The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-03-04

r. JERROLD r. SCOTT.
N senior partner Of Scott &
| VyWI Son, was in need Of . pri-
,17N 1 vats secretary. When he
2yl arrived at his palatial ONCE
| W in one of New York's tall
est and handsomest sky
scrapers the morning after he adver-
tised in the Help Wanted" columns
of the papers. he was informed by
Crane, his bookkeeper, that quite a
crowd Of young women were in the
outer Office waiting to be interviewed
by him as to their qualifications for
the position.
He removed his hat, and seating him
self at his fat-topped mahogany desk.
ordered Crane to send them in, one by
one. Mr.. Scott was a handsome man
Of about fifty. His hair was gray; in
fact, his gray hair was an obviously
we'll cultivated part of a very distin-
guished and somewhat handsome per-
sonality. He wore tortoise-shell eye
| glasses which depended from a broad
silk ribbon when he was not using
them.
Crane brought in the first girl. Scott
| glanced momentarily at the vacant ste
nographers desk across the Office from
him. then at her. He gave an almost
| Involuntary grimace, and motioned to
her to be seated. She sat down in the
visitors chair at the side of his desk.
She was very homely, very old maid
ish, with an angular figure and spec
tacles. Distinctly, she lacked style.
| EIar 10 ~
ton.
Jerrold r. Scott.
Il have been an expert typist for
nine years and can take any kind of
dictation and have won prizes for
rapid operating and" began the
young woman rapidly in a nasal, high
keyed voice.
/ Just a minute" interrupted Scott.
waving his forefnger in languid ad-
monishment why did you leave your
last position?"
"The building burned down."
And the one before that?"
1.-THE firm went out of business; the
senior partner died"
And the one before that?"
Let me see" The young woman
paused moment and Strengthened her
glasses with a brown-kid-gloved hand.
"Oh, yes. That was lawyers office.
He was arrested for robbing clients
and sent to Jail"
"Merciful Providence!" exclaimed
Scott with well-bred irony. Were you
born on the thirteenth"
"No-why? Do you think am un.
lucky?" snapped out the expert typist.
I'D be afraid of the building falling
about my ears"
You're not superst'tious?" There
was note verging on contempt in her
practical voice.
mo, but l can't take chances"
Mr.. Scott passed his hand over his
! handsome gray head. I'm afraid we're
not suited for each other" he added
| pleasantly.
Am 1 to understand that you will
not employ me?"
I'm afraid that I cannot afford tc
court a cataclysm," corrected Mr..
Scott mildly you will excuse?" He
rose and indicated the private door
leading from his office to the hall with
out. The expert typist rose and with
a sniff flounced out. He looked after
her with grin, and pressed an ivory
button on his desk.
When Crane entered he was scr,1-
tinted sarcastically by his employer
through one of the tortoise-shell.
trimmed lenses, held up before one eye
like single-glass lorgnette. It was
an affectation Of his.
You pick stenographers as you do
everything else. Crane. did give you
credit for some sense Now bring in a
human being"
Crane retired, and a handsome
young woman, with a good, strong
chin. clear eyes, and simple but styl-
ish walking dress, entered and stood
before Jerrold r. Scott, who inspected
her through his tortoise-shell glass
on his nose this time-with an express
sion of returning cheerfulness.
What Is your name, please?" he
asked politely. Jerrold R. was always
and unfailingly, polite. It was due
from him to his position in the world.
catherine Virgins. Fifteen dol
lars, she answered.
do you live at homer"
mo. sir" replied Miss Virgins
clearly. my parents live in little
city in Jersey. I am boarding at the
Young Woman's Christian Associa-
tons home"
That's an advantage" said Scott
pleasantly. Il have been without a
secretary for number of days and
considerable work has accumulated. l
may want her successor to work with
me an evening or two to clean it up.''
I'm afraid l couldn't do that" 4