The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-22
The Euening Story
Ellen Who Dared.


for hard work this time"
might have reminded him that the
wax doll he referred to. that shipper
ing Miss Rose we had before, who
kept a mirror fastened on the switch
board. was his choice, not mine.
l may not be any mind reader. but
could somehow tell that even if
Ellen Dowd was only mite of a girl
l just naturally knew that she had it
in her. although of course 1 didn't
dream that she had quite such a nerve.
After 1 had told her the hours and
the wage and put her wise as much
as I could without saying anything
that I oughtn't to about the boss, she
said she would take the job.
"Mr. Plum is very busy man." is
the way / put it. Hes more than
quick sometimes, and of course it is
up 70 the people who work for him
to make allowances. You see what l
mean? "
Ellen opened her blue eyes wide
and looked at me without smiling.
'rI imagined he was that kind OF
man when 1 heard his name. Perkins
Plum-could he be anything else"
1 didn't think at the time that it
was a very fitting answer, but there
was something about the honest way
she leveled those eyes at me that made
me feel that she could handle almost
any situation. So I told her to come
around the next morning and the JOB
would be hers. Plum had caught a
glimpse of her going out of the door.
He was not in one of his best moods,
but I am used to that AS private
secretary, 1 had always thought it
was part of my job to take his moods
as they came complacently.
You blockhead. you double block
head" was what he called me. Didn't
I tell you to get a girl that wasn't
a wax doll? She is only as big as a
pint of beans. Why don't YOU go to
the day nursery and get babe IN
arms to manage my switchboard ?"
I began to sharpen pencil ready
for his dictation. That made it easier
not to answer back, for, of course 1t
isn't up to me to say anything when
he is in mood like that.
Now, 1 suppose. you have hired
her. Can't I trust any one in this
office? You would think you would
want to save me and sometimes at
tend to these details for me. But no.
Just because the girl is pretty, or
petite, or flirtatious, you forget all
that 1 told you and tell her to come
and take the job. How do you ever
expect to get ahead in the business
if you can't even hire telephone girl
with horse sense?
1 went on sharpening the pencil,
although 1 must say was sore enough
al having him mention my chance of
advancement that way, for only two
days before I had got my courage up
to the point of asking him for
chance of a better job. Still, didn't
say anything. I had an idea that
when the boss saw how the girl would
handle things he wouldn't call her
wax doll 1 knew just to look at her
that she had it in her. but I never
guessed what nerve she had.
Well, to begin with, Ellen just mind
ed her business, and the boss seemed
to want to make an impression on
her It's often that way with big men
like him-that are as anxious to make
a good impression on their telephone
operators and office boys as on a pos
sible client
But about two days later the new
ness wore off and he started out on
one of his regular rampages. We are
all so used to them that aside from
feeling nervous and not being able to
get much work done while they last,
we don't really mind them. But Ell
len was different. The boss called
for three numbers all at once and
then started to bawl at her because
she didn't get them all at once. She
didn't even get flustered, although 1
did notice that she got little more
color in her cheeks.
Sometimes new girls got so ratified
with Plum that they would cry. And
>
worked long, so l kept my eye on her.
''Why in blazes don't you get me
that NUMBER" yelled the boss through
the door. without letting her know
which of the three numbers he want
ed first Well, Ellen got right up and
left the switchboard and walked over
to the boss's room and went in. She
seemed as cool a cucumber and I
must say she looked pretty. Mad as
he was, the boss must have noticed it.
Do v.dn hn
as coolly as a society queen. TT is
quite impossible to get three numbers
at once, and we are only wasting time
to show such Impotence. Now if you
will please tell me which of the num-
bers you wish first 1 will get it as
soon as possible"
Well, no one had ever spoken to the
boss that way before. l think 1 gasped
out loud, was SO surprised. 1 thought
at first he would eat her for it or send
for the patrol wagon for her he was
SO mad, and then the mad expression
seemed to fade away and he looked just
natural. He told her which number he
wanted and everything went
smoothly as you please for the rest of
the day.
Ellen had charge of the office boys
that was part of her job-and not
long after that the boss went off on
another TRADE. One of his clients had
refused to renew his contract and so
he was taxing IL out on us. mad
never thought before that it was I'M
fair. Well, that day he had it in for the
office boys and they were so scared
that they couldn't even answer a ques-
ton without stammering. 1 know how
it was, for it wasn't so many years ago
that 1 was in their shoes. Ellen stood
it about as long as she could. And
then, with a lot of dignity tucked
away in her little person. she walked
into his room.
MIR. Plum she said was taking
his dictation at the time, so 1 heard
her-'I wish to make a suggestion.
When you speak so abruptly to those
boys you actually terrify them, with
the result that they don't know wheth-
err they are telling you the truth or not,
and it takes them twice as long to do
what you want them to because you
a1...s talr a fal