The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-02-12
CHAPTER w

ployer which Jim had drawn was
correct in only one particular. He
was querulouS to an extreme. In
other respects, however, Jlm's
imagination had erred. Mr.. Vaughn,
discounting the traces of recent ill
ness, was a rather handsome man
and not beyond the early fifties.
He had CRAVING dark hair, keen ha-
gel eyes, attractive clear-cut fea-
lures.
Jim found him settled in an arm
chair in the iving-room, one morn
ing as he came in with the mail.
Mr.. Vaughn wore dressing gown
of maroon colored silk.
Mr.. Vaughn glanced up from the
magazine.
''Mail?" he asked briefly.
"Yes, SIR
"Here!" The voice was impatient.
Jim walked across the room to
the arm chair. Mr.. Vaughn took the
letters, ruff1ed through them, ran a
searching glance over the table be-
side the chair.
where's the paper knife?" he
asked irritably. "Where is Miss
Parker?"
''Miss Parker is in the garden"
Jim replied. "Shall I call her?"
''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 him.
He was obviously surprised.
eff you please" he said, shade
more amiably.
you're the new man, aren't
your"
eyes, SIR" Jim replied.
MACPHERSON told me he had
engaged one. What's your manner"
"Jim-Jim Fielding"
SLOW long have you been here?"
"Two weeks"
"That's usually the limit" Mr..
Vaughn said dryly. Getting on all
right?"
81 think sou
"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
a 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..
Vaughn asked one morning when
the mail had been especially heavy.
''Not 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 a secretary
from the office. Suppose we steal
a march on the DOCTOR" Mr..
Vaughn smiled with a conspirstor'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.
81 think I could write without die
tation," Jim suggested, eff you'll
give me the information"
Mr.. Vaughn glanced at him quick
1y, 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
the letters he wrote were not ex-
tremely important. The real bust
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-ti1ne
promotion.
"You see!" she said, addressing
her husband. 81 told you Jim was
smart. There's no telling what it
may lead to-"
Jim laughed and Macpherson
said mildly, "Now, Bessie, don't
start to romance"
Mrs. Macpherson bridled.
'Why not, I'd like to known" she
inquired of the gentlemen facing
each other across a checker board
in the iving-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