The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-11

brought Anne to more or less pessi-
mistic viewpoint OF life in general.
The next morning, as she went to her
desk in the offices of big corporation.
she felt little interest or ambition in
her work. She had hardly time to
put her purse in its accustomed place
in her desk and to open the typewriter
shaft before an office boy came briskly
up.
"The big boss wants you In the
stock-room," said the boy, IAN he says
to bring your notebook. There's some
thin dom around here, but SO far |
can't quite catch the drift
Anne fastened away to comply with
the unusual demand. She found her
employer engaged in a conference
with the manager of the stock depart
ment, and she was instructed to make
notes OF the questions asked and the
suggestions made by each man.
Later they went to other depart
ment managers, and by luncheon time
they had made the rounds Of the va
rious departments, and Anne's note
book held enough work to keep her
steadily busy all the afternoon. To
| complete the task, she remained
| quarter of an hour later than usual,
and as she left the building some
| thoughtless boys who were also late
| In leaving gave the revolving door o
| biz push Just as she entered 1t, and
Its suddenly acquired speed and
force almost hurled her out against
| man who had preceded the boys
| and who stood lighting cigarettewhile
| newsboy stuck an evening paper
into his hand. AS the man recognized
/ Anne, he tossed the cigarette aside,
/ raised his hat and asked whether the
thoughtiess boys had caused her any
injury.
mot at all, thank you, Mr.. Mills,
responded Anne, as she recognized the
manager OF the credit department
whom she had met for the first time
that morning. A few moments later
on the street car she found herself
standing crowded close to Mr.. Mills
"Mr. Granby's little quiz this morn
ingswas part OF his 'get-acQuainted
scheme, suppose" began Mr.. Mills
but seeing Anne's puzzled look. he
added: AT meeting of all the de
partment managers the other day Mr.
| CRANKY told us that the lack OF gen
eraI feliow-feeling among the workers
and the employers was becoming .
serious defect in this company's man
agement. and he purposed to try Il
bring about better understanding al
around. l supposed you were In or
the little plan"
ooh. no." Anne shrugged as she
spoke, ''stenographers, especially
when they happen to be girls, are ex
pected to be Just automatons. without
desire or capacity for initiative think
ing or acting any more than any Other
ONCE fixture. So, after awhile, one
feels an utter misfit in any sort Of
human relationships"
"Oh, come now" laughed Mr.. Mills
you're in the very frame of mind that
was before Mr.. CRANKY gave us that
corking good talk the other day, but
got to thinking that perhaps my own
mental attitude had more to do with
my difiiculties than anything else. and
so I sat down for one whole evening
and looked myself in the face. as II
were, and sized myself up. with the
result that I've determined to gel
right with myself and others tust az
soon as possible"
Mr.. Mills ushered Anne into a seat
that had become vacated, and seated
himself beside her, continuing his part
OF the conversation, i've decided
that indifference breeds Indifference
and I'm going TO start out and try to
find all that's praiseworthy and inter
esting in the plain. everyday men and
women meet As a step In that dt
rection, I've given up expensive apart
ments in a bachelor establishment,
and am going back to one modest
room in a first-rate boarding house
managed by capable. motherly
woman"
Well" said Anne. Will a long sigh
you've given me Just tks thought
needed to turn my mind from the
pessimism ] was falling into"
Mr. Mills reached for the bell Just
a. Anne finished speaking, and some.
how both of them felt embarrassed
when it developed that they left the
car at the same place.
I'VE must be neighbors," said Mr..
Mills. as be escorted Anne from the
car step to the curb. I've taken .
room at Mrs. Elmore's. Do you hap
pen to know her house?"
I've lived there for two years" said
Anne.
And that Is how one nan and his
wife began their acquaintance.
Copyright. 1916 By the Mcclure Eewspa-
per sypdiestel