The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-21

had finished the gentleman. who had
listened attentively, said:
IF l can repeat this statement as
clearly and intelligently as you have
made it shall feel proud of myself"
Thank you" replied Il am used
to bearing verbal messages from my
employer. ANY one could do what |
have done with the same practice"
Il couldn't with ten times the prac.
tice. ] can write anything so that it
may be understood by a very intelli-
gent person, but can't speak It."
Then l may tell Mrs. Abercrombie
that you are satisfied with her action?"
you may. But" he added, after a
brief pause and with a smile, you are
not at liberty to tell her that Mr.. Van
Arsdale has taken a partner"
"Of course not I fear have erred
in"-
"Not at all VIII you kindly say that
Mr. Van Arsdale has met a party who,
he thinks. will fill the bill. but he has
no assurance that the person will &C.
cept the position"
didn't understand this partnership
matter and was sorry that I had been
so indiscreet as to mention it The
gentleman saw by my looks that was
embarrassed and added:
"Never mind that Mr.. Van Arsdale
can attend to it himself-that is. If 1t
is attended to at all"
As rose to go the young man took
rose out of cut glass vase on his
desk and offered it to me. I took 1t,
thanked him and after inhaling its de-
licious perfume for a moment left the
room and the house. he CALAMITY see-
ing me to the door.
to Mr.. Van Arsdale's house on another
matter. l was received by the same
young man. and when I mentioned
4, that presumed his chief might be In.
disposed he replied that Mr.. Van Ars.
dale was very much indisposed and
probably would not attend to any more
business.
"Is he very oldT' / asked.
"Very"
On this visit the gentleman led the
conversation to various topics not of a
business nature, and l was delighted
with his chat. We spent so much time
together in this way that l feared
would receive a rebuke from Mrs
Abercrombie. But she said not a word
on the subject OF my delay. much to
my relief.
One morning after the arrival of the
mail Mrs. Abercrombie called me into
her boudoir and said to me:
my dear, have an offer for your
services from one who needs a person
on whom to place much greater re
sponsibilities than l, and the compen
J Arsdale writes me that If l will con
sent to give you up he will take you"
"Mr. Van Arsdale! Indeed. Mrs
Abercrombie, l could not possibly take
his place He is very old and very Ill
His secretary has told me that he will
probably never again attend to bust
ness. have understood that he need
ed partner
"A partner! Where did you heal
that?"
81 noticed it in a letter of his tina
you gave me to flle.'
ooh" replied my employer. II thinl
that by partner he meant one t
whom he might intrust matters that h
could not intrust to clerk or sec
rotary"
whats the matter with the younl
man who has been acting for him
Can't Mr.. Van Arsdale keep himf"
"If you consent will write Mr.. Val
Arsdale to that effect, and you can set
tie It with him."
"Do you think l will be able to 81
the positionf"
Most assuredly."
do You know what the salary vii
beT'
IT do not"
After more inquiries on my part, I
which l got no satisfaction, consent
ed to consider a proposition from MI
Van Arsdale, and Mrs. Abercrombi
wrote him to that effect. was surprise
the next morning to be Informed tina
Mr.. Van Arsdale had called and wa
waiting for me in the drawing room.
"Mr. Van Arsdalew exclaimed
why, supposed he was bedridden!
expected to go to him."
Hes waiting for you. By the bJ
why not wear your new crepe d
chineT
what! Dress TO receive a broke
down old man1 He'll think I'm to
fine for business woman"
But Mrs. Abercrombie insisted an
superintendent my toilet, and after SD
was satisfied went downstairs to th
drawing room. There sat the youn
man who had several times receive
me at Mr.. Van Arsdale's. / stopped
moment on seeing him. then advanced
saying:
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