The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-13
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Time Clock.
BY lzoLA FORESTER.
copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure

4 fully TO what the assistant
sales manager was trying 10 tell her.
what you need here is good all
around business manager, Miss Ran
dali. You're tired out from oyerwork
and need rest"
Helen laughed, glanclng up at the
clock.
"a fine chance 1 have ever to rest.
Mr.. Warner. See that the Altoona
agency is punched up. They fell below
last month. And you'd better get aft
er the Fort Wayne bunch, too. Tucker
thinks all he has to do is draw his
salary"
The door opened and closed behind
her, and she saw Warner look up in
surprise at somebody behind her
chair. Then the newcomer stepped
around the desk, and she saw six-foot-
one of sound soldier standing before
her in the marine uniform.
"Yes?" Helen asked. Did you wish
to see mel"
II answered the ad. Shipping clerk,
1t said. think can fill it all right"
Helen stared at him. He was
tanned and self-possessed steady
eyed, we'll poised, and yet she noted
the lines of anxiety around his mouth
and eyes. Warner went back to the
outer office, and she questioned tbs
applicant. He was from Texas, he
told her. 1t was a long way back
home, and he had to get work at once
at something.
What were you before you went
away?" she asked him.
"Sales manager for Searles & Saun-
ders In Austin"
Helen pursed her lips. She had been
"forelady" in the white goods stock
room then. Fortunes OF war had placed
her perforce at the big oak desk in the
main office, and she was tired out,
tired OF being hustler, tired Of bust
ness and time clocks and the steady,
everlasting drive Of mercantile life.
DO you like this sort OF work." she
asked.
Il IKE TO Swin out-at anything" he
said shortly. tits the making good
that counts"
you can go down and tell Warner
It's all right. He'll introduce you to
Doran, the manager of the shipping
department. I'll tell Mr.. Tuttle took
you on"
All that afternoon she thought OF
him. He was so different to the men
self, when he came in as usual, about
3. after lunch at some uptown hotel,
seemed futile beside him. She meas
ured him with new appraising glance
when he came toward her smilingly.
Don't work too hard, grille. How
are they coming today?"
"All right" She bent over her pa
pers. Say, Mr.. futile, could I take
my vacation early this year? I'm tired
out"
Take It when do, in July, and I'll
see that you get good rest. He sat
down on the corner of her desk, smok-
ing comfortably. my sisters got a
little bungalow down at Rockaway.
Suppose you stay there. I'll let you
and Nell have a car, too. I've told her
about you. Told her you'll probably
be partner here before you got
through; how about it?"
Helen rose impulsively, and laughed
back at him. 1t was not the first time
he had inttmated that he had his plans
for the future, and before, in the tired
days, she had almost listened 1t
wouldn't be SO bad, after all, she had
reasoned, to rest and have plenty of
time and money to do all the things
she had longed to do. But now it
seemed as II all her world had chang
ed just because one soldier boy had
stood there in the office and had
brought with him something of anoth-
er life where labor was not all
futile did not notice anything be-
tween them for weeks. She took her
lunch down in little quiet Greek res
taurant on Fourth avenue, and here
one day she found her soldier at the
next table. They bowed, and Helen
smiled over at him in a comradely
way.
Getting along all right?"
While 1t lasts" he answered grim
ly. i've got chance to go home, but
not in the city. Another friend OF mine
is going on ranch, aud wants me to
60 into partnership with him"
Why don't you?" she asked sud
denly. "I would II had the chance.
" must be glorious to be free like
that"
After that day they were friends,
and usually had lunch together. Tut
tie never guessed why the color rose
In her cheeks as she refused his Of
fers to lunch uptown, and the days
slipped by into weeks. Helen began
70 feel as If she knew that ranch.
Steve brought his friend TO meet her,
husky Texan boy. with high hopes
and plenty Of muscle to carry them
oat.
Gee. wouldn't be found dead here
n. New York." he said 1oyously. NO
body ever says hello to you; nobody
cares whether you eat or starve. I'm
Tor home quick. Steve, say you Ike
1t down there, too?''
Steve looked out of the window with
sudden 1ntentness, and. Halen's voice
was q bit unsteady. as she answered:
I'D love to go II I had the chance
IKE you boys, Hero We al live blythe
Two days later she heard Tuttie
qsaffetiag with. somebody out I'm the
corridor The, other voice was dean
and lou, She did not recognize 1t nm
N Warner burst In asked exritsdIy
teF cold water and a towel she "a
H@t Question him, but waited for TEt-
ne himself, sensing t1pnhla.
Huttle was selling SIEVE szrnzfhan-,
and No smashed him." TIM gtfftna ghun
selfatad csEsua1E. "Ess fiwd."
When Httttele Ganne I'm mn WIS r,,srvs..
Dtfs aud $daaen I'D. IN 3mI:rs think
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