The Spectator., 1915-03-30
FIRING MISS WANDLE By GEORGE MUNSoN.

ty-SlA, ana Sne nau been WlIn hOLn- stein for twelve years. She started in as an ordinary stenographer, and it was solely her ability and industry that got her the post of Rothstein's private secretary, although everyone could see that Rothstein thought good deal of her. After I came the firm was turned into a corporation. Rothstein was president, owning majority of the stock, and Joe Barnes treasurer. Clifford was secretary. Bob Syce was general manager.
 Things went on all right until old Rothstein began to suffer from heart trouble. Then Miss Wandle was al ways at his home-he was a widower, too-taking notes for him. She would come back and tell Clifford, Syce and Barnes what they were to do. It was that set their backs up. They hadpt had anything against Miss Wandle previously, but they didn't like the l old mans orders coming through her.
 Miss Wandle was a business woman in the strictest sense. At first the fellows had tried to get gay with her She never encouraged anything of that sort She was cold, keen, calcu- lating business from start to finish, without as much room for sentiment as you could insert fountain pen into. At least, that was the way sized her up.
 About the cabal against her; you know what wretched, trucking kind of creatures some of us underpaid clerks are We knew that Syce, Cliff ford, Barnes & Co. were laying for" Miss Wandle. But because we were in mortal terror of losing our jobs, 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 cabal thought it would be time to cut loose and show Miss Wandle that she didn't amount to anything in particular about the office. I would look up from the books and see the three through the open | door of Syce's office. smoking and put ting their heads together and glanc- iHS III RllSS W ulIeCllOH AHO l 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 sneering voice loud enough to be heard all over the office, will you be so good as to look at the clock and tell me what time 1t is?'
 ''It is half.past nine answered Miss Wandle quietly, though not an other woman in the office would have stood for that line of talk.
 Will you remember in future, Miss Wandle," said Clifford, that our of flee hours begin at nine? That is the time come down and that is the time Mir Syce and Mir Barnes come down. ! We're not important enough to take an extra half hour, and I guess you aren't"
 Miss Wande nodded and went away as coolly as though it had been she who was calling down Jim Clifford. After that the trio set to work to force Miss Wandle's resignation by petty prosecutions. l guess they thought the old man was done for.
 Miss Wandle always came down scrupulously at nine after that, so they tried other ways. They found fault with her work. They didn't like her having knowledge of details of the business of which they them selves were ignorant. It was Bob Syce, however, who hit on the star trick, He made her take stenographic notes for old Perkins. the head of the stock department
 Everybody expected that she would resign then, but it didn't feaze her particle. They kept her at that just long enough to muddle up the busi- ness, and then they recalled her. The next idea that came was to the credit of Joe Barnes. It was masterly.
 schedule, and Miss Wandle had put down her own name for the two weeks beginning with the first of June. It was a little early for vacations, but still. people did go away in June. Barnes happened to see the list and he called Miss Wandle over to his desk.
 Miss Wandle," he said in his silk fest manner. Il see you have sched- uled your vacation to begin on the first of June.'
 MT Rothstein understood that was going to take my vacation on the first of June, Mir. Barnes, and feel that l have his sanction"
 Barnes got red in the face.
 Miss Wandle," he said, you seem to think you run this office. It is necessary for me to convince you of your mistake. You will take your va cation when T-with thump of his Asf--Mnixa xal, iax, ro,,