Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-03-17
A Real Helper
BY GENEvIEvE ULMAR
%. lssO. Western Newspaper unIon.)

She eas boon 10 the office. Aaron
Pike had found her so, although he
did not tell her that, deeming II poor
business policy 10 show distinctive ap-
probation as To any one particular
employee. lie told his son Rawson,
however, ali about her. He had Just
graduated from college, and it was ar
ranged to soon succeed TO the man
agement OF the business the elder
Pike had conducted for over twenty
years, with fair monetary success and
a record for integrity and prestige Of
which he was justly proud.
This Miss Linda Dale is new ac-
cession to our working force" ex-
/ planned Mr.. Pike, land she has made
friends with everybody about here,
ianitor and Office boy included"
What is her peculiar province, may
| ask" submitted the son, studying
the young lady in question through the
open Office doorway.
Unaffected and steadfast pleasant
ness on all OCCASIONS" came the
prompt reply. "She is what YOU may
call Smiling through girl. When
she came here IL was dull place, with
many little chickering's and jealouses.
There was discomfort and lack of
harmony. Miss Dale, put in charge of
the help, simply began 10 coddle,
cheer, comfort and coax the indiffer-
ent and dissatisfied girls. She planned
new kind of luncheon hour for all
hands. She made herself familiar
with the worries and troubles. home
and Office, of the others. She began
a smiling system that soon did away
with wry faces. Just glance over the
group and observe how scrupulously
neat and ladXlike they all are and
how with their cheerful faces they
make it pleasant for an utter stranger
to enter the Office"
Yes, there is certainly a change
since was here six months ago" adj
mitted Rawson. young, popular and.
| suppose, happy home back of 1t all.
making the general environment of
Miss Dale ideal"
You never were more mistaken I'm
your life" replied Mr.. Pike, II looked
the girl up in general way and learn
ed quite the contrary. She has an
idle, dissolute father, and the entire
home care of two little children. |
There is no mother and they live very |
poorly, for the father disSipates all !
he can get hold Of. For all their own |
narrowneSs of living sphere, however. |
Miss Dale finds time to engage in COM |
munity welfare work in the vicinity |
of her home. A grand girl, Rawson. |
and when you take charge here don't
spoil her"
why should 1? How can II" chal.
lenged Rawson, quite unconcernedly.
He had been an INDUCED son, and in
n measure it had made him selfish and
Indifferent as to any burdensome in
tereSt in others, His glance still !
sought that attractive face I'm the next
room, however, and If he had con-
fessed the truth he would have &C. !
knOwledged that Miss Dale was quite
charming and worthy of admiration.
Sooner than either father or son |
had anticipated, Rawson Pike was
10 assume his fathers place. |
The latter became seriously i'll and |
t was necessary to send him to an
other climate. 1t was a bad time TO
spare the old man. Business trou-
)les had arisen and Rawson found |
himself burdened with complications
he had never dreamed of. The en-
)loyees and the general public knew
hat this was the case and affairs were
lot what they had been. There were
ome days Of uneasiness and gloom. |
,ut Linda like the true business wom-
IN she was, sought an Interview with |
he young man. She had been trusted
" his father with thorough knowl
dye of the business, and this proved |
saving clause in a decidedly desper- !
tie condition of affairs.
"Mr. Pike" she said, "there Is less |
all for being frightened or discour-
ged than for the use OF grit, perse-
erance and cheerfuIness. We must !
ot wear sad faces or allow competi-
ors TO guess that we are In financial |
rouble. l have a schedule of our
fairs all made out for your inspec-
ion, and will work day and night
0 carry out a plan to tide over the
resent crisis"
Rawson woke up. So clear, so prac-
cal. so optimistic was Linda that the |
ituatiOn now presented gave every
Encouragement for hope and finally
gathering the storm. Linda had
ing talk with the employees. The
lst one Of them agreed to "smile their
ay through" and the Pike office pre-
anted to anxious creditors and sus- |
icious business rivals the sembance C
a place where everything was go
ig on prosperously. Linda's knowl-
ige and advice proved of inestimable :
llue to Rawson Pike. At times he
)uld scarcely repress his admiration,
and increasing liking to-
ards her. IG
Victory" he announced, coming in ca
} the Office one day all afiame with al
Scitement and gladness, and he