Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-11
THE DAILY
AIDE IN
By Marie Mcdonald
TINE buzzer sounded in the general

TINE buzzer sounded in the general
i stenographic room and the arrow
dropped to No. IS.
Miss Greedy, take that assignment to
Major watson" called the chief stenog-
rapher. And as further instructions: IF
it's the major himself. Miss Greedy. be
very careful. He's a fast dictator; but
for your sake ! hope it's his aide"
For Dorothy Greedy was a new
stenographer, and the chief was aware
of the fact hat new stenographerS are
tImid.
Groom II 31s," the colored messenger
had told her, and she went hunting for
II 31s! She took a deep breath then
she tossed her head in the air and
walked into the office with the air OF an
experienced worker. Her attempt at
calmness succeeded we'll rs she placed
a chair beside Major Watson's desk, sat
down. crossed her knees and poised her
notebook in readiness on her upper
knee.
And then it began. Major Watson
Observation-Disclosures. how he dictated
She did not realize it was over until
the major said, II told you that will be
al "Oh-er, all right she STAN
mered and rose: So back to the gen
scription. When she opened her note
book a terrible sight met her eyes.
There was a tumble of meaningless
scrawls., a chaos of feverish strokes,
1'hilN DIX looN ool y III a boll.
arranged it and placed it in her ma
chine Then started the transcription
SLOW. nerye-racking transcription,
which took all Dorothy's power of mem
DRY and all her intuitive cleverness 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 becoming a little
more consecutive and legibie.
The minutes passed and the hours,
4 and u'hnn thn fourth 1,6ilr .n ,,.. .l,n
was Just starting the fifteenth sheet,
with only another page Of notes 10 be
transcribed.
Twice she looked, and Their again.
while her forehead wrinkled in a little
perpleXed frown. For fully ten minutes
Dorothy studied the outline and those
around il, but 40 inspiration came. Ii
was hopeless. Her heart sank when
'she saw by the clock that she had only
twenty minutes longer to finish the re-
port.
Miss Wheeler" she whispered. Miss
Wheeler was the girl at her left
rather a pleasant-looking girl to be
sure, but Dorothy did not relish her
task of confidinE in her. However, MISS
Wheeler smile made it easier, and
p nH = in w Maier Wats SC, fa1 dict rGfo TINS
What system do you write?" Miss
Wheeler asked. But the name of the
system was unknown to Miss Wheeler
and there was no hope. :1lss Wheeler
mad Deen a new SIenORraDner herself
however. but a couple Of months be.
fore, and she remembered her first en-
p%eriencc with Major Watson's dicta-
ton. and she was sympathetic. Tell
You go in to his aide, the Lieutenant
in the next room, and read to him what
goes before that. All Major Watson's
work goes. through him. and he would
said there, or ut least would give 6
pretty good substitute
But that would be a terrible thinf
TO do. wouldn't it?-tell the aide that
Heavens. no - Miss Wheeler assured
her. 9TH poor fellow is used to it b!
now. Every new stenographer goes il
/, to him with her first dictation from TIL
here who hasn't had him help her witt
!, her notes at least once. Go ahead
he's a fine fellow and will be just a
courteous as can be to you"
SO Dorothy went. slowly, tremulous
: Is, TO II $40. and opened the door. He
I eyes were on her notebook and he
. cheeks a little red with embarrassment
: She walked to the desk. Could you
f err" She raised her eyes to the lieu
tenants face and met his staring int
hers.
Dorothy Dot! What are you doinl
, here?"
t why didn't YOU tell me where 20
q had gone"
my living and help out. You see, wei
didn't know YOU were going TO en-
list. and, well, | didn't like that
d But | did enlist and kiss me for IL,
"Oh, wait a minute. What do 20
suppose the major said here" ] can
read the notes"
The next complete noveIette-Th
! school Ma'am.