Plentywood herald., 1928-10-04
Use 'em and Lose 'em
tor vou-prohahly worse.

II we can nduule lnt TWO JOpS sue
cessfully it is sure to mean promotion
for you and II / have done my part
shall expect to share somewhat IN the re-
suit. / propose that we lunch here every
day until conditions are normal. It's
no trouble to get the things and we save
time and have better food Weu make
it a kind of training table.
And one thing more: you know what
I'm doing. Don't you think We could
have a stenographer in two or three
times week to help with the letters and
filing? If we are going to win the fight
We'll have to organize"
1t was herself that she was looking
after; he was only cog in the wheel of
her ambition. He sat so long thinking
that he found Miss Champion looking
at him curiously. He tried to be as
businesslike as she.
You're quite right" he said. I'VE
must organize. I'll see about stenographic
for the lunches. or course. you must
let me pay my share"
He was so stiff about it that Miss
Champion smiled.
Things moved smoothly for the next
ten days. Merton found that he was
looking forward to lunch hour with the
anticipation of small boy. They talked
Of books they had read, plays they had
seen and in general explored each others
likes and dislikes over a wide field
Once or twice Merton tried more per
sonal topics, but Miss Champion avoided
them with easy skill that made the
avoidance hardly perceptible. Yet the
stone wall was there. What was 1t, Mer-
ton asked himself, that he had first
liked about Miss Champion? Oh, yes.
There was nothing personal about her
contact with the men she worked for
she did her work like a man and asked no
favors Now he wasn't SO certain that
this was virtue.
But it wasn't until Merton spoke to his
chief-old Gannon-about more salary
for Miss Champion that he really woke
up. The older man listened carefully to
his recital and Merton warmed up as he
went along.
Cannon smiled Go slow, young man.
You sound more like lover hymning
his mistress than business man discuss
ing salaries and employment policy. l
know about Miss Champion. Well give
her a raise, but we won't put her on an
assistant managers salary, and what's
more, being your secretary is the best Job
she gets here"
Merton interrupted to protest, but the
old man rode him down.
Don't misunderstood. I know just
how able Miss Champion is. But she's a
woman and mighty attractive one.
Probably she's saving up now to marry
some nincompoop with half her brains.
She's q woman, and I won't put woman
in key job. You can't depend on EN-.
II you think, you can't get along without
Miss Champion you'd better marry her
yourself Probably spoil a good secre-
tary to make a second rate wife, but ac-
cording to you she's got all the virtues
any woman ever possessed-and more"
Merton sat looking at his chief with
startled expression. Cannon thought his
bright young man was daunted by his
TRADE, but Merton had forgotten most
OF that. 1t was the suggestion that he
marry Miss Champion that had over
whelmed him.
But Cannon went on more gently,
Don't worry about your secretary. You
won't need her more than month or so
more Soon as Hughes gets back on the
Job you are slated for the London office
and you won't have to bother about pet
ticoat problems. Use 'em and lose 'em;
that's the way to handle them"
Marry her, marry her" His brain
was given up to that; it wouldn't func-
ton on anything else.
He halted outside his office door. What
we'll rush In on young woman and say
MY dear, they won't give you much of a
raise and they won't give you a bigger
job, but I'll marry you"
With an effort he pulled himself to-
gether and went in.
Miss Champions head was bent over a
pile of letters and orders.
Cool, impersonal, businesslike, ambi-
tious. She wasn't thinking about mar
riage unless-what was it Cannon had
said? Probably saving up to marry some
Miss Champion looked up just then
and arose hastily at sight of his haggard
face
"Mr. Merton" she exclaimed. and took
two steps toward him Merton stretched
out a hand In another moment he
would have had her in his arms. All the
loverlike phrases he had read or heard
were on his lips-Miss Champion didn't
take the third step. Instead she turned
to the water bottle and filled glass.
"You are overtired, Mr.. Merton she
said with impersonal sweetness. Better
drink this and rest for while. The let
ters can wait"
Merton drank the water stupidity. He
felt very much as though 1T had been
poured over him. A moment more and
Late that afternoon when Merton broke
the news Of Gannon's decision. Of which
he was careful to give a modified version,
Miss Champion took 1T easily enough.
Its about what / expected" she said
They'll pay me $50 week for knowing
as much and doing more than men they
pay twice that. The men will have op
portunity to go on as far as their abilities
and opportunities will let them, but o
woman can go only so far. I was sure
that was Mr. Gannon's policy. It's the
policy of good many offices; I mean to
find one where it isn't
But, Elizabeth"-he was using her
first namc for the first time and quite
unconsciously. 81 can't let you go. l
couldn't have done anything without
you. Why, We"
She interrupted him.
mot at all, Mr. Merton. None OF us is
indispensable. You have been very good
to me and / realize that / owe q great
deal to your willingness to explain the
work to me and to let me help. I hope I
have returned value in full, but anyway
1T was useless for me to learn unless /
can contrive to apply what have learned.
have chance now to go to the South
and East Importing company. They
learned somehow that / handled the
Backus supply contracts and I'm offered
a chance In their European department
as assistant manager. Not much pay to
start with, but real chance. 1t seems
one always gets these opportunities OUT
side--a business witness of the prophet
in his own country. Now the work is"