Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-08-09

precedent Precedent is custom.
Never defy custom, or you viii find her
your master. Humor her and she viii
be your slave Now l 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; the
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 reflected? Dennison found his
own eyes moistening with memories
now strangely poignant.
Environment the young man muir
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 q
grasp of the business affairs which
had so Unexpectedly come under his
direction. To accomplish this he con-
tinued the practice of the LandsoD
ranch; he was up every morning az
Eve, 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
camaraderle of the ranch would not
work in a staff of this 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; it 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 APP
preach.
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 a private office through the door
there into which l 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 comprehendtng qualities.
flow do you think you're going to
Ike your iob?" 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 a manner. He decided 10
| take urn position.
Were you in the habit of speaking
to my father like thatT
"Your father was a man well on In
years, Mr. Grant. Every man accord
ing to his age"
Grant looked at her keenly. What
ever her words. ne had to admit that
/ her tone was not impertinent
you appear to be a very advanced
young woman" he remarked Il am
little surprised had hardly
thought my father wodid select young
women Of your type as his confidential
/ secretaries"
"Private stenographer," she cor
rected. "A little extra side on a title
is neither here nor there. Well, will
admit that l rather took your fathers
breath at times; he discharged me so
often II became habit, but we grew
to have a sort of tacit understanding
that that was just his way Of blowing
! off steam. You see, | did his work.
! and / did It right. 1 never lost my
head when he got into temper; I
! could always read my notes even after
/ he had spent most of the day in death
/ grips with some business rival. You
see, l wasn't afraid of him. not the
least bit And I'm not afraid of you"
81 don't believe you are" Grant adj
mltted. "You are a remarkable wom-
an. I think we shall get along all
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.
II 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 10
working with men GA 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 hack when he
thought he had occasion. I can't fit in
/ 70 this Yes sir no sir Very good,
SIR way Of doing business. 1t doesn't