The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-23
Chapter "a.


That morning Nellie waited outside
the building until she saw Mr.. Robinson
enter. As he stepped from his machine.
her lin curlcd He hadn't wanted his
chauffeur To know he took his stenog-
rainier out the previous night, hence the
taxi.
When she appeared In the office ne
looked surprised, and his face turned
deep crimson a. he said good morn
ing" Angry and excited as she was
Nellie noticed Smith was watching.
II came for my pay" she said in a
hard, cold voice.
Il haven't discharged you. II you
choose to leave ME In the lurch before
your week is up you'll get no pay"
"Oh. won't ]" I'll not bulge from
here until get it, and something else
too.--a reference, and q good one"
Mr. Robinson turned away. and in a
voice which Nellie afterward said was
| like an orange squeezed dry said:
Il have no time TO discuss matters
with you You'll stay the rest of the
week or you'll get no pay" He was
| showing his real self for the first time
the self that Smith the hookkecper.
knew.
| Take this letter" ne said turning to
her. n half smile on his lips. She WIS
coming around. This was all some play
OF hers.
Are you going to give me my
I his eyes.
| NO. he said. hitting the desk so
tho papers flew on the floor. The pa
7 ,irl.a hnt,,
up. and TO Nellie's amusement he
wink.d a her.
I'm sorroy to trouble your wife. She
seemed n good sort. If she did look AT
me with those glasses on a stick. l
guess she has reason enough to hate
the girls in your office. But II you
don't give me my money I shall go 70
he- and tell her Why I'm leaving. and
her-pcrhaps she knows you so well
/ by this time IL wouldn't. But sort of
think she would pay me-"
You vixen" he said between closed
, teeth. as lie counted out the IS and
held II toward her.
Now my reference" she said as she
thrust the bills into her pocket
"Your what" he shouted. III" angry
vIcns standing out large and full on
his forehead.
wy reference. You didn't suppose
i going to leave without one. I'll
type II. and you can sign
I'll do no such thing
well suit Yourself ! shall spend
ten cents rarfare to call upon Mrs.
Robinson. I'm sorry haven't an au-
tomobilc 10 GO in she impudcntly
returned Smith was grinning now. a
grin Of pure delight
Nellie cody sat down her type
writer and wrote her own reference.
Using tact. she said neither too much
or too little She had been with him
SO long had done her wort; carefully
and well. had sowcd willingness and
he recommended her az competent
<icnographcr. She was leaving on her
own free will. his business did not
afford the salary she required and de-
served.
sign here" she said. laying It be-
for" MIR. Robinson.
With glance he took IN tho con-
tents Then with muttcrcd oath he
signed his name. He noticed IL was
written on his business stationary.
While this was going on. Smith had
loft tho room. 1lc waylaid Nellie In
tho hail
Good for YOU. little girl" he said.
Il wanted TO warn you. hat VOW seemed
to dislike you SO | hadn't the nerve.
SO that's what madc you act 80
nuccr" You kucw-tbout him.
Did YOU think for a minute |
wnuld"" she asked with intense srorn.
When she reached HON" cora had Il
frIcrI girl from tho office with her.
Nellie told her story. making them