The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-07
FIRING MISS WAaDLE
BY GEORGE MuNsoN.


ty-six, and she had been with Rot
stein for twelve years. She started
as an ordinary stenographer, and
Y was solely her ability and industr
.hat got her the post of Rothstein
private secretary, although everyor
could see that Rothstein thought
good deal of her. After 1 came tn
nrm was turned into a corporate,
Hotnstein was president, owning
majority OF the stock, and Joe Barne
treasurer. Clifford was secretar,
BOD Syce was general manager.
Things went on all right until oil
Hothstein began to suffer from hear
trouble. Then Miss Wandle was Al
| ways at his home-he was a widowe,
too-taking notes for him. She woul,
come back and tell Clifford, Syce m,
Barnes what they were to do. It va
that set their backs up. They hadn'
nad anything against Miss Wandl.
previously, but they didn't like tb,
old mans orders coming through her
Miss Wandle was business woma,
In the strictest sense. At first tn.
Fellows had tried to get gay with her
one never encouraged anything OF
that sort She was cold, keen, calcu
iating business from start to finish
without as much room for sentiment
as you could insert a fountain pen
into. At least. that was the way
sized her up.
ABOUT the cabal against her: Won
know what wretched, trucking kind
of creatures some Of US underna;d
clerks are. We knew that Syce. Clif.
FORD, Barnes & Co. were laying for
Miss Wandle. But because we were
In mortal terror of losing our joha
none OF US dared do anything to bring
down their displeasure on our heads
when old Rothstein was taken with
one of his bad spells and ordered
south for three months. the cabaI
thought it would be time to cut loose
and show Miss Wandle that she didn't
amount to anything in particular
about the Office.
would look up from the books
and see the three through the omen
door of Syce's Office smoking and mt.
ting their heads together and glanc.
Ing in Miss Wandles directio, Ana
knew something was brewing.
She came in at nine-thirty and
CLIFFORD. who had the big desk in the
main office, called her over to him as
soon as she had removed her hat.
Miss Wandle." he said. in an ugly
'neer1ng voice loud enough to be
heard all over the Office. will you be
10 good as to look at the clock and
ell me what time it is?"
1T is halfpast nine," answered
MISS Wandle quietly. though not an. !
'ther woman in the ONCE would have |
'tood for that line of talk.
VIII you remember in future. Miss
"andle." said Clifford, that our Of.
Ice hours begin at nine? That is the
ime l come down and that is the time
ar. Syce and Mr.. Barnes come down.
we're not important enough to take
n extra half hour. and l guess you
rent" ~
MISS Wandle nodded and went awav
8 cooily as though it had been she
mo was calling down Jim Clifford.
After that the trio set to work tn
orce Miss Wandle's resignation nv
city prosecutions. guess thew
aought the old man was done for.
Miss Wandle always came down
crupulously at nine after that. 60
ley tried other ways. They found
lult with her work. They didn't
ke her having knowledge Of details
the business Of which they them.
elves were ignorant. It was Bob
yce. however, who hit on the star
lex. He made her cake stenographic
otes for old Perkins, the head of the
ock department.
everybody expected that she would
sign then, but 1t didn't feaze her a
'rtlcle. They kept her at that Just I
ng enough to muddle up the bust
'ss. and then they recalled her. The
1T idea that came was to the credit l
Joe Barnes. 1t was mastery.
We were making out the vacation
hedule. and Miss Wandle had put 8
wn her own name for the two weeks
ginning with the first of June. Il
IS little early for vacations, but
III, people did go away in June.
lmes happened to see the list and
called Miss Wandle over to his ,
SIX.
Miss Wandle." he said in his silk .
It manner. Il see you have SEIZED. +,
ID your vacation to begin on the .
1t Of June"
Mr.. Rothstein understood that -
8 going to take my vacation on the =,
1t OF June. Mr.. Barnes. and l feel :,
It l have his sanction" .
3arnes got red in the face.
Miss Wandle." he said, you seem q,
think you run this Office. It is 10
sessary for me to convince Won of r
If mistake. You will take your va.
ion when with a thump of his
give you permission, or you NAV IL
Nv your salary to date and walk III
Of this Office"
dfss Wandle smiled. 'T shall "a m
ther, Mr.. Barnes" she answered. Oh
or a moment Barnes was stag.
ed. Then he thrust his ugly face nj
Sc against the woman's-he showed on
breeding pretty we'll then. Per. W.
IS you own this Office" he re. stl
rked. wi
! certainly hope to after the fifth er
'une. replied Miss Wandle calmly. tic
u see, am going down to Florida
'e married to Mr.. Rothstein and he
,oing to give me his share Of the