The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-20
FIRING MISS WAaOLE
BY GEORGE MUNSON.

Miss Wandle might have been thir-
ty-six, and she had been with Roth
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 a
good deal OF her. After l came the
firm was turned into a corporation.
Rothstein was president, owning a
majority of the stock, and Joe Barnes
treasurer. Clifford was secretary.
Bob Syce was general manager.
Things went on ali 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. 1t vas
that set their backs up. They hadn't
had anything against Miss Wandle
previously, but they didn't like the
old mans orders coming through her
Miss Wandle was business woman
In the strictest sense At first tn,
fellows had tried to get gay with he..
She 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 l
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.
l 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.
Ing In Miss Wandle's direction. And
knew something was brewing.
Sho came in at nine-thirty and
Clifford. who had the big desk in the
main Office, called her over to him as
Il hn hoI h,A
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 it is?"
ut is halfpast 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 I come down and that is the time
Mr.. Syce and Mr.. Barnes come down.
We're not important enough to take
an extra half hour, and l guess you
aren't"
Miss Wandle 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. guess the,
thought the old man was done for
Miss Wandle always came dowh
scrupulously at nine after that, Sc
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. 1t was Boil
Syce, however, who hit on the sta,
trick. He made her lake stenographit
notes for old Perkins, the head of the
stock department.
Everybody expected that she would
resign then. but 1t didn't feaze her
particle They kept her at that just
long enough to muddle up the bust
ness, and then they recalled her. The
next idea that came was to the credits
of Joe Barnes. 1t was mastery.
We were making out the vacation
schedule, and Miss Wandle had pu,
down her own name for the two weeks
beginning with the first of June l.
was little early for vacations, bui
still. people did go away in June
Barnes happened to see the list an(
he called Miss Wandle over to hi.
desk.
Miss Wandle," he said in his silk
lest manner, Il see you have SEIZED
uled your vacation to begin on The
first of June"
Mr.. Rothstein understood that
was going to take my vacation on the
first of June, Mr. Barnes, and feel
that | have his sanction"
Barnes got red In the face
Miss Wandle," he said, you seem
to think you run this Office. 1t Is
necessary for me to convince you OF
your mistake. You will take your va
cation when with a thump of his
fist-"give you permission, or you may
draw your salary to date and walk
out of this Office"
Miss Wandle smiled Il shall u,
neither, Mr.. Barnes" she answered.
For a moment Barnes was stag.
gered. Then he thrust his ugly face
close against the woman's-he showed
his breeding pretty well then. Per
haps you own this Office" he re
marked.
II certainly hope to after the fifth
II June" replied Miss Wandle calmly
You see. am going down to Florida