The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-16

Miss Parkman made possible. What he
offered by way of dictation was mere desul-
tory comment that briefly interrupted his
tune of content.
Here's Smelling and Hight grouching-
you know what to say to them. This
Harrington order better be looked after
their credit isn't what it used to be, hear.
-. Hml Wha'd you say to Witherspoon
Brothers9 They're down on earth in a
proper frame of mind, going by this. =. :.
Hill, Frost and Starrett, Ell? Well, thought
I'd get EN- conservative old-teH 'em
yes, but not too eagerly, understand. =.
And the usual thing to this bunch of little
felIows-"
AS be passed each letter over, Miss Park
man made mysterious mark or two of her
own devising thereon; and, more rarely,
asked brief question, to which Mr.. Bond
invariably replied, "Use your judgment"
Theoretically Miss Parkman was his private
stenographer. Actually she was Bond and
Griscon's confidential clerk at salary that
had been advanced to figure close to the
utmost they could afford, even for such
service as hers. Other firms had offered her
more. Every business man who CHANGED to
overhear the miracle-working of the mail
hour, went away speedily and wrote sup
plication TO the young woman who made
such thing possible. Such attempts on his
peace had so long proved unavailing that
Penny Bond had ceased to put up a silent
thanks giving each time that Miss Parkman
gathered her papers and went back to her
desk without giving notice. He nodded
genially as she rose with her customary
business-like haste on this morning
These will be ready for your signature"
said she, Sin about" There she stopped
30 abruptly that Pen looked up in surprise
from a pleasant personal letter. I'm
about an hour" she finished; and went out
with . civil Good-morning" to the man
who had appeared in the doorway of the
private Office, and who stood aside with
bow TO let her pass. Penheld Bond con-
tinued TO stare at him.
"You don't look like an Authorization"
he said at last, you look like man named
Trudel. But of course you're mott may
add that I hope to heaven you're not!"
The early caller came in, with growl of
disgust, showing himself substantial six
feet of masculinity, whose faultless exterior
revealed, to the initiate, Bond Streets latest
thought in discreet gray.
tfSonne day." he remarked, helping him
self to chair and to cigar from Pens
silently proffered case, "I'l introduce you
to. chap really gifted in the cute-sayings
line, and shame you to death" Then they
grinned at each other, and Trudell condo
scended TO explain himself. London was
ciammy," he conhded, paris was having
mysteries. and Vienna gave me WEAKNESS.
Thank you for your welcome home"
London, Paris, and Vienna" Pen re-
peated. "But 1 say! You've been away
W -
With no further word Billy Trudell
reached for his hat. Pen twitched it from
him.
"Lord, but you're temperyl don't mind
your being back, bless youl But you said
you were off for year, y'know Far be it
from me to keep white man away from his
kind, thought can go out for little, if
you'd hke9"
Such threads of mutual interest as had
been kept separate by Trudell's brief abb
sence were brought together most pleasantly
in the next hour. 1t was good, Pen told him
self, to have the queer duffer back, though
he would probably be bothering around the
Office too much: leisure, and fastidious
taste in pleasure, left Billy Trudell so many
hours to kill Yet he was a rare good COM
panion when he chose; and only the prod
ding thought OF his waiting letters got Pen
away from the Club. Moreover, the one
woman in the world Mrs. Penfeld Bond, of
course) was coming in town to luncheon
with her husbands that unworthy indi-
vidual recalled with guilty flicker of regret.
He adored Sue-he adored being with her;
but he would have liked, to-day, mans
hour with Trudell and some kindred souls.
Somewhat reluctantly taking off his gloves
before his desk, it occurred to him that Tru-
dell and Sue were famous friends-that Tru-
dell might lunch with them after all. :. !. 1t
was as he reached for his telephone that he
saw the square, white envelope addressed to
himself lying atop the neat pile of letters.
He had premonition which two movements
and glance soon verified. 1t was Miss
Parkman's resignation, which she begged
might take effect at oncel
Billy Trudell went to luncheon with Mr.
and Mrs. Penheld Bond, as the Society
Gossip columns noted and as the last-named
of the three had hoped; but it was not the
merry meal he had anticipated. Constraint
held all three.
Sue Bond chatted increasingly, Billy Tru-
dell was at his most attentive and responsive