The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-11
The Euening Story
The Carbon Paper.
(By Darlington Phillips.)

Sherwood Williams was In love WIN
his stenographer. He had never given
her a hint of it; he had hardly dared
admit it even to himself. For he was
only a struggling young lawyer, and
the SO salary he paid her every week
was the one big item of his offlce ex-
penses Moreover, he believed her to
be engaged to Elmer Savage, who mad
risen high in the legal profession and
who came to his office every morning
in a glittering limousine. So he ap-
piled himself industriously to his
fluctuating law practice. and tried to
brush from his mind the picture or
Edythe Maitland's eyes.
His gaze wandered to where she was
sitting at her desk across the room.
She was typing rapidly, as il anxious
to complete her work before O'CLOCK;
occasionally she glanced at the clock.
ct suppose Savage will call for her
in few minutes" he thought rather
bitterly land they'll go out to dinner
together"
He watched the play of her fingers
on the clicking keys, looking at them
longingly as if he would like to take
the small hands in his own: The GIRL
seemingly unconscious of his gaze,
finished her task, and crossing the
room, placed the papers on his desk.
'It isn't quite 81 he told her, but
you may go now.
Her Irish blue eyes rested on his for
Mr.. Savage is coming for me at 81
she answered. I'll wait for him.
She, returned to her machine and
tapped the keys idly. Finally the door
opened and middle-aged man,
dressed in the very latest fashion, en-
tered the room. He nodded briefly to
Sherwood.
"All right, Edythe," hecalled. THE
machine is waiting"
There was careSS in his tone, and
the girl blushed deeply. With a smil-
f ing nod at the other man, she left the
room. After she had gone Sherwood
crossed to her desk and looked Curl
ously at the crumbled sheet she had
tossed into the waste basket. Then,
with a hint of guilt in his manner, he
reached into the basket and secured
the paper. Smoothing 1t out, he read
the words she had typed. Then he
started. For on the blank paper,
written over and over again, were the
words, Mrs. Sherwood williams"
His heart beat a trifle more quickly.
Could it mean that she had been
thinking of him? For brief moment
he stared, half hoping, yet not daring
to hope. Finally he turned to the
window and looked down the street.
Just below he could see Savage's car
waiting. AS he watched, two figures
came out of the building and entered
the machine. The man at the window
turned away.
TT doesn't mean anything" he said
| softly. "She's in love with him.
| But he took the paper on which the
words had been written and folded it
into his wallet.
| The next day was a long and busy
one. Early in the morning, he re-
/ ceived a visit from the head of we'll
known manufacturing company, and
when the visitor had gone he called
excitedly for his stenographer.
Miss Maitland he said, John
Brett. of the firm of Brett & Harding,
has just been here. He has engaged
me to handle his legal business in con-
| junction with Hart & Donahue"
The girls face lighted up with in
| terest
That's fine!' she cried. 'It must
mean lot to you"
1T does" He spoke joyously. "It
means five thousand a year and a
| larger office force. It's the big chance
to establish myself in the legal profess
/ sion.'
| Edythe's face cluoded.
You will probably need another
I'm not very fast, you know"
"Of course you are His heart
stood still at the possibilitay of losing
her. IF need additional help, 1 can
hire another girl and you can be my
secretary
lieved. --''e
you will probably have to work
overtime this evening"" he continued
t'Mr. Brett has left me a big piece of
work"
She hesitated for an instant.
Il had rather important engage
ment,' she said, 'but I can break it -
I wish you would He tried to
make his tone businesslike. 'It may
only be for an hour or so''
he returned to his desk, worked
long and earnestly for the next two
hours, and then turned to his stenoe-
Tapher for dictation. She took his let
tiers easily, but when she turned to
transcrioe them she uttered an ex-
clamation of dismay.
The carbon paper is all gone" she
announced. '.Shall 1 run downstairs
and buy some?''
''I wish you would
A few minutes later she returned
with box of new carbon. The time
passed quickly for them both until
4:30; but at that time the girl found
herself idle.
ANY more dictation? p. she asked
Not now, Miss Maitland
DO you mind if I type a letter of
my OWN She blushed slightly as
she spoke.
why. of course not. I'll be ready
for you in about ten minutes"
| Very carefully the girl extracted a
new sheet of carbon paper, placed it
between two of Sherwood's letter
heads, and typed for a brief two min
lutes- She folded the completed letter,
placed it in an envelope and addressed
It to Mr. Elmer Savage. She was ready
for Sherwood when he turned to her.
He dictated for half hour, and just
when he had finished the door opened
and Savage breezed into the room.
'"Are you ready, little grip" He
spoke with a proprietary air. 1t
seemed to Sherwood that Edythe's
face was paler than usual.
"I can't GO with YOU tonight she