two sticks," The little
stCnographer. exploded.
Wen. d-at take it out on me-" OBJ
jcctcd the bookkeeper amiably. What
h2s happened. anyway"
"Evcpthing!" returned the little
steno sraFhcr dramatically. I've been
turned into hcusekeeper. general util
ity man anything but the stenoS-
rarhcr thought / was. the stenog
rapher trying to get things shipshape
ia preparation for the holiday.
This morning had to devote two
solid hours To checking up his club
bills for Mr.. Gray, And my files Il
mile behind. waiting for a clear min
ute, If those men don't hear my type
writing machine rattle they think I've
nothing TO do, And they bother
4 inl
thing To help me pass the time. Mr..
Gray smiled generously when lie hand
ed me his bills. as if he were giving
me the time OF my life by permitting
me IL see how he spends his money
and incidentally keep his personal ac-
counts for him!
when | finished that Mr.. Nicholas
called me in and said his wife had
asked him if I 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 it was
saving money by doing its own pro-
grams instead Of having them printed.
MIR. Nicholas bcamed CO 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 so right
eous when spending on charity the
money I've saved for her, when the
full credit-well, it belongs elsewhere,
if ] do say it 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 | 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.
Wont you please, when you have
little time, just catch these threads
together?' he asked. And he showed
me fingers of his gloves that were al
Catch them together,' Why, | had
| positively 10 crochet Lew 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 so out of town for the
Fourth. And while | was at that Mr..
Vandewater had bright idea. He
suggested that | phone a reservation
for him-and then run down and get
it! And-oh, well, what's the use?
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 pat
the cat out and wind the clock"