The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-20
DECORATOR
BY JANE OSBORN.

mum, ne HThl saw the lduOeT prOppoQ
against the end of his desk. Then he
saw the familiar figure OF his Office
boy looking upward with wide-open
mouth and, as his line OF vision went
upward, he saw the girl.
She was slender and graceful and he
admitted to himself from the first that
she looked very charming on the top
rung of the ladder. Still he resented
the intrusion and was only slightly
Modified after her explanation.
You are Mr.. Tracy. aren't you" she
said in the most selfconident OF sweet
young voices. Il am Miss Grey. am
here to do your office over. Mr.. TIL
denham arranged 1t.
Mr.. Tracy would have explained. as
he at first intended to do. that he con-
sidered her presence an intrusion, had
1t not been that as she had turned to
make her explanation she had leveled
upon him eyes as blue as sapphire.
Then he sat down at his desk, rang
for his stenographer-there were no
women stenographers at Tildenham's
and trie to concentrate his atten-
ton on answering the days mail.
In an hour her task was done and
she left with the explanation to Mr.
Tracy that she would resume her work
before his arrival the next morning.
And Mr.. Tracy" she said by way
Of parting, as you usually lock your
desk at night, must ask you to leave
the key with the cashier on your way
out tonight, so that when l come in
the morning l can. have everything
moved from this desk to the new one"
Morgan Tracy meant to object
strongly. But again he caught the
sapphire blue OF her eyes and merely
looked annoyed, He babe her good
evening and went home. He felt that
he had been rude to her, and instead
OF feeling resentment at her intrusion
he felt as If he owed her an apology.
So 1t was that when, Just as Miss
Grey had returned from hasty din
ner In q nearby restaurant and was
busy directing the paperhangers, Mr..
Tracy appeared on the scene. But 1t
was Mr. Tracy without his usual dicta-
torial manner.
II didn't like the idea of having you
here alone in this deserted Office" he
said. 80 have come to wait here till
you are through and. IL you will permit
It and have no other escort. to take
you to your home"
Miss Grey did not attempt to con-
ceal her obvious satisfaction at this
courtesy. You are very good" she
said, and then, holding up some of the
treasures from the case she was un-
packing: See, Mr.. Tracy, isn't this
better wall calendar than that dread
full cOlored Autograph. And these new
brown blotters will be relief to you
after those frightful pink ones. know
you can't get them at downtown deal
ers, but II is worth the difference to
have to order them specially. And
then l ordered some bronze desk fit-
tings that will be so much better than
those frightful pressed glass and
cheap brass things"
That night when he escorted her
home she insisted on being left at
the corner. She had not permitted
him to take her home in taxi. and
now she was not even going to let him
know where she lived. The next morn.
ing Mr.. Tracy found her at seven in
his ONCE. The change was marvellous.
From a dull. uninteresting room, de-
void of character, 1t had been trans
formed to a room OF distinction-not
in the least less businesslike and
manly because It had been nodded I'M
der the trained eye and skillful hand
OF q woman.
II never knew in what a wilderness
! had lived BEFORE" he admitted. Il
really do not think have such afro
cious taste. j always knew that my
once was uncouth. disliked that fire
insurance calendar as much as you
did. But didn't know how to change
it. It's the same way with my apart
ment. / have spent enough money on
1t and still 1t doesn't SATISFYING Per-
haps you would undertake to trans
form that, too-unless you confine
your skill to Offices"
Miss Grey laughed in q way that
was tantalizing and simply said: Per
haps." Then she got into her coat
and adjusted her hat at the mirror
that hung in a screened corner of the
newly arranged Office
Just at present" she said, lets go
and see Mr.. TiIdenham. He was ex-
pected in this morning. ]. believe"
Together they entered the Office OF
Tracy's chief and Tracy believed him
self dreaming at first when the delight
full Miss Grey greeted that stern bust
ness magnate with bear hug and
kiss. Hello, dad" she said. I've
won the bet. Now come and see how
have done it. | pretended ! was an
interior decorator you had ordered to
redecorate Mr. Tracy's ONCE"
You see. Mr. Tracy" she continued
her right hand was in that Of her
father and now she laid her other
hand on Mr.. Tracy's arm IN a friendly
fashion as IL to complete the circle
you see. Mr.. Tracy. father and I are
great chums. You've no idea how
much know about his business, and
he has told me lots Of things about
you. He said that the only fault you
had was that you were-yes, I'll tell
you Just the word he used. He said
you were getting fussy. He said you
had use the same inkwell and the
same desk for ten years. and wagered
him could make a change. And l
have"
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate0