The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-03-07
UNPAID ACCOUNT
BY VINCENT C. PERRY.

| tice to find something Interesting IN
all her work and as she typed each
statement she broke the monotony by
trying to draw a mind picture of each
person for whom she was making out
bill She stopped her machine as
she came to familiar name on the
llst--Mr. Lawrence Wright.
| Hasn't this Lawrence Wright paid
his bill YETI" she asked Mr.. Arm
strong, the Office manager. His sub
scription is nearly three years in ar
rears, and l have billed him every
month for at least two years."
mo, he HASN'T, and / don't see any
way of collecting it. We have sent a
collector there half dozen times, and
the last time he was nearly thrown
out. There is nothing for it but to keep
rendering the account. That's the way
with these young fellows with more
money than brains. Just try it your
self, Miss Walker" the head collector
flashed.
VI will, and collect it, too, if Mr.
Armstrong will consent" she laughed
delighted at being able to ruflie the
calm Of the collector.
81 am willing" the manager con-
sented. you can start out now If
you like"
Ina had not been quite in earnest,
but she would not withdraw after
making the boast. She went back to
her typewriter and worked meehani-
cally until she finished the accounts,
and then unconcernedly put on her hat
and started out to collect the bill. On
the car she tried to remember how she
had pictured Mr.. Lawrence Wright,
but she had pictured him so often, and
each time differently. She would show
him that she could hold her own with
any man, and tell him just what she
thought of him If she didn't get
check to cover the amount of the bill.
He lived in fashionable apartment
house. She enyied him that, even
though he were fat and pompous. She
rang the bell at the door bearing his
name plate. The door opened and the
man before her was fat and pompous.
A second glance told her it wasn't Mr..
Wright; it was a butler in livery.
what name?" asked the butler.
81 am from Mr. James," she said
after a moments hesitation. 1t was q
bold step, but she felt it was necessary
to gain an entrance. After all she was
representing the president of the
Times indirectly,
The butler ushered her into the re-
ception room. She waited uneasily,
her eyes taking in the room. 1t was
very tastefully arranged and decorat-
ed. She hoped Wright would not APP
pear in bathrobe-men in bathrobes
were one Of her aversions. She was
examining a beautiful reproduction of
a masterpiece on the wall when a
slight sound told her some one else
was in the room. She tried to sink
back in her chair quickly, but realized
in time it would be a clumsy move,
and Strengthened up to face a tall.
handsome man. He could not help
seeing the surprised look on her face,
but she knew he did not know it was
because she had pictured him as fat
and pompous; she was thankful he
didn't
Did you wish to see me?" he asked
pleasantly. His voice was in keeping
with his appearance.
yes; I have a small account here
for your Times subscription. 1t is just
fifteen dollars-for three years, In ar
rears, you know. 1 would not have
called but we have mailed you a bill
and we thought it likely you had let it
slip your notice and would think US
careless if we did not remind you"
Hasn't this bill been paid?" he ex-
claimed in true surprise. 81 will write
you out a check at once. This is just
another of the bills l find my secre-
tary has neglected. For three years l
have been leaving my affairs to him.
and he has made a muddle of them.
believe | could have done better my.
self"
81 am sure you could" Ina said
earnestly. ut is u mistake for N n
of brains to leave his business lor
others to do. Goodness knows what
harm an INSCRIPTIONS secretary can
do to a disinterested employer"
"Thank you for calling me a man Of
brains" he smiled. II believe you are
right about the pest of it. That comes
from oI1ou-fnc, ouothnr man 20 handla
your funds and open your mail.
don't believe l can trust another one
to do these things again."
81 should say you couldn't. Why
don't you try a woman secretary%
she suggested.
81 never thought of that How wcald
you like the position?" he asked
"0h, ! wasn't thinking OF myself"
she blushed.
81 know you weren't" he replied.
"But l think you would suit me-"
They were waiting at the Office for
Ina with the expects ION of a good
laugh, but the laugh was on her side.
The smile on her face told them that
the minute she entered.
81 collected the money" she
laughed, fourishing the check.
They gathered around her to hear
her experience, but she wasn't very
communicative.
"lIe was fine man and 1t was the
fault Of a dishonest secretary that he
didn't pay before" was all she would