The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-10
Erening Story
A Man for Miss Pelham.
BY JANE OSBORN.


BY JANE OSBORN.
by the way, I've decided to get a
man" Sarah Pelham did not speak
as il she had made any more re-
markable announcement than that she
goes out 10 lunch, or any or the other
things OF daily occurrence in her Of
flee life in the advertising firm of
Stone & Stone.
But William Stone drew up in his
office chair and removed his shell
trimmed spectacles and looked at her
closely. She was at the threshold of
his office, about to return to her own.
IT said was going to get man."
said Sarah again with finality. You
told me to select my assistant without
consulting you-that L should rely en-
tirely upon my own judgment. And
that is what 1 have decided. Now,
am going to advertise for some quick
witted young man who wants to learn
one has to pay women as(much as men.
and for what I have to offer 1 think
could get something better in the way
of an ambitious young man than
could II I took on a woman"
And tho William Stone wrinkled
prevail and was inclined to argue about
it. Sarah sailed serenely out of his
sight to her own office.
And Sarah Pelham did get her man
"a Cledn-CuI, GlGdE-eyco young HAL
whose broad chest and shoulders and
robustness would have led you to sur
mise-as was actually the case-that
he had recently returned from service
in France. And it was because he
had just returned that he was willing
to start in as Miss Pelham's assistant.
He had been content to keep books
in his fathers unprogressive hardware
store before he had gone overseas, but
he had come back with a keen desire
to get into the advertising business,
and with the desire a willingness to
begin at the bottom rung.
His name was Leslie Brown. From
the first Sarah Pelham found him en-
tirely to her liking. William Stone
watched him narrowly as he sat at his
desk that was placed in the outer
office, conveniently near to the door
that led into Miss Pelham's room.
One day he noticed that Sarah and
that young Brown" as he rather
contemptuously called him. left the
office together about lunch time. This
was intensely annoying, SO much so,
in fact. that when he went to his own
lunch he absentmindedly ordered a
dish that he never ate and left it
untasted
He made up his mind that he would
not speak of the incident that an
noyed him to Sarah Pelham. He new
er had interfered in the least with
neT SOlnBS ana COfnlDSS"ln IdCI ne
had never in the five years that she
had worked for him been the least
interested in her except as a useful
member of the staff
But, despite his resolution, he found
himself gravitating into her room as
soon as she had returned from lunch
which was some half hour after he
had returned.
Whats the idea?' he asked with
nod toward the outer office in the
region where Leslie Browns desk was
placed. Going to take lunch with
that young Brown regularity" he in
quired. Now Sarah had not had lunch
with Leslie Brown. They had gone
out together because Sarah had
wanted to take him to see g. certain
rather difficult client to whom she
wanted to give Leslie a personal in
PRODUCTION before he was detailed to
look after his interests for her.
She had left Leslie making a splen-
did impression on this merchant while
she slipped away to her lunch club.
But she did not explain this to Will
liam Stone. In fact, she hedged his
question.
William Stone had been known in
artists to whom he gave orders out to
lunch with him. But Sarah did not
remind him of this.
y Whats the idea of having him.
anyway" went on Mr.. Stone. ct was
thinking it over and 1 have never
known a single woman in all my bust
ness experience who has had a man
assistant. It's a funny notion, and
can't say that I am exactly stuck on
it. What's the idea, anyway
"Well, for one thing" explained
Sarah, sit saves a lot of time. If
had girl and we became all friendly
I'd have to listen TO her while she ex-
planned that she hadn't got in until
half-past nine, because her mother
had forgotten to wind the alarm
clock. and then the maid didn't come
to get breakfast and so on. Then I'd
have to talk over her new clothes.
Shed have her new hats sent here,
advice about them. Besides, I like a
mans point of view. 1t puts punch in
my copy. It's the combination Of the
masculine and the feminine-my in
tuition and judgment and his stronger
grip"
William Stone did not find this ex-
PLANTATION at all to his liking. But it
seems like disioyalty to your SEX" he
argued, ito say that you would rather
work with man than woman-and
you have always pretended to be such
a feminist
that you wouldn't consider having
boy stenograph er-that girls are more
trustworthy, more reliable and pleas
anter to have around 1 believe you
have made that explanation"
That's quite different" almost
snapped William Stone. Besides,
don't see why you should object to my
having girl stenographers."
Sarah laughed. yet she felt IN Mr.
Stones entire attitude toward her
something that was. vastly flattering
to her. After having worked for
Stone & Stone tirelessly for five years
and never having been looked upon
as anything more than a useful bit of
machinery. it was gratifying to the
woman in her to find this absurd spirit
crop out in William stone which she
could not interpret as anything short
of jealousy.
And so the weeks rolled on. Mean
time Leslie Brown made progr ess, and