Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-02-05

MR.. EB. DORIS CLERK
By JOHN TRENT.

re
beautiful blush waved across
Lucie Moore's pale face, and her fin.
gers frightened on her thin pocketbook
Il am looking for work." she 81 s.
resolutely Il thought perhaps you
would like some help in the store.
Mr.. Dorr looked rather helplessly up
and down the long rambling store,
whose assorted wares we're dsar.
ranged In a manner which had been
handed down from his father, who
also had kept the Keystone dry goods
store
Why really. miss, I've never
hired anyone to help. Business doesn't
warrant 1t. Sometimes at Christmas
my cousin Jsmima Nettle comes In and
helps me out, but mostly-I--er-ge
along somehow! I'm sorry he added
regretfully as Lucie's fingers tight
ened desperately on the counter
Yes. know. but you must have
some one when you're out of town. I"
she insisted What do you do them"
Il always close the store" he said
simply.
Lucie looked wistfully around at the
untidy shelves I'D just love to get
in here and put things straight" she
murmured ~ wouldn't ask very large
wages and you would sell heaps Of
things-why, we could have bargain
days. really VIC could"
Ebenezer rubbed his neat gray head
''Of course that would be very nice. I"
he said doubtfully. Perhaps ! better
think 1t over and you come in again
say tomorrow Where do you live? |
thought maybe you were Mrs. Gilbert
Fenn's niece-you look like her"
Lucie shook her head Il am a
stranger here in the village--at least
! am sure no one remembers me, but
once when | was a very little girl !
came here and visited my great aunt,
Miss Rebecca Otis She has oeen dead
great many years, but when | found
1t necessary to leave home and go to
work | thought OF this sleepy little
village and so / came here"
II want to know" calculated Eben-
eyer rather dazedly. 81 used to know
Miss Otis--I used to run errands for
her when was a lad"
i've been living with my uncle
keeping house for him ever since his
wife died" went on Lucle. He was
married last week and his bride has
made it very plain that am no longer
welcome there-so packed my trunks
and came here" Her voice dropped
suddenly and she leaned heavily
against the counter.
Hunt" muttered Ebenezer, rubbing
his glasses violently and replting
them on his straight nose. Il coufn't
afford to pay very much-not more
than four dollars week and hat
wouldn't keep body and soul together
In these hard times"
Lucie smiled eagerly II could get
along" she said confidently "Old Mrs
Bean on the corner has offered to take
me TO board for three dollars a week
and can get along nicely. I've got
plenty OF clothes and a tiny bit OF
money saved for a rainy day Oh,
do hope you're going to say yesl"
Ebenezer smiled kindly do you
want to begin tomorrow morning." he
asked
Thank YOU | viii be here when
ever you say"
Eight o'clock, then-and forgot to
ask you your name" he added little
dihidently.
Lucie Moore" she said simply.
Thank you very much, Mr. Dorr.
Good afternoon"
Good afternoon" said Ebenezer in
a dazed tone.
When he was alone he stared help
lessly up and down the store and then
made mad rush toward the door as
II to recall his new clerk, but Lucie's
feet were bearing her rapidly to the
home OF the Widow Bean. To find
work in this delightful village was al
most too much happiness for Lucie
Moore, who had spent the first bloom
Of her youth in caring for others
Il want to know" muttered Eben-
eyer to himself as he went back to his
desk; 81 want to know what Keystone
folks Il say to my hiring lady
clerk ?"
Keystone chartered away In tine hab-
Il Of country villages when Lucie
Moores sweet face appeared behind
the counter Of Ebenezer DORIS store
That first morning trade increased
with astonishing bounds. II kept Eb
enezer and Lucie running here and
there waiting on the good housewives
OF Keystone, who had momentarily
deserted the more up-to-date store OF
Klein 4 Benziger on the hotel block
business must be picking up. Eb,"
volunteered Miss Calista Steele. rub
bling her bony chin thoughtfully. IF
I'd known you was going to put in
help I'd have bespoke place for my
niece
The idea came to me- suddenly"
explained Ebenezer wiping his moist
pink forehead with snowy linen
handkerchief Yes, Mrs. Mills. those
iahots are twenty-five cents each
Miss Moore here says she's seen some
in New York for fifty cents that amt
a mite better"
Mrs. Mills transferred her attention
TO the clerk from New York, who al