The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-20

- Shad 1ISi PhOu0 u LILY SCll.
Thank you," replied. II am used
to bearing verbal messages from my
employer. Amy one could do what
have done with the same practice"
Il couldn't with ten times the prac-
dce. l can write anything so that 1t
may be understood by a very intelli-
gent person, but can't speak it..
Then may tell Mrs. Abercrombie
that you are satisfied with her action?"
You may. But" he added, after a
brief pause and with smile, you are
not at liberty to tell her that Mr.. Van
Arsdale has taken a partner"
"Of course not. fear I have erred
i'm
Not at all. Will 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"
l didn't understand this partnership
matter and was sorry that had been
so indiscreet as to mention 1t. The
gentleman saw by my looks that l 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 l rose to go the young man took
rose out of cut glass vase on his
desk and offered it to me- ! took it.
thanked him and after inhaling its de-
licious perfume for moment left the
room and the house. he CALAMITY see.
ing me TO the door.
Soon after this visit was sent again
to Mr.. Van Arsdale's house ON another
matter. | was received by the same
young man, and when l mentioned
that presumed his chief might be in
| disposed he replied that Mr.. Van AIRS
dale was very much indisposed and
probably would not attend to any more
business.
! rs he very old?" asked.
Very"
On this visit the gentleman led the
! converse ton to various topics not Of a
with his chat We spent so much time
together in this way that l feared |
would receive rebuke from Mrs.
Abercrombie. But she said not 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
sation will be much greater. Mr.. Var
Arsdale writes me that If I will con
sent to give, you up he will take you"
"Mr. Van Arsdale! Indeed. Mrs
Abercrombie, could not possibly take
, his place. He Is very old and very Ill
, His secretary has told me that he vii
, probably never again attend to busi
ness. have understood that he need
i ed partner
, "a partner! Where did you hea
, that?"
= II noticed 1t in a letter Of his tina
t you gave me to file"
q "Ohv replied my employer. II thin
) that by partner he meant one t
whom he might intrust matters that h
, could not intrust to clerk or a sec
). rotary"
> whats the matter with the youn
= man who has been acting for him
a Can't Mr.. Van Arsdale keep him"
a "If you consent I will write Mr.. Va
Arsdale to that effect and you can Sc
O tie It with him."
: "Do you think I will be able to d
o the position?"
? "Most assuredly."
!. "Do you know what the salary WI
n beT'
+. II do not"
n After more inquiries on my part.
\. which l got no satisfaction, consen
r. ed to consider a proposition from M
a Van Arsdale, and Mrs. Abercromb
N wrote him to that effect. I was surprise
" the next morning to be Informed Tn
h Mr.. Van Arsdale had called and WI
n waiting for me in the drawing room.
~ "Mr. Van Arsdalev' l exclatme
why, supposed he was bedridden!
ID expected to go to him
"a Hes waiting for you. By the 0
N WHY not wear your new crepe
n chineT
] "What. Dress to receive brok'
"a down old man? He'll think I'm +
"a fine for business woman"
m But Mrs. Abercrombie insisted al
n superintended my toilet, and after S
q was satisfied went downstairs to {
or drawing room. There sat the you
"a man who had several times receiv
me at Mr. Van Arsdale's. | stopped
~ moment on seeing him. then advance
saying:
40 81 thought that broken down
i, man couldn't come to see me. Q
80 would send for me to go and see hi
- I presume you come with propo
=. ton for Mr. Van Arsdale'
a. 81 do"
lv II believe he wants some one to-
no "He wants partner"
ba "You mean one to-
81 "He wants partner for life"
al .sThat doesn't mean much. since y
have said that he will never again
..r IN a,nloin Nv father died