Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-03-15
Faith Clarke's
Career
BY MARY GREEN

II WAS the first time In Faith
Clarke's career as stenographer In
the Gage Manufacturing company that
she had been late. Her small purse
had slipped from her numbed fingers
on her way from the Blair street
home to the corner, where she Gus
tomarily took the bus. She had re-
traced her steps, but the rapidly fall
ing snow had hidden the place where
1t had fallen.
AS soon as she had taken her seat
in the room where nine other stem
ographers worked and had opened her
typewriter desk to begin transcribing
notes from dictation taken late the
previous afternoon. Faith was aware
of the fact that something Of unusual
interest was In the air.
Eventually Faith Clarke pleced to-
gether the information that Thomas
Gage, Jr.. son Of "the big boss" had
arrived. He had previously had
charge of the western plant Of the
concern, but had now come to assume
control of the main office and would
neeu private secretary.
For an hour little work was done.
The buzzing of voices was incessant,
and there were frequent pauses In
work for powdering OF noses. Then
hush suddenly fell on the room. for
the door had opened and Mr.. Mills,
office manager, entered the room with
q tall, keen-eyed stranger.
Never had the stenographers' room
Of the Gage Manufacturing company
hummed with such incessant clicking
of the typewrlters. and never before
were ten heads bent in such keen at
tentiOn to work. Mr.. Mills and the
stranger stood talking In subdued
tones, but obviously the stranger was
making observations. Then they left
the room and the door closed.
After the noon lunch hour the girls
took their places promptly.
Jimmy. the Office boy, came in with
a message to Faith Clarke. She was
wanted in Mr.. Cages office, and she
departed at once, without even look
ing in mirror.
In spite Of dry throat and trembling
knees Faith Clarke took trial letter
from Mr.. Gage with lightning rapidly
and transcribed It IN an adjoining Of
flee without fault.
81 think, Miss Clarke" he said, "that
you may consider yourself advanced
to the position OF my private secre-
tary. 1t Is an advancement, because
It will mean thirty-five dollars a week,
and you are now getting twenty-five"
81 am sorry" Faith said slowly.
"but IF you don't very much mind.
I'd rather not"
So that was the end of that, and
Mr.. Gage decided to put off for an
other day the choosing Of a private
secretary. That evening after close
Of the office he walked for several
miles In the direction Of the hotel
that was his temporary abode. AS he
walked he could think Of nothing but
The case of Faith Clarke. Why had
she declined his offer1
His medItatiOns we're suddenly in
terrupted, when his downcast eyes fell
upon small purse lying on the side
walk before him. II was half COW
cred with snow. Mr.. Gage picked 1t
up and opened It. 1t contained $2.45
and key attached to wooden tag
marked Room 90, Blair Street Home"
Mr.. Gage asked the policeman at the
next corner where the Blair Street
Home might be, and was directed to .
boarding home for girls.
It was a dingy place inside and out.
He asked the attendant at the desk
whether she would take the purse. at
which the attendant mechanically
reached out to cumbersome electric
press button and rang nine times and
then nine times more. Tve sent for
ninety nine" said the attendant wear
lily. "Pd rather have you give II to
her yourself"
Mr. Gage sat waiting on narrow
uncomfortable black walnut bench IN
the hall and presently to his surprise
appeared in the gloom Faith Clarke
"Are you nlnety-nlneT he asked
rising. Explanations concerning the
loss and finding Of the purse were
soon over. Mr.. Gage fingered, sitting
there beside Miss Clarke In the dingy
hall. He told her that he felt this a
good opportunity TO try to persuade
her to accept his offer.
Faith Clarke looked about her and
then back to Mr.. Gage.
"You see," she said, "this is home
to me. It's the only home I've known
since left my uncle's In the country
and that wasn't at all happy. It's
working girls hOme-the rule Is that
no girl earning more than twenty-five
dollars week can live here. II ac.
cept your proposition would have to
leave this home"
Thomas Gage, Jr., felt something
very much like a lump in his thront,
1T the thought that this dingy place.
with its odors OF sanctlty and poor
cooking, could mean 80 much.
"Still, I'd like to do your work"
Faith admitted. at would be 50
much more interesting Would you
let me do It with the same salaryT
1t was there In that dingy hall thar
Thomas Gage made up his mind that
he would probably woo Faith Clarke
as his wife. "A girl who loves home
MS much as that" he assured himself.
fought to make a wonderful wife"
Two months later he asked her {"
marry him, and, Of course, Faith ac-
eepted. II was then that she found
that there was a little bank account
to her credit, showing a weekly saw.
ing Of ten dollars a week. "It's yours
to do what you want with It," Mr..
Gage told her.