Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-05
...ALICE DEVINE
BY EDGAR JEPSOM
Copyright the Merrill

them." said.
There's a good many young per-
sons. your Lordship." said Mowart In
shaky voice.
went to the window and my eyes
and mouth opened wide as gaxed
down on q surging. seething sea OF
wide-spreadinS hats. Among them
rose seoress Of polieemen's helmets.
and q column Of police was marching
into the triangle through its apex.
. For a moment thought had as
sembled round my door half Eng
lands womanhood. and all the Met
ropolitan police.
''Ain't 1t awful. your Lordship?"
said Mowart over my shoulder. And
could scarcely hear him for the
volume Of shrill sound which rose
from that female sea.
His voice recalled me to myself. 1
remembered that in great emergencies
England looks to her peers. and with
an effort got my mouth shut.
II shall have q wide choice" said
calmly: and went to my bath. did
not trust my chin to Mowart's hands
that morning: they were too shaky.
When came downstairs. found
an inspector OF police, three police
men and four newspaper reporters. all
wild-eyed. in the hall. They seemed
ing forlorn hope. They could not
keep still; they shuffled about and
danced
The inspector wrung his hands and
said: "Oh, my Lord. this Is worse
than suftragettes; and it's nothing to
what it'll be when the trains come In
from the Midlands and the North.
Three guineas week! What is your
Lordship going to do?"
ssY CT ;y$n than
after breakfast" I said calmly.
"All them thousands?" asked the
inspector.
IF have to do it to get what 1
want" I said calmly. And went in
to breakfast
At breakfast. Richards, my uncle's
oil butler. was in such an emotional
condition. clattering dishes aad drop
ping plates, that had to panse to as
shrill chattering was deafening)-that
women did not bite-often.
After breakfast began to interview
the applicants Ten policemen admit
ted them. one at time, through the
front door. sat down at my desk in
the office, and asked them questions
and wrote down their answers and
qualifications in a most business-like
way At the end Of the interview each
one was let out by the back door.
OF the nrst hundred applicants, for
ty-three were actual typists: the other
hfty seven. as far as I could make
out. had come just for the pleasure Of
little conversation with q peer. some
Of them took 1t blushing, others did
not. was much touched by their de-
votion to the Upper House: but they
rather wasted my time: and you can
not be strenuous and have your time
wasted too. I grew rather short and
quite monotonous with that kind be-
fore the end Of the morning. The
hundred and eleventh girl. Miss Deli
ola Wishart, was the girl I wanted
She was fully qualified: she spoke and
looked as II she were capa BILE, and she
was undoubtedly attractive. with a
soft Pleasant voice. thought that
should work better with an attractive
ass.stant-Jack Thurman is not; he
has nose like the beak Of full
sized eagle. engaged her.
Then l went out into the hall. 1t
was very full Of policemen and jour
nalists now. and the inspector looked
as II he had the whole Of the British
empire on his mind; and It was COM
pressing It.
Inspector" l said gently, IT have
engaged tSpist. You may clear the
triangle"
He looked at me as if he were rath-
er hard Of hearing.
Clear-clear the triangleo" he said
in faint whispering voice; and he sat
down on the knee and notebook of a
journalist who sat, writing. on one Of
the hall chairs.
Yes: I have finished with these
ladies'" said. and went up to the
library and looked out Of the window
The triangle was now full The
trains from the Midlands had come In
1 took my hat and stick, and went
quietly out by the back door. I had
done my duty as house-agent: the
police must do the rest.