Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-02
THE MAJORS AIDE
BY MARIE MCDONALD.

,
I dropped to No. %.
Miss Greedy, take that assignment
to Major Watson" called the chief
stenographer. And as further instruc-
tionS: "If it's the major himself, Miss
Greedy. be very careful. He's Il fast
dictator; but for your sake hope it's
his aide"
For Dorothy Greedy was n new
stenographer. and the chief was aware
of the fact that new Stenographcrs are
timid. This stenographer was no OK
ception to the rule, and her face
blanched Il bit as she reached into her
top drawer for her notebook and PEN
Gil. How she hoped it would be the
aide. whom all the girls liked so we'll!
Groom H 31S," the colOred messen-
ger had told her. and she went hunting
for IT. BY the time she was at ii 31T
she was Shivering and pale and wish
ing sincerely that she had never left
her snug little home in Ohio to come
10 Washington. Just to show certain
folks that she could earn her own liv-
Ing. She wasn't so sure now that she
didn't want it earned for her.
II 31S! She took Il deep breath;
then she tossed her head in the mir and
walked into the office with the mir of
an experienced worker. Her attempt
at calmneSS succeeded we'll as she
placed Il chair beside Major Watson'S
desk, sat down, crossed her knees and
| poised her notebook in readiness on
her upper knee.
nd h.,,, -
acknowledgements. how he dictated!
Poor Dorothy's hand flew across line
after line, writing mechanically. for
her brain refused to think anything.
but maddening round Of "NNonder if
! can read it-wonder If I can read
! itT
She did not realize 1t was over until
the major said, II told you that will
he all" "Oh-er, all right" she STAN
mered. and rose. So back to the general
stenographic room she went, for trans
cription. When she opened her note
hook terrible sight met her eyes
| There was tumble of meaningless
scrawls, chaos of feverish strokes
Duly she took out paper and carbon,
arranged it and placed 1t in her ma
chine. Then started the transcription
slow, nerve-racking transcription,
which took all Dorothy's power of
memory and all her intuitive clever
ness to exc out the meaning Of the
hideous notes. But the transcription
gradually grew and her courage began
to return as she found her work be-
coming little more consecutive and
legible.
The minutes passed, and the hours,
and when the fourth hour came she
was just starting the fifteenth sheet,
with only another page of notes to be
transcribed. She breathed sigh of
relief as she inserted the paper in her
! typewriter and looked once more at
the notebook to study out the next
few words.
Twice she looked, and then again,
while her forehead wrinkled in little
perpleXed frown. For fully ten min
utes Dorothy studied the outline and
those around it, but no inspiration
came. 1t was hopeless.
Miss Wheeler" she whispered.
Miss Wheeler was the girl at her left
rather Il pleasant-looking girl to be
sure, but Dorothy did not relish her
task of confiding in her. However,
Miss Wheeler's smile made 1t easier,
and Dorothy whispered: II can't read
| this phrase in Major Watson's dicta-
| ton"
what system do you writer" Miss
Wheeler asked. But the name of the
system was unknown to Miss Wheeler
and there was no hope. Miss Wheeler
had been new stenographer herself,
however, but couple Of months be-
fore, and she remembered her first ex-
perience with Major Watson's dicta-
tion and she was sympathetic. TELL
you what you can do" she said at last.
"You go in to his aide, the lieutenant
I'm the next room, and read to him
what goes before that. All Major Wat
sons work goes through him, and he
would probably know just what the
major said there, or at least would
give pretty good substitute"
But that would be terrible thing
to do, wouldn't it7-tell the aide that 1
can't read my notesT
Heavens, no" Miss Wheeler as
sured her. "The poor fellow Is used to
IT by now. Every new stenographer
goes in to him with her first dictation
from the major. Ldon't believe there
is one girl here who hasn't had him
help her with her notes Mt least once.
Go ahead-he's fine fellow and will
be just as courteous as can be to YOU"
So Dorothy went, slowly, tremulous-
ly, to II $40, and opened the door. Her
eyes were on her notebook and her
cheeks little red with embarrass-
ment. She walked to the desk. "Could
yOlI-er--" She raised her ewes IN the