The Dolores star., 1924-08-01

Droadens down from precedent to
precedent Precedent II custom.
| Never defy custom, or you will find her
your master. Humor her and she will
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 & Son. The quarters were
new since he had left the East; tho
furnishings revealed that large SIM
plicity which is elegance and wealth.
A painting of the elder Grant hung
from the wall; Dennison stood before
1t, looking into the sad, capable. gray
eyes. What had life brought to his
father that was worth the price those
eyes reflected? Dennison found his
own eyes moistening with memories
now strangely poignant.
! Environment" the young man mur-
INJURED. as he turned from the portrait,
environment, master of everything
And yet"
A photograph of Roy stood on the
mantelpiece, and beside 1t, In a 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 a
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 he turned to
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
camaraderie Of the ranch would not
1 work In stan Of tails kind. SO while
he was formulating plans of his own
he left the administration to Murdoch.
He found this absence of companion
ship the most unpleasant feature of
his position; 1t 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-
proach.
Not SO Miss Bruce. Miss Bruce had
tapped on the door and entered with
the words, Il was your fathers
stenographer. He left practically all
his personal correspondence to me. /
worked at this desk In the corner. and
had 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 it. Grant looked up with some sur
prise, and noted that her features were
not without comprehending qualities.
How do you think you're going to
like your job?" she asked.
Grant swung around quickly In his
chair. No one In the staff had spoken
to him like that; Murdoch himself
would not have dared address him In
so familiar manner. He decided to
take n firm position.
Were you In the habit of speaking
to my father like that?"
"Your father was a man we'll on in
years, Mr.. Grant. Every man accord.
ing to his age"
Grant looked at her keenly. What.
ever her words. fe had to admit that
her tone was not impertinent.
you appear to be a very advanced
young woman" he remarked. II am
little surprised-I had hardly
thought my father would select young
women of your type MS his confidential
secretaries"
"Prlvate stenographer." she cor.
rected. "A little extra side on a title
is neither here nor there. Well, will
admit that rather took your fathers
breath at times; he discharged me so
often it became a habit, but we grew
to have sort Of tacit understanding
that that was just his way of blowing
off steam. You see. I did his work,
and 1 did 1t right. I never lost my
head when he got into 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 I'm not afraid of you"
Il don't Delleve you are, Grant ad-
mitted. you are a remarkable WON.
an. I think we shall get along ali
right If you are able to distinguish be-
tween independence and bravado." He
turned to his desk, then suddenly
looked up again. He was homesick for
some one he could talk to frankly.
"I don't mind telling you," he said
abruptly, "that the Difference which is
being showered upon me around this
Institution gives me good deal
of a pain. I've been accustomed to
working with men on the same level.
They took their orders from me, and
they 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. I can't fit In
to this Yes SIR no sir Very good