Smyrna times., 1932-03-16
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
Typewriter Doctor" An Interest
ing Short Story Written by
Ruby Douglas

n
L oank looked up from his desk
as Sylvia. his competent little ste
nographer, entered his office hum
ihing gayly.
"Why the mirth on Monday morn
Ing, Miss Sylvan" he asked.
''The old. old reason-joy in hav-
ing created something" she told
him.
Tell me-let me be joyful. too"
persisted the cashier.
He had known Sylvia since her
childhood. Theirs was a friendly,
family acquaintance as well as a
business association.
81 will-but you won't like it"
Sylvia laughed.
"Oh-conceived the idea Of get
ting married. | suppose"
Sylvia raised her hands in pro
test. Not at all. But the effect
on you will be just the same.
am going into business for myself"
The cashier listened while the
girl unfolded her plan. The idea
had come to her on Saturday morn
ing like a flash of lightning from
the unknown spaces. She had rec
ognized it at once as an inspiration,
and all through the weekend she
had been turning it over in her
mind until now it was a concrete
plan all formulated and ready to
put into action.
'Then, you'll be typewriter doc
tor, gather" said the cashier when
she had finished her outline.
"Yes-that's an attractive way to
call it. There is no one in town
who can mend 9 machine. You
know yourself what a nuisance it is
when the typewriters here in the
office are out of order. We have
to send to the city and not only
pay the mans expenses but wait
till he finds II convenient"
-Oh, | think you have hit upon
a splendid idea I--of course we
hate to lose you, but we can't ex-
pect girl with your ability and
ambition TO go on working for
some one else at perhaps twenty
dollars a week. Go to it, Miss Syl-
via. and we will give you all the
support we can"
Thus Sylvia severed her connec
tiOnS with the BrOokville bank, but
she took with her all the good will
of the officers and employees who,
one and all. promised TO help her to
get launched In her new venture.
She found a diminutive office on
the main street and called herself
a Typewriter Doctor" She had
a native mechanical sense and
more than little practical busi-
ness ability.
1t was not long before Sylvia
was very busy, and she had found
1t necessary to make a few trips
to the city In order to learn from
the makers of various machines
number of intricate little peculiari-
ties Of their own typewriters. But
she was quick and determined to
succeed. Nothing seemed too diff
cult She was happy and busy and
she was experiencing the thrill that
comes with achievement.
One morning young man ap-
peared In her office.
Good morning." she said cheerily.
The visitor explained that he was
writer and that he lived on
farm outside the limits of the city.
His typewriter bad become very
badly in need of parts and repairs
while he was In the middle of some
work for weekly publication. He
asked whether he might bring in his
machine and perhaps rent one for
a few days That was his problem.
Sylvia assured him that that was
her work. and she had several ma
chimes on hand that she could let
him choose from. For by this time
she had not only gone into the busi-
ness of renting typewriters, but she
had acquired the agency of neat
little portable machine and was
making handsome commissions on
this.
If the young woman recognized
another finger of fate pointing the
way TO her pathway she did not ad-
nit it. She confessed to herself
that she was glad Mr.. Bob Saun-
ders would have to return for his
machine. She liked him.
In q day or two. Bob Saunders
appeared again He was buoyantly
happy.
"You are a mascot as well as |
a good typewriter doctor, Miss
Bates" he said.
"How do you known asked Syl- |
via, for his machine was not ready. |
81 have sold the story ! wrote on
the rented machine for more than
a third again OF what l have ever
received before from the same peo-
ple," he told her enthusiastically. |
"Now | can afford to get the parts"
He remained In the little office |
longer than was necessary. but Syl. |