The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-14
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
ZENA's FIRST DAY IN AN OFFICE
CHAPTER 80.


It was nearly II before anyone came
near me. Then Mr.. Claxton appeared.
81 understand you are quite expert,"
he remarked as he sat down. 81 die
tate very rapidly"
II am not expert, Mr.. Claxton. But
I soon shall be- -a-
He frowned then replied:
We'll. let US see what you can dor
and then without seemingly hating to
I caught perhaps one word in four.
Il am afraid I won't do for. you.
| Mr.. Claxton-" I knew my voice Irem-
bled. and / bit my lips to stop its
trembling.
TOO fast for you?"
VERY much too fast I'm sorry"
I rose. Naturally they would not keep
me.
sit down. Perhaps I can talk a
little more slowly until we get ac-
quainted." Long afterward he told me
that could have seen myself when he
| spoke, wouldn't have known my
! self looked so happy. .
more slowly. While I did not get it
all, knew had the important things
and that I would be able to write a
good letter from my notes.
IT Judge you haven't had much ex-
perience," he said kindly after an
hours steady work. I was exhausted
not from the work, but with my eff
fort to concentrate, to get every word
| possible. At times he would forget
and dictate as he had at first; then he
would catch himself up with little
laugh, and speak more slowly.
mot any in this kind of work." I
replied.
voice.
mo sir. have studied very hard to
fit myself for such position, because
my health would not permit me to do
heavy work such as have been doing
before I was taken ILL.,"
He looked at me Queerly,- yet I
thought with more interest than he
had before. ut -
you do not look fitted for eeavy
work What sort OF work was it. If I
may ask ~ ,~stz-'1 Re ~
"A girl friend and myself took lit
tie money had'-I did not think 1t
necessary to mention had paWned my
jewelry to get it--"and started a small
shop" - GO,
/ ,'rWhat kind of shop?"
We called it the Two Sisters
Shop but it really was a pancake
shop. My iandiady. Mrs. Fagin, helped
u.s."
, And you were successful?"
From the very first-that is we
were successful in a small way; did
better than we could have expected on
our smau~capital."
''And because of illness you had 10
withdraw, and take i POSITION When
did you learn typing and stenog-
raphy?"
f'Wh4e I was i'll. That is, I COM
lmenced to study tipping then, and
when l found that could not get such
a position as I wanted without stenog-
raphy I worked in the shop part of
| the day and went to a shorthand
school"
You haven't always been q working
girl" he said so kindly that felt my
"sincs my father died. yes" 20
How long ago?"
1.-TWO years-nearly" --.-.,
Thank you. Miss Stewart, foS your
confidence. Please do those letters as
! soon as possible, and perhaps you bet
| ter have Miss Lee look them over be-
/ fore you bring them to me 10 sign.
Then as he caught the. embarrassed
] look with which / heard his suggestion
that I refer my work to another en-
ploye, he smiled little and, added:
mo, never mind. Lay them on my
desk. I'll glance them over myself be-
fore sign them"
"Thank you, Mr.. Claxton."
/ How terribly hard I worked to have
those letters perfect! I was in a large,
auiet, handsomely furnished office
my employer had evineed an interest
lin me-he had said please" and
talked to me as If. / were = real human
being instead OF just a part Of his
office machinery. as so many places
where had applied for work seemed
to consider their employees. az.
I hreathed a little prayer for help,
then set to work. 49,. -.
I (Tomorrow-A new friend in Henry.)