Evening star., 1928-06-09
THE EVENING STORY

, one tree. then take a nap: then at
| tack the plums and rest, finishing of
with pear and apples. Late Sunday
afternoon, after extravagant words OF
gratitude to their host. they departed
for the dock and boarded the boat Tor
the city. All went merry as marriage
bell until they were about half way
across. then the wind worked itself
into frenzy, and tore around like
hundred madmen. The boat tried to
stand first on one end and then the
other. and a crowd of miserable human
beings vowed never again to trust them
selves upon the treacherous waters OF
Lake Michigan.
Surfeited with good things as Briggs
week-e guests had been, their digeS-
tive apparatuses rebelled violently and
they were soon experiencing heights
and depths of misery known only to
those afflicted with NAL de mer. When
the boat docked at am. Monday
morning a wretched. wild-eyed. forlorn
party of eight wended their ways to
their respective homes to prepare as
best they could for the busy Monday at
the Office of Adair, Townsend e. Briggs.
If ever there had been a morning
when all the members of the office
force needed to be alert and 100 per
cent efficient IL was that particular
Monday. Matters of immense moment
were pending that day. A big lumber
concern. with Offices in half a dozen
cities, was seriously considering re-
tanning the firm Of Adair, Townsend
Il Briggs as its attorneys, and members
of Its directorate were that morning
coming for an important conference,
it was believed. to test the desirability
of the firm AS their permanent legal
counsel
The two senior members were on
hand early, ready for the interview.
Usually upon their arrival they found
all the office clerks in their places,
busily at work. Not so this morning.
Not a soul was to be seen. The senior
member indulged In violent language.
The second member paced the floor
and wondered In stentOrian tones what
In the name of the seven seas had hap
pened Suddenly the door opened and
one by one the eight pale-faced, heavy
eyed individuals crept guiltily to their
desks. What in thunder Is the matter
with you ALP" inquired Townsed, as
he viewed with growing wrath what he
had often boasted was the finest look
ing, most efficient Office force on La
Sale street. AS the wan and weary
looking switchboard operator dropped
into her chair she murmumed, Week
end party, Mr.. Briggs. storm on lake,
seasick. Oh my SOUL" and laid her
bobbed head upon the desk and wept
A half hour later Briggs, well groom
ed as always, jaunty and self-satisfied,
walked into the office. having motored
around the lake in his own car He
entered with the mien of man who
expects and deserves an ovation but
his merry greeting died on his lips as
he viewed the scene. Fine demon
stration of efficiency you've staged for
u.s." thundered the senior member.
Lumber outfit will be here In ten
minutes. Pretty lot of assistants we've
got to help us on this strenuous morn
ing
That a night on the stormy deep
does not At one for accurate, alert
service was proved dozen times in
the following hectic hours, when a
leaden-eyed and languid stenographer
for the first time in her experience
failed TO decipher her notes; when
wan. ugt-about-to-faint switchboard
operator tangled up the lumber mems
phone calls Until they were desperate.
and panic stricken Office boy couldn't
be made to get an order through his
head.
When before the end Of a two
hours conference the lumber mag
mates took their departure with very
evident dissatisfaction and no inclina-
ton TO adjourn the session TO some
later date there was siamming OF doors