The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-01-02
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Mr.. EB. DORIS CLERK
BY JOHN TRENT.

! COuuIbT.
"Er-hem, what can | do for you,
miss?" he inquired.
A beautiful blush waved across
Lucie Moore's pale face, and her fin
gers frightened on her thin pocketbook.
81 am looking for work." she said
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 were disar-
ranged in a manner which had been
handed down from his father, who
also had kept the Keystone dry goods
store.
"Why-er-really, miss, I've never
hired anyone to help. Business doesn't
warrant it, Sometimes at Christmas
my cousin Jemima Nettle comes in and
helps me out, but mostly-I-er-get
along somehow I'm sorry" he added
respectfully as Lucie's fingers tight
ened desperately on the counter.
Eyes, | know, but you must have
some one when you're out of town"
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 81 wouldn't ask very large
wages and you would sell heaps Of
| thin yhu x1yn could houn ho In
days, really we could"
Ebenezer rubbed his neat gray head
"Of course that would be very NICE"
he said doubtfully. Perhaps better
think 1t over and you come in again
say tomorrow. Where do you live?
thought maybe you we're Mrs. Gilbert
Fenn's niece-you look like her."
Lucle shook her head. Il am a
stranger here in the village-at least
/ am sure no one remembers me, but
once when | was very little girl |
came here and visited my great aunt,
Miss Rebecca Otis. She has been dead
a 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-
ezer rather dazedly. Il used to know
Miss Otis-I used to run errands for
her when | was lad"
i've been living with my uncle,
keeping house for him ever since his
wife died" went on Lucie. "He was
married last week and his bride has
made it very plain that am no longer
welcome theresa packed my trunks
and came here" Her voice dropped
suddenly and she leaned heavily
against the counter.
HUM" muttered Ebenezer, rubbing
his glasses violently and replacing
them on his straight nose. Il couldn't
afford to pay very much-not more
than four dollars a week and that
wouldn't keep body and soul together
in these hard times"
Lucie smiled eagerly. 81 could get
along" she said confidently. "Old Mrs.
Bean on the corner has offered to take
me to board for three dollars 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 yes!"
Ebenezer smiled kindly. do you
want to begin tomorrow morning." he
asked.
THANK you, l will be here when
ever you say"
Eight o'clock, then-and forgot to
ask you your name" he added a little
dlffidently,
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 a 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.
81 want to know" muttered Eben-
ezer to himself as he went back to his
desk; II want to know what Keystone
folks II say to my hiring lady
clerk?"
Keystone chartered away in the hab-
1t of country villages, when Lucie
Moore's sweet face appeared behind
the counter of EbeneZer DORIS store.
That first morning trade increased
with astonishing bounds. 1t 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 & 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 a snowy linen
handkerchief. Eyes, Mrs. Mills, those
jabots are twenty-five cents each
| Miss Moore here says she's seen some