The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-30
EDening Story
Faith Clarke's Career.
BIZ JANE OSBORN.


! BY JANE OSBORN.
1t was the first time in Faith
Clarke's care er as stenographer in the
Gage Manufacturing company that she
had been late. Her small purse had
slipped from her numbed fingers or
her way from the Blair Street Home
to the corner where she customarily
took the bus. She had retraced hel
steps, but the rapidly falling snow
had hidden the place where it had
fallen. So Faith Clarke went her way
on foot, punching the time clock IN
the entrance to indicate a half hours
hardness.
AS soon as she had taken her seat
in the room where nine other stenog-
raphers worked and had opened her
typewriter desk to begin TRANSFERRING
| notes from dictation taken from one
, of the statesmen late the previous
afternoon, Faith was aware of the
fact that something of unusual inter
est was in the air.
Better powder your nose and look
| alive" said the girl at the next desk.
Hes coming in this morning to look
US over
Just my luck" sighed the girl at
the desk on the other side, looking into
the tiny mirror on the cover of her
vanity case. "The snow got on
my hair and took out all the wave,
and I've got on my oldest dress. I
should worryI'
| Eventually Faith Clarke pieced to-
gether the information that Thomas
Gage, Jr., son of 'the big boss" had
| arrived He had previously had
| charge of the western plant of the
concern, but had now come to assume
| control of the main office and would
need a private secretary, and had an
nounced that he would choose one
from the stenographers already en-
ployed.
Hes coming to look US over"
! Jimmy overheard him telling Mr..
| Mills. "Then he will pick out the one
that he thinks looks the best. 1t will
| mean thirty dollars a week to the
Faith kept on with her work and
carefully rolled a sheet of 1etterhead
paper into her typewriter. Appar-
emily she was not especially inter-
ested. ct isn't likely he'd pick me-"
she murmured.
sOh, I don't know" consoled the
neighbor at the left. you've got a
fine record You've got more speed
than any of the rest of us and you're
terribly accurate. Those things count,
| tho, of course. he's young and fine
looking and will probably pick a good
locker"
Faith Clarke sighed again and
opened her notebook to begin the mo-
notonous days work.
For an hour little work was done.
The buzzing of voices was incessant,
and there were frequent pauses in
work for powdering of noses and re-
adjustment of hair nets. Then a hush
suddenly fell on the room, for the
door had opened and Mr.. Mills. office
manager, with tall, keen-eyed
stranger, entered the room.
Never had the stenographers' room
of the Gage Manufacturing company
hunmed with sdch ince5sant clicking
of the typewriters, and never before
were ten heads bent in such keen at
Itention to work. Mr.. Mills and the
stranger stood talking In sunduea
tones, but obviously the stranger was
making observations. Then they left
the room and the door closed. For
four or five minutes more the type
writer keys buzzed furiously, and then
came a lull.
1, "Gosh!" said the girl at Faith S
left.
"Gee Whit" said the one at her
right.
isn't the suspense something aw-
full p" said a girl across the room.
'How soon do you think he'll let us
know"
After the noon lunch hour the girls
took their places promptly. And then
Molly Day who had found the sus-
pense so trying, was called to MIR.
Cages office. She stopped in the
dressing room for careful reapp1-
caUon OIL rouge anu ilpsiCh anu Weiie
into the sanctum with confidence
gained thereby.
Honest, I wasn't bit scared" she
announced when she came back. Il
had my hair waved instead of getting
lunch when I was out and that kind
of braced me up Gosh. but m nun
cry now, tho. WE'LL I'll treat you all
when I get my thirty a week, girls"
But presently a surprise came.
Jimmy, the office boy. came in with
a message to Faith Clarke. She was
wanted in Mr.. Cages office, and she
ing in a mirror. Her throat was ory
and her knees were trembling.
Poor kid" said one of the girls.
ct suppose he's looked up her record,
but, gosh, what does a. good record
do when g. girl doesn't keep up ap-
pearances?"
In spite of dry throat and trembling
knees Faith Clarke took a trial letter
from Mr.. Gage with lightning rapidly
and transcribed it in an adjoining OF
flee without a fault.
She waited while Mr.. Gage read II
over. He was consulting her record
for promptness and accuracy on
large pink card from the filing room.
at think, Miss Clarke" he, said.
that you may consider yourself ad-
vanced to the position as my private
secretary. 1t is an advancement, be-
cause It will mean thirty-five dollars
a week, and you are now, I believe.
eighteen. OF course, this is to
be confidential for a day or So" He
paused to look keenly into the deli
cately featured face of the girl who
sat at the other side of his desk.
'I am sorry" Faith said slowly, |
Outfit you don't very much mind, |
I'd rather not. I may have taken mat |
letter quickly. but really I know I
wouldn't do at-all. I'm very careless |
and I'd nuch rather stay in the other |
room with eighteen a week"
Mr.. Gage saw that the matter was |
settled SO far as the girl was con- |