The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-10

speak as IL she had made any
more remarkable announcement than
that she goes, ont to lunch, or any OF
the other things OF daily occurrence in
her office life In the advertising firm
of Stone G. Stone.
But William Stone drew up in his
office chair and removed his she'll
trimmed spectacles and looked at her
closely. She was at the threshold OF
his office, about to return to her
own.
II said was, going to get man"
said Sarah again with ftnality. You
told me to select my assistant without
consulting yon-that should rely en-
tirely upon my own judgment. And
that is what have decided. Now, l
am going to advertise for some quick
witted, young man who wants to learn
the advertising business. Nowadays
one has to pay women as much as
men, and for what have to offer i
think could get something better In
the way of an ambitious young man
than could II 1 took on woman. ="
And though William Stone wrinkled
his brows in perplexity and disapproy-
al 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
Ia clean-cut, clear-eyed young man
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 1t 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 unprogressiye hardware
store before he had gone overseas,
but he had come back with a keen de-
sire TO get into the advertising bust
ness, and with the desire willing
ness 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
desk that was placed in the outer Of
flee, conveniently near to the door
that led into Miss Pelham's room.
One day he noticed that Sarah and
.tfiat young Brown" as he rather con-
temptously called him, left the office
together about lunch time. This was
intensely aanoying, so much so, in
fact that when he went to his own
lunch he absentmindedly ordered a
dish that he never ate and left 1t I'M
tasted.
He made up his mind that he would
not speak of the incident that annoyed
him to Sarah Pelham. He never had
interfered in the least with her goings
and comings-in fact he 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 graviating into her room as
soon as she had returned from lunch
which was some half-hour after he
had returned.
whats the idea2" he asked with q
nod toward the outer office in the
region where Leslie Browns desk was
placed Going to take lunch with that
young Brown regularly" he inquired.
Now Sarah had not had lunch with
Leslie Brown. They had gone out
together because Sarah had wanted to
take him to see a certain rather diff
ficult client to whom she wanted to
give Leslie personal introduction
before he was detailed to look after
his interests for her.
She had left Leslie making 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
Z question.
William Stone had been known in
times past to take attractive young
artists to whom he gave orders out to
lunch with him. But Sarah did not re-
mind him of this.
What's the idea of having him.
anyway" went on Mt. Stone. II
was thinking It over and have never
known single woman in all my bust
ness experience who has had a man
assistant. It's a funny notion, and
can't say that am exactly stuck on
1t. What's the idea, anyway"
well, for one thing" explained
Sarah, st saves lot OF time. II had
girl and we became at 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 md SO on. Then I'd have
TO talk over her new clothes. She'd
have her new hats sent here, and I'd
have TO give her my candid advice
about them. Besides, like a mans
point OF view. 1t puts punch in my
copy. its 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 1t
seems like disloyalty to your SEX" he
argued, TO say that you would rather
work with man than a woman-and
you have always pretended to be such
Feminist
is it disloyalty to your sex to say
that you, wouldn't consider having d
boy stenographer-that girls are more
trast~orthy, more reliable and pleas
anter to have around! believe you
have made that explanation.
That's quite different" almost
snapped William Stone. Besides, l
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 flatterink
to her. After having worked for
Stone & Stone tfrelessly for five
years and never having been looked
upon as anything more than a useful
bit OF machinery, It was gratifying
TN tho tafs,r,aoy, IN, hn.