The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-08-20

broadens down from precedent u
precedent Precedent IL custom
Never defy custom, or you Will ind her
your master. Humor her and she win
be your slave Now / think / shall leave
while you try and attune yourself to
the atmosphere Of these surroundings
So this was the room which had
been the inner shrine of the firm Of
Grant 4 Son. The quarters were
new since he had left the East; ths
furnishings revealed that large sim
| plicity which Is elegance and wealth
A painting of the elder Grant hung
from the wall: Dennison stood before
| IT, looking into the sad, capable. gray
eyes What had life brought to his
father that was worth the price those
eyes refected7 Dennison found his
own eyes moisteninz with memories
now strangely poignant
Environment" the young man muir
INJURED, as he turned from the portrait
"envlronment, master Of everything
And yet"
A photograph Of Roy stood on the
nanteIpiece, and beside II, in 4 little
silver frame. was one Of his mother.
Grant pulled himself together
and fell to an examination Of the pa
pers In his fathers desk
Grants first concern was to get q
grasp Of the business affairs which
had so Unexpectedly come under his
direction To accomplish this he con-
tinued the practice Of the Landson
ranch; he was up every morning at
five, and had done a days work be-
fore the members Of his STAFF began TO
assemble. For advice lie turned 10
Jones and Murdoch. and the manage
ment Of routine affairs he left entirely
In the hands Of the latter. He had
soon convinced himself that the
camarsderie Of the ranch would not
work In a staff of this kind. SO while
he was formulating plans Of his ovn
he left the administration to Murdoch
He found this absence Of compa nion-
ship the most unpleasant feature Of
his position: il seemed that his wealth
had elevated him out of the human
family. He wavered between amuse-
ment and annoyance over the defer
ence that was paid him Some OF the
staff were openly terrified at his ap-
preach
Not 70 Miss Bruce Miss Bruce had
tapped on the door and entered with
the words, Il was your fathers
stenographer. ETe left practically all
his personal correspondence to me-
worked at this desk IL the corner. and
had a private Office through the door
there into which I slipped when my
absence was preferred"
She had crossed the room. and IN
stead of standing respectfully before
Grants desk, had come around the end
of il Grant looked up with some sur
prise, and noted that her features were
not without comprehending qualities
How do you think you're going 10
Ike your 5ob- she asked
Grant swung around quickly IN his
chair. No one In the staff had spoken
to him Ike that; Murdoch himself
would not have dared address him In
so familiar manner. He decided to
take a firm position
Were you In the habit OF speaking
to my father like thatE-
-Your father was q man well On In
years. Mr.. Grant Every man accord
ing to his age
Grant looked at her keenly- What
ever her words. he had to admit that
her tone was not impertfnent-
You appear TO be q very advanced
young woman he remarked i am
little Surprised had hardly
thought my father would select young
women of your type as his confidential
secretaries
Private stenographer.- she cor
rected a little extra side on q title
Is neither here nor there Well. will /
admit that | rather took your fathers
breath at times: he discharged me 50
often il became habit. but we grew !
to have a sort of tacit understanding 1
that that was just his way of blowing /
of steam. You see. I did his work. 4
and I did il right I never lost my I
head when he got into a temper:
could always read my notes even after
he had spent most Of the day in death
grips with some business rival You
see. / wasn't afraid Of him. not the
least bit And Tn not afraid Of you
Il don't believe you are Grant adj
mitted- You are remarkable WON
an. I think we shall get along all
right IL you are able TO distinguish be
tween independence and bravsdo.- He
turned TO his desk. then suddenly
looked up sgain- He was homesick for
some one he could talk 10 frankly.
Il don't mind telling YOU he said
abruptly. that the Difference which il
being showered upon me around rhi.
Institution gives me good deal
Of q pain I've been accustomed TO
with meh % the same level
They took their orders from me- and /
hey carried them out. but the older
hands called me by my first name. and
any of them swore back when he
thought he had occasion | can't fit IN
q this Yes sir no sir Very good.
- 1aspc huSfro<S Ir do-,<-.f