"With pleasure," said the A. M. while a bristling attempt towards completely ignoring the Youngest Member was traceable in his studied hauteur.
Together they shifted the desk, three paces to right and four to left, You have the desk by the|s! window," protested the Youngest Member with an emphatic manner nat in heping with hee Brief Pen] honest til Mery, wel" said the Olst ptm mused upon the scene wth the office, Head of the Bookkeeping
Typiat, "but T consider it an imposi Or etetioas glint in her eye.
"You people dont seem to realize," she The Ancient Mariner emitted an volunteered, "that this office was explosive sneeze at this juncture in response to which the Tiead of the Bookkeeping Department notified the room that the A. M. caught cold at the very thought of Actually turned on, the fan would undoubtedly be responsible for a fatal attack, of pneumonia to the A.
'The Youngest Member who had wade a certain distance, in the world Gespite her youth stood firm. can try it," she declared and motioned one of the attentive Chinese clerks to press the button, This he did with alacrity and a' beatific express tion kindled in the eyes of the three} Gelestials as they noted the instaneous effect which the eviling typhoon had upon all papers in the immediate vicinity.
"Bather Abraham," shouted the Ancient Mariner with—unexpected] aplomb. "Merciful Heavens" cain int a dainty shriek from the Olde Typist, while the Youngest Member contented herself with clggping shears, gum-pot and> assortd sizes of paper weights upon everything! within -arm's reach, The Head of the Bookkeeping Department, not Dolonging to the loose-leafed tribe of workers, surveyed the scene with cain interest.
The Ancient Mariner stood up, flourished his. handkerchi cover size, and noted the beginning a violent cold in the head. Tete the room to cool down choler and when he returned the Youngest Member, hair Tisting to the ulti of satisfaction.
The sight of her enraged the A. M. anew. The Oldest Typist who had bourne ten minutes of electric mon-'toon. in contemptuous silence, stood built to contain the desks exactly as they were placed before. Any interference with the established order can only bring sorrow and regrets to to you two good soul The Chinese clerks, pleased with any proof of foreign madness! which would at the same time bring, [surcease from toil, ruminated ov these activities with beady eyes. Bach clerk had whisked out a fan at the beginning of preparations: and was devoting himself to the gentle art of waving it as sponsored by the culture of two thousand years.
The Oldest Typist sat down sud-donly, with her desk blocking the entrance of the office. "We will take vote," said she, "among the foreigners. Those in favour of not} having the fan please say s0."
"As Tam the only one who seems in favour" said the Youngest Mem-bor with a sudden attack of humility, [dont mind if it's turned off." Tt) was turned off forthwith. Coolies wore called in and desks reinstated! to their original positions. Work; was resume'
'The Chinese clerks regretfully' returned to adding long columns of] figures with unwavering accuracy. The Oldest Typist left the room to go and adjust her hair. The Ancient Mariner gave one last feeble and fal sneeze. The Head of the Bookkeeping Department said, Whee, it is hot with the fan off and the Youngest Member gave her grateful glance. She let her gaze for a moment on the comprehensive calender on her desk. "'Stopping of Heat" (Ch'u-rku), August] 24, read the record, and everybody! Knows how much more picturesque than reasonable are Chinese legends; on calenders.—Jill O'Lantern,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.