Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-01-14
The B~OOKKEEPER
BY AGNES RRoeAN

race. Nathanlei u. Croten sloou III the
office doorway, his bearing insutfera-
bly, eondescending.
"Mr. Grundy," he said, with a nod
at Peter, Il am sorry TO inform you
that we must have another book
keeper-young blood, Nh. Grundy. n
a newer method Of management. You
must admit that we have been pa
tient In retaining your services In thai
capacity. While we acknowledge your
faithfulness In years past. and, err
devotion to duty. still you have lost
ground, and are, In short, too slow for
our constantly increasing business.
Stewart said to me only this morn
ing, we need a man with push n
pep In that department, that he may
help with the sales And SO we do
| have, therefore. mapped out an ad
which / win ask You to look over be-
fore mailing to the papers"
Nathaniel Croten's tight lips ZOOS
ened in their nearest approach to u
| smile. "We shall endeav0r to con
tinue your services In some lesser Ca
paclty. Mr.. Grundy."
Peter bowed. There was really moth
ing to say. His employers charge
was just. He realized that he was
daily growing slower, stupider IN his
work. He could not tell, himself. why
this was so. He seemed all at once to
have lost interest. Perhaps Lida's
death was responsible. Ida. his dear
ly loved sister, had for SO many years
been the object of his care, that when
Ida was taken there was nothing left,
"You notice that clause In my adj
yertisement," Nathaniel Crotch was
saying, "only an energetic person OF
capability need applyY'
"Yes," Peter quietly answered. u
notice it. The advertisement will so
In this evening"
1--WE thought" the big man added,
"that we might be able to use you IN
our sales department, at a smaller sal
ary, Mr.. Grundy."
Again Peter bowed. Again, there APP
peared to be nothing to say. Mr.. Gro
zen looked back.
"We would like you to go over the
books with the new b0okkeeper."
The next afternoon Peter and Ma
thaniel Crotch were in the outer Of
fee when the bookkeeper whom Stew
art. the Junior partner, had decided tc
employ, was ushered into their pres
ence.
Mr.. Crotch brought his chair to the
floor with a bang, while Peter, staring
readjusted his glasses. For the ac
cepted applicant was a young oma
an exceedingly pretty young woman
Her dark eyes snapped quizzically al
the elder partner, while they seemed
TO twinkle as she turned an apprais
ing gaze on Peter.
"Well," she announced briskly, ="
am the bookkeeper. Mr.. Stewart has
engaged me. My recommendations eX
actly suit him the only reason that
| left my place with the Cooks, attor
neys, being that | was tired of It.
Nathaniel Crotch arose, his amazed ex
preston gave way to n of pleased
interest.
AS the office door closed behind the
senior partners important figure, Pc
ter was possessed OF a boyish shyness
This young woman was so appalltngl.
assured, yet so frankly engaging. HI
felt painfully aware of the neat shah
biness of his clothing, and knew will
an unaccustOmed %keenness, that Thu
capable & was wondering how
had happened that he was a failure
But as the days passed, and Peter fel
resignedly into his new work In thu
store, he grew to look forward pleas
antly to the sight of the girl perchet
there on the high stool.
Sometimes she would beckon him re
garding a reference, and sometimes
when Nathaniel G. Crotch and Stew
art were out at luncheon, Peter ant
she would eat their lunch together
surreptitiously, like two school chill
dren, under cover of the big desk. Pc
ter's eyes began to regain their OLE
humorous light, and before he knew
Peter was telling the clever lttl'
bookkeeper his llfe's simple gray story
Nathaniel Crotch, when he returned
from lnnch, would visit always thu
high desk In the office, when, often
he required Jane Gordon's assistance
in business consultation. He eyincet
a new pride in dress and an added de
gree of p~ompousness.
"The old widower Is taking NOTES
again." the office boy laughed; ant
suddenly Peters newly hopeful hear
dropped to its old place Of sad resig
nation. He realized. then. the reason
Of It's recent sweet hopefulness.
Half-unconsciously, he, the white
haired, long-patienf failure, had dared
at last to know love and Its great am
billion. Peter looked from the win
dow. to see the two OF whom he hat
been thinking crossing the road to
gether. A moment more and they wers
in the office. The senior partner
tossed his fur coat to a chair ant
passed into his private sanctum. The
little bookkeeper climbed to her stool
"Peter," she said, Peter, | am goini
to tell you a secret Nathaniel Croter
has proffered to me himself in mar
riage."
Wistfully Peters tired eyes were