Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-25

ton on answering the days mail But
the girl on the ladder proved more
engrossing and Morgan Tracy, usually
answering in his power of concentra-
ton, had to abandon that task till an
other day.
| All Of the time the girl welded a
yardstick, taking notes the while in
4 red leather notebook that hung from
cord at her waist. Quite clearly she
was having no difficulty in concen-
trating. In an hour her task was
done and she left with the explanation
to Mr.. Tracy that she would resume
her work before his arrival the next
morning
"And Mr.. Tracy" she said by way
of parting, "as you usually lock your
desk at night I must ask you to leave
the key with the cashier on your way
out tonight. so, that when I come In
the morning I can have everything
moved from this desk to the new one.
You see, l am going to make the
transformation over night. When you
come in at g. think everything will
be DONE"
Morgan Tracy, in all his fifteen
years Office experience in the house
of Tildenham & Co.. had never been
spoken to with such cool disregard
for that intangible something in his
nature that made those who came in
contact with him instinctively show
Difference to his habits and whims.
She was going to change the entire
appearance Of his Office, she was 60
ing to come in contact with the papers
in his desk and she had not even
asked his permission. ..rl-
! Morgan Tracy meant to object
strongly. But again he caught the
! sapphire blue of her eyes and merely
looked annoyed. He babe her good
evening and went home. Still, he felt
that he had been rude to her. He re-
called the picture of the girl as he
first saw her at the top of the ladder,
the grace with which she had welded
the yardstick, the bright golden-bronze
,,highlights on her hair as she stood
before the window, delightfully."- obliv-
ious of the fact that she was keeping
the light from his range Of vision
and instead of feeling resentment at
her intrusion he felt as If he owed
her an apology.
SO it was that when, just as Miss
Grey had returned from a hasty din
ner in nearby restaurant and was
busy directing the paperhangers in
their hurried task of redecorating the
office and at the same time unpacking
case full of small Office furnishings
that had been sent by special mes.
senger from an uptown furniture
dealers, Mr.. Tracy appeared on the
scene. But it was Mr.. Tracy without
l.; otof@ ~
| ~ didn't like the idea of having you
here alone in this deserted Office" he
said. $50 I have come to wait here
till you are through and, if you will
permit it and have no other escort, to
| take you to your home"
Miss Grey, did not attempt to con-
! ceal her obvious satisfaction at this
courtesy. you are very good" she
said, and then, holding up some of the
| treasures from the case she was I'M
packing: See, Mr.. Tracy, isn't this
better wall calendar than that dread
full colored Autograph Of fire that
you had from the insurance company?
These brown tones will go very we'll
with the new paper and it is certainly
businesslike and quite large enough,
am sure. And these new brown blot
| ters will be relief to you after those
frightful pink ones. know you can't
get them at downtown dealers, but it
is worth the difference to have to
order them specially. And then or
dered some bronze desk fittings that
will be so much better than those
frightful pressed glass and cheap
brass things"
But Tracy did not heed very closely
what she was saying-he was only
wondering and marveling at the must
cal quality Of her voice and asking
himself whether eyes had ever before
been SO blue.
That night when he escorted her
home she insisted on being left at the
corner. She had not permitted him
to take her home in taxi, and now
she was not even going to let him
know where she lived. The next
morning Mr.. Tracy found her at in
his office. The change was marvellous.
From a dull, uninterestlng room, de-
void of character, 1t had been trans
formed to room Of distinction-not
in the least businesslike and manly
because it had been moulded under
the trained eye and skillful hand of
a woman.
IT never knew in what wilderness
had lived BEFORE he admitted. 81
really do not think have such afro
cious taste. l always knew that my
office was uncouth. I disliked that
fire insurance calendar as much as
you did. But I didn't know how to
change it. It's the same way with my