The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-25

Ss
He had graying dark hair, keen ha.
eel eyes, attrac ctive clear-cut fea.
lures.
Jim found him settled in an arm
ing as he came in with the mail.
Mr.. Vaughn wore a dressing gown
of maroon colored silk.
Mr.. Vaughn glanced up from the
magazine.
"Mail?" he asked briefly.
Eyes, sir"
s'Here!" The voice was impatient.
Jim walked across the room to
the arm chair. Mr.. Vaughn took the
letters, ruff1ed through them, ran
searching glance over the table be.
side the chair.
Where's the paper knife?" ha
asked irritably. where is Miss
Parker?"
Miss Parker is in the garden"
Jim replied. Shall call herr"
''Never mind. Find the paper
knife. Maybe it's on the desk"
The knife was on the desk.
Would you like me to open the
letters?" Jim asked when he had
returned to the chair.
Mr.. Vaughn glanced up at hin.
He was obviously surprised.
IF you please" he said, a shade
more amiably.
You're the new man, aren't
you?"
"Yes, SIR" Jim replied.
Macpherson told me he had
engaged one. What's your name!"
"Jim-Jim Fielding"
How long have you been here?"
1.-TWO weeks"
''That's usually the limit" N.r.
Vaughn said dryly. Getting on all
right?"
Il think So"
"Good!" Mr.. Vaughn's attention
turned to the letters and Jim, feel
ing himself dismissed, went out Of
the room.
After the first morning, opening
the letters for Mr.. Vaughn became
part Of the duties of the day. Mr..
Vaughn frequently detained Jim for
conversation.
In the course of time Jim re-
ceived an unexpected promotion.
Can you use typewriter" Mr..
on cG irn
the mail had been especially heavy.
mot expertly, by any MEANS"
Jim replied. I've made an at
tempt now and then"
Have try at it, will you? I'm
not permitted to have secretary
from the office. Suppose we steal
a march on the doctor" Mr..
Vaughn smiled with conspirator's
guile at Jim. Lets see how it
goes"
A movable Office was established.
in the game room on threatening
days, in fair weather on the side
veranda rooted thickly with vines.
Mr.. Vaughn attempted to dictate
slowly enough for Jim to take the
letters in long-hand. The process
was irksome.
Il think l could write without die
tation," Jim suggested, "if you'll
| give me the information"
Mr.. Vaughn glanced at him quick
ly, appraisingly. mo harm trying"
he conceded.
The first letter was moderately
successful.
Hmm! Not bad" Mr.. Vaughn
conceded.
So, for an hour or two each morn
ing, Jim the extra man, became
Jim the secretary. He judged that
tie letters he wrote were not ex-
tremely important. The real busi-
ness of the financing corporation of
which his employer was president,
was transacted by the Office in Phil
adelphia. This pretenSe of activity
was merely a form of diversion.
Mr.. Vaughn missed the office and
the normal routine to which he was
| accustomed.
Mrs. Macpherson was delighted
when Jim told her of his part-time
promotion.
You see!" she said, addressing
her husband. Il told you Jim was
smart. There's no telling what it
may lead to-"
Jim laughed and Macpherson
said mildly, Nov. Bessie, don't
start to romance"
Mrs. Macpherson bridled.
why not, I'd like to know" she
inquired of the gentlemen facing
each other across a checker board
in the living-room of the cottage.
IF Jim makes himself useful to
| Mr.. Vaughn it may lead to a posi-
ton"
jim had no faith in Mrs. Mac
Pherson's prophecy. He did not
expect future advantages from his
employer. When he thought of the
| future it was not in connection with
! "Meadowbrook This was merely
an interlude, a period OF readjust-
ment.
The part-time job had It's points.
The hours Jim spent with Mr..
Vaughn relieved him from more
| Y,,opia1 6utiac