The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-05-16
ELLEN WHO DARED
BY MARY PRIME.

me as l was going out to the outer
offices, mo more wax dolls on this
switchboard. We want someone built
for hard work this time"
might have reminded him that the
wax doll he referred to, that simpering
Miss Rose we had before, who kept
mirror fastened on the switchboard,
was his choice, not mine.
| may not be any mind reader, but
l could somehow tell that even if
Ellen Dowd was only mite of a girl
| just naturally knew that she had it
in her, although of course | didn t
dream that she had quite such nerve.
After | had told her the hours and
the wage and put her wise as much
as l could without saying anything
that | oughtn't to about the boss, she
said she would take the job.
Mr.. Plum is a very busy man." is
!he way | put it. Hes more than
quick sometimes, and of course it is
Up to the people who work for. him
to make allowances. You see what
nean?"
Ellen opened her blue eyes wide
and looked at me without smiling.
Il imagined he was that kind of
man when I heard his name. Perkins
Plum-could he be anything else?"
| didn't think at the time that it
was 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 told her to come
around the next morning and the job
glimpse of her going out of the door.
He was not in one of his best moods.
but | am used to that. AS private
secretary, | 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
| tell you to get - 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? ?"
l began to sharpen pencil ready for
his dictaticn That made it easier not
to answer back, for, of course, it isn't
up to me to say anything when he is
In mood like that.
Now, suppose, you have hired her.
Can't | trust anyone in this office? You
would think you would want to save
me and sometimes attend to these de-
tails for me- But, no. Just because
the girl is pretty, or petite, or fiirta-
tious, you forget all that l 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 a
telephone girl with horse sense?'
| went on sharpening the rencil, al
though | must say | was { re enough
at having him mention my chance of
advancement that way, for only two
days before l had got my courage up
to the point of asking him for a
chance Of a better job. Still, l didn't
say anything. | had an idea that when
the boss saw how the girl would handle
things he wouldn't call her wax doll.
| knew just to look at her that she had
it in her, but l never guessed what a
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-they are as anxious to make a
good impression on their telephone OPP
10
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 Ellen
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 f1ustered, although l did no.
tice that she got little more color in
her cheeks.
Sometimes new girls got so ratified
with Plum that they would cry. And
knew Ellen was young and hadn't
worked long, so I kept my eyes 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 room and went in. She
seemed as cool as a cucumber and
must say she looked pretty. Mad as
he was. the boss must have noticed it.
Pardon me, Mr.. Plum" she said as
coolly as society queen. 1T 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 I will get it as soon
as possible
Well, no one had ever spoken to
the boss that way before. / think
gasped out aloud, ! was so surprised |
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 ex-
preston seemed to fade away and he
looked just natural. He told her which
number he wanted and everything
went as 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