The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-02-11
In Shorthand
BY HART

ed, and Garrick's private secretary
sprang from her little desk, where she
had been copying letters, to answer the
summons. Garrick greeted her with a
curt Good morning, Miss Carter" to
which she returned a discreet Good
morning. Mr.. Garrick,7 as she sat by
his side and prepared TO take his die
tation.
"Ahem !" Garrick cleared his throat
nolslly. ID. II. Green and Son, Utica,
N. Y.-Gentlemen. yours OF the twenty
fifth to hand" Stephen Garrlck
was of on his days routine.
AS she automatically recorded the
lines and angles that would later be
transcribed into the utterances of the
great Garrick, railroad magnate and
captain Of Industry. Miss Carter let
her gaze wander through the broad
window OF the office over the outline
Of roofs and towers that presented it.
self to her gaze.
It was a brilliant spring morning;
the sky was deep blue in the sun
shine, and the white buildings, each
capped with It's gay little plume Of
steam, like the white feather In the
helmet of some knight. stood out
sharp and clear against the heavens,
The air blew soft with the promise
Of the coming summer; through the
half-opened window came the myriad
sounds Of the street, muffled and con-
fused by the height into one organ
tone OF sound. Miss Garter let her
eyes rove out over the blue waters
OF the bay, speckled here and there
with the black hulls Of ferries and
lighters.
81 beg your pardon She aroused
herself with a start, aware that the
steady monotone of Garrick's dicta-
tion had changed to a sharp note Of
inquiry Miss Carter was uncomfort-
ably aware chat she had been day
dreaming, Il beg your pardon" she
repeated. I'm afraid | didn't get
that last sentence"
Usually an admission like this from
the invariably accurate Miss Carter
would have caused Stephen Garrick
10 make some sarcastic remark; but
today he merely looked at her sharp
ly. His face relaxed into a smile.
Dreaming dreams. Miss CarterT
he inquired. "Well, | can't say that
I blame you. I've been doing a little
dreaming myself Of late. It's really
a hrst-class morning for a dream OIL
so, but unfortunately this sudden de
preston in Great Western won't allow
us to stray too far from the unpIeas
ant realities of life. Let's see-whert
was IT.
Miss Carter suddenly transformed
from a girl with her thoughts into al
exceedingly practical business woman
consulted her notes.
Regarding the proposed mer
ger OF your lines" she read.
"Oh, yes Regarding the pro
d posed merger Of your lines, would sa,
+ that at present It seems lnadvisable
> Yours truly That's all for the pres
ent. Get those copied and bring ther
In to me to sign as 500 as you can.
Miss Carter left the Office. Sh
walked out without turning her heet
: so hat she did not see the look tina
Garrick sent after her.
Perhaps II was the spring breeEes
perhaps II was the consciousness this
he, the youngest man in the cOuntr
: to hold such q position as he bell
was a bit lonely sometimes perhaT
4 II was the fact that Miss Carter en-
q bodied all that was sweet and vii
N some, despite her business c%onnectlo
q with him; but the fact remains thu
n Stephen GarrIek sent after her a loo
q that could by no possibility be CO.
strued as one Of business.
Y And the little vagrant breezes co
tinued 10 fit into the room and ST
Y the papers on his desk as they viii
peredl to him, You're 10 love, Steph,
Garrick-you're In loye-and "
daren't ask herl Aren't you ashaml
Of yourself. you great big man, yoI
You-one OF the biggest railroad M
N In the country, even II you ARE on
thirty-one-you're afraid to ask her
by George. l will ask herr ga
Stephen Carrick aloud. And then
looked guiItily around the room
though ashamed OF his statement.
But there was no one there to he
him unless you counted the fran
picture OF the directors OF his prln
pal road. which hung over his de-
and they looked straight ahead
them as they always did. wlthC
seeming TO he In the least affected
his unbusinesslike outburst.
but the littleN spring breezes ",
right stephen GarrIck had been
love with Rosalle Carter for a Ia
time, ana had been afraid to vo
his feelings.
Every day. when she came in TO d
his d%ictaton. looking so fresh
sweet that he yearned to take her
Y his arms and whisper love-worls
her instead OF pouring out a string
syllahles connected with unlmport
3 things like rights-otway and freig
rates, he had intended to say W
was In bis heart; and every day
had confined himself 10 a brusl
a urn.a ...tntno lfleq Garter ~.