Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-05-23
ROCKVlLLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING,
Competent
to Hold Down
the Job
BY ELLA SAUNDERS


M ISS fhlLi'Ol stared IN ulSlnay
Ava at the notice on her desk. Dis.
charged After twenty-seven years
service. She had given all the best
years of her life to the Bracket com
pany. This was her reward.
She was gray-hulred woman of
rather majestic aspect. True, she had
never risen very high, but she did un-
derstand the work of the aecountancy
department. She had worked faithful
ly under Jennings for fifteen years.
Jennings was said to be leaving, too.
Suddenly 1t occurred to her that It
would be strange not coming down to
the office every day and seeing him.
Jennings came over TO her He laid
his hand upon her shoulder. "Why,
Miss Philpotw he exclaimed, as she
thrust out the notice and burst into
tears.
The cause of Miss Philpot's being
fired was a general shake-up In the
personnel. The old manager had re-
tired The new one, Bates, was run
ming through the personnel
There's Miss Philpot-is she really
needed?" he asked Sanderson, the as
sistant manager.
Sanderson scratched his head
well, l suppose we could do without
her" he began.
"Thirty-five week2 We could prob
ably get the work done just as eff
ciently by young chap of twenty
FIVE for ten to fifteen dollars less.
Mark her off"
That was how Miss Philpot came to
receive her notice. CHANGING up at the
central desk, over which Bates pre-
sided, she saw him still engaged in
conversation with Sanderson. They
had got farther down the list by now.
Miss Philpot was forgotten. Miss
Jennings clumsy efforts to console
her.
"You mustn't take 1t that way, Miss
Phllpot." he was saying. "1'm leav-
ing, too. to take a position with
Crompton's, and"
-covertly, under the protection Of the
edge of the desk And what was that
he was saying now? Miss Philpot
turned her eyes upon him incredu-
lousy.
Up at the desk Sanderson and Bates
were having a conversation with Jen-
nlngs. They seemed quite staggered
when he had gone.
81 had no Idea jennings was going"
said Sanderson. who'll we get for
the work.
Blamed II know" said Bates
Its up to you, Sanderson."
"Why couldn't we get Miss Phil
potT"
"A woman headT"
well, you spoke Of retrenching, and
a woman will work for less than a
man. Now Jennings was getting a
hundred. and Miss Phllpot has worked
under him for years. She was work.
ing for him when came into this
place. II seems to me she ought to be
competent to hold down the job"
"Well, we might try her. How much
do you suppose she'd work for1
Seventy-nveT'
"No, sixty. She'll jump at It, you
see II she doesn't"
"All right. I'll tell her-now He
beckoned to his stenOgrapher. "Please
take this letter:
"'Dear Miss PhIlpOt: The notlfica-
ton sent to you this forenoon Is here
by cancelled You are instead pro-
NOTED to fill Mr. Jennings position at
salary Of sixty dollars per week.
dating from the first prOx. cit is hoped
that you will find yourself fully com
petent to fulfill the duties heretofore
fulfilled by'-no, scratch out that sec
ond fulfilled, Miss Clarks0n-'hereto-
fore carried out by Mr.. JeppingA
Yours truly Thank you, Miss Clark
son"
He turned to sanderson. "All right.
that's finished" he said. "What
comes next on the program
Miss Phllpot, receiving the second
communication, sat down promptly at
her typewriter and dictated her reply.
II reached the desk late that after
noon. Bates scratched his head.
"Call Miss Phllpot here" he said
10 the Office boy.
Miss Phllpot rather majestic-look-
ng, stood beside Bates desk.
well. Miss Philpot, ! don't under
stand Here we are Offering you n
raise TO sixty, and you state that you
intend to leave u.s."
Miss Phiipot glanced across the
room toward Mr. Jennings. you'll
have to ask Mr.. Jennings about that,
Mr. Bates" she answered. "Pye taken
u position with him-a life one"
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