Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

60 THE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE chewing, left two days before the first of the month ! Saturday morning Dexter entered with a new stenographer, one so radiant and beautiful that the office force raised their lack-luster eyes — all but Parks, who caught sight only of her back as the private office door was closing. He rose as tho he had seen a ghost. There was but one figure like that! It was Ruth Dexter. Dexter himself inferred as much in a delicate manner to him when the office was closing at one o'clock. "If you so much as say a single word to her — out you go ! ' ' But what are obstacles in the path of love, but roses? Two minutes after old Dexter went out to lunch, Parks stepped in to Ruth. Close the door! Twenty minutes later it was opened rudely by Papa Dexter, to have his eyes assaulted for the second time by these two dabbling in the dainty confectionery of two hearts that stir as one, and all that sort of thing. Young Parks went out, looking the fool he felt himself to be. He sat down at his desk discouraged, his face in his hands. A few words drifted thru the private door. >"My office, my business, you have me distracted! I've got to get away from things for a while. I'll leave you and Plodder in charge. Go home now — I've got some serious things to say to you when I get there. ' ' "He's going away — for a month," whispered the girl as she passed thru the outer office. There was no hint of sadness at the thought of a parent's absence, in her voice. Parks continued to listen, the office boy helping. Plodder had gone home. Dexter was talking into the dictagraph, the only innovation Parks had been able to persuade the stingy old grouch to introduce into the office. It was a lengthy series of instructions to Plodder. Parks heard him putting in a fresh record. "Special!" roared Dexter, ominously, clearing his throat with a few fierce preliminary scrapes. "Mr. A. Plodder, Chief Clerk : "Pay off that impudent scoundrel, Parks, and discharge him at once. (Signed) "John Dexter." A few minutes later Dexter emerged from his office with a deeper scowl than usual on his face. He noticed neither Parks nor the office boy. "Aint he the sour mug for yer, tho?" asked the office boy, seeking sympathy. "Every time I leave the office, I has to run out an' git a vaniller sody jest to git my mouth natcherul ag'in." Parks was thinking. A semblance of the old-time mischief had come back to his eye. 1 ' Want your wages raised, Flink ? ' ' he asked, suddenly. "Why dont you ast me do I eat buckwheat cakes when I git a chance ? Why, sure!" "Well, here's a quarter to start with. Now, listen to the magic of the dictagraph. ' ' And the gist of what happened may be inferred from the special letter from old man Dexter to his chief clerk, which was typed the first thing Monday morning and handed to Mr. Plodder: "Mr. A. Plodder, Chief Clerk: "Kindly raise Mr. Parks' salary ten dollars per week, and other office help five dollars each. Also install new office furnishings thruout — a water-cooler and anything else that will add to the attractiveness of our quarters. I'm going away to give you and the others a chance to show what you can do. (Signed) "John Dexter." Ruth Dexter saw the letter before it was handed to Plodder. For a moment she looked frightened. Then she buried her face in her handkerchief, and her shoulders shook. When she looked furtively around again, her eyes were wet. She had been either laughing or crying. Plodder looked sicker than usual for a moment and then insisted upon hearing the letter for himself. To his half-deaf ears all gruff tones were Dexter 's. From that moment on he seemed to come to life, to become