The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-15
EVENING STORY
The Unpaid Account.
(By Vincent G. Perry.)


was doing, making out accounts for
the month She had made it prac-
| tice to find something interesting IN
| all her work and as she typed eacn
statement she broke the monotony by
trying TO draw a mind picture OF eacn
| person for whom she was making out
a bill. Mrs. Urban was fusSy widow
WHO owned a dozen cats and lived ali
alone; Mr.. Little was a tall man with
I a great moustache; Mrs. Tibbett was
very methodical. And SO she imagined
what they all were like. She had
never seen any of them and never
expected to have the pleasure of find
ing out if her deductions were correct.
She stopped her machine as she came
\ to a familiar name on the HSt-Mr
| Lawrence Wright.
| Hasn't this Lawrence Wright paid
! his bill yet?" she asked Mr.. Arm
strong, the office manager. His sub
scription is nearly three years in ar
rcars and 1 have billed him every
| mouth for at least two years.
mo. he hasn't, and / don't see any
way of collecting it We have sent
collector there half a dozen times, and
out. There is nothing for it but to
keep rendering the account. That's
the way these young fellows with
more money than brains they don't
aaG if by some miracle they do start
| paying bills they leave a newspaper
| subscription to the last wish we
| could cut him off the list and see if
that would bring him to time but we
tcan't, for he is friend of Mr.. James
Ia prospect for his daughter, likely.
| Our collectors can't be of much
use or they could collect from a man
with lots of money Ina said. just
loud enough for the head collector to
hear.
the head collector flashed.
81 WILL and collect it, too, if Mr.
Armstrong will consent" she laughed,
delighted at being able to ruffle the
calm of the collector.
Il am willing" the manager con-
scented: 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 mechani-
cally until she finished the accounts,
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 have to start picturing him all
: over again. she decided. He would be
pompous and overbearing, short and
fat, with a long red nose, and would
look her up and down. as if she were
far beneath him socially. 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 a
check to cover the amount of the bill.
} He lived in a fashionable apart
even tho 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 manner" asked the bufler
II am from Mr.. James" she said
bold step. but she felt it was nee
| essary 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 ap-
pear in a bathrobe-men in bathrobes
were one of her ayersions. She was
t examining a beautiful reproduction Of
masterpiece on the wall when a
, slight sound told her someone 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 hell
seeing the surprised look on her face
but she knew he did not know 1t was
because she had pictured him as fai
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 q small account here
for your Times subscription. II is
just fifteen dollars-for three years
in arrears. you know. I would not
have called, but we have mailed you
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 been paid?' he ex-
claimed in true surprise. II will write
, you out a check at once. This is just
: another of the bills I find my score
tary has neglected. For three years
, to him, and he has made a muddle OF
them. 1 believe I could have done
better myself"
Il am sure you could" Ina said
$ earnestly. 1T is mistake FOR man
= of brains to leave his business for 9th
ers to do Goodness knows what harm
, an interruptions secretary can do to a
: disirterested employee
Al Thank you for calling me- a man
: of brains" he smiled. 1T believe you
are right about the rest OF it, I have
+ been taking life far too easily and have
!, heen depending upon my secretary too
much He is away on his vacation
I now, and I'm not going TO let him
i come DacR- uhfe AouIlu may eAN'hSe
: he has left undone. Why. there was
= a stream of collectors here this morn
! ing. and I thought / didn't owe cent
That comes from allowing another
man to handle your funds and open
YOUR mail don't believe I can trust
another one to do these things again.
ct should say you couldn't. Why
don't you try woman secretary!
she suggested
IT never thought of that. How
d. would you like the position he
asked.
"Oh, wasn't thinking of myself,
> she blushed.
IT know you weren't he replied
But I think you would suit me-"