The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-08
Eoening Story
Telling Miss Drew.
BY JANE OSBORN.

Europe and Mr.. Stone, of the Chi
cago office. a sixty-yeaF-old con-
temporary of Mr.. Stewart, was coming
to take his place in the New York
office. The meeting had been called
to make final ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ments which it seemed to Rodney
could have been made as well without
his presence.
were making their departure from Mr..
Stewards office and Rodney was trying
to escape the usual threshold parley,
Mr.. Stewart stopped him. placed q.
fatherly hand on the young mans
shoulder and asked him to wait.
The others gone, he turned back
to his desk, requested Rodney = to
close the door and then to sit down
beside him.
There is something I want you
to do-something simple, but very inn
portant," began Mr.. Stewart. 81 have
the greatest respect for Mr.. Stone, and
know that his coming here may be
fraught with many inconvenience and
anxieties. Now, I'm having the office
turned about a. little to please him.
office. I don't know whether it is a
Chicago custom-never noticed-but
I've ordered a couple of them to be
put here, and I've had two additional
electric fans andy the way. that
reminds me-"
asked Blaine. somewhat bored by all
these considerations for Mr.. Stone.
"Only this Mr.. Stewart hesi4ated
and then plunged ahead. TITS about
Miss Drew. 1t would be a trifle diff
ficult for me- you see She's an ex-
cellent young woman and Invaluable.
We couldn't get along without her.
That's why it will need some one with
a great deal of tact. Dear me, we
couldn't get along without Miss Drew.
You will be, tactful. won't. you?
you see," Stewart continues with
out waiting for a rejoinder, Miss
Drew knows so much about the bust
ness, we couldn't possibly have her
go. She is to be Mr.. Stones secre-
tary. I'm used to her. but Miss Drew
YES agreed Blaine, calling to
view the swapping black eyes and
vigorous, waving black hair of Mr..
Stewart'es secretary. 'She is a trifle."
quite so, don't mind it now. Tho
I must confess shA rather upset me at
first. And of course, if she becomes
really annoyed at any one ! imagine
she would be tartar. It il her tenn
permanent. We spoil her here, too.
Headstrong, fine looking girls like that
usually are spoiled when they have
unusual brains. and
you surely don't expect that can
dull the edge of her temper or tame
the untameable. do you?''
"Oh. nc, no. Just suggest that as
Mr.. Stone is a stranger, and not very
young nor in exceptionally good
health, and possibly a little slow in
some respects-for she is especially
impatient of slowness-that she might
treat him with gentleness. We decided
before you got to the meeting that
some one would better suggest this to
her, and for reasons we decided that
you would best be able to do it,
But I have so little business asso-
citation with Miss Drew" protested
Rodney.
we thought you could undertake the
matter. Then you are young-''
Mr.. Stewart paused and a kindly smile
came into his eyes. Really, she is
not i'll natured. When she has called
me down, as it were, 1 have always
deserved it. When I have been play
ing better golf than business. 1 feel
like a small boy who has been play
ing hooky. She is the sharp-tongued
schoolma'am. Yet 1 believe she is
barely twenty-one. I don't care how
you go about it, Blaine" said Mr.
Stewart with an air of finality, "but
I depend on you to breach the matter
and I know you won't fall down"
This was the hardest assignment
that Blaine had ever had in his asso-
| citation with Mr.. Stewart. Dhe fact
! that he always did, and did promptly,
I
the cause of his rapid advancement
in the firm
Rodney had never taken much no.
tice of her before, but now he DELHI
erately studied her face and her car
rage when she was not looking He
had made up his mind nat the only
way to go about it was to become
| friendly with her, to get her conf
dence and then to make an honest
breast of the matter. So Rodney
Blaine cultivated Miss Drew's acquain-
lance. He was unsuccessful in the
usual wedge of an invitation to lun-
cheon, so he sought to make the ac-
quaintance of those who knew Miss
Drew socially.
He would. meet her after working
hours and thus show his finesse.
Meanwhile Mr.. Stewart had sailed and
Mr.. Stone had come to take his place
Mr.. stone, who proved to be a blond
young giant who accomplished twice
| as much as Mr.. Stewart, albeit he sat
in rocking chair and INDUCED in
three electric fans at once. He had an
endless capacity for work. and often
when Rodney Blaine left at half past
| i've he still heard the heavy voice of
Mr.. Stone debating to his stenographer
\ behind the closed doors of the execu-
tive office. Something, possibly the
| long hours and the strenuous business
| methods of Mr.. Stone. very decidedly
softened the edge of Miss Drew's sharp
i temper. Her dark eyes snapped less
4 fire now and the wavy black hair that
seemed to typify her high-spirited ma
ture seemed to wave more softly to
her face 1t had almost been forgot
ten in the office that she had ever had
a temper to be dreaded.
| Three months had passed and it was
| the eve of Mr.. Stewards return. Rod
ney Blaine had done his best. He had
never fallen down on an assignment
before, and he had not had his little
| talk with Miss Drew simply because
| she had never given him an opportun-
ity- Now he was dancing at the same
country club, studying Spanish in the
same class, even going to the same
church-all with the hopes of some
| time having the opportunity he had
| been urged to find.
Rodney Blaine was the first of the
/ firm to see Mr.. Stewart after his re-
turn home, and after a very brief dis
cussion of business interests. Mr.. Stew
art brought up the subject that was