Show THE HE BOSS AND LENA LENAA A Gardendale Story By E J RATH BATH Arthor Athor of The Gardendale Burglar Cure etc Before the Boss had been out of a simple worker In the ranks Gardendale had been in the throes as Mrs Wilson Insisted on having haing itin it itin itIn in the matter of its domestic help The very word help had become a grim Jest Money kindness and even sim simple simpIe pIe luxuries would not make the ser servants servants servants stay It was too lonely it was too far from the city It was too cold coldin coldIn coldin in winter inter it was too dark at night it was too remote from cousins and sis sisters sisters sisters and policemen xo Bonuses were of but temporary efficiency Promises of holiday presents encountered skepticism skepticism skepticism cism Vacations were looked upon as legitimate opportunities to go away and not come back Even Ev m the suggestion of a servants night at the club aroused no enthusiasm in behalf of a quiet life in the suburbs The men had not thought of interfering InterferIng interfering ing in the matter until Mr Dexter got his idea He had an undue advantage in this respect because be ause the Ilya i was lS born of a philosophic study stud of Delia Mary Monahans jaw and nd his opportunities opportunities for the pursuit of this study so far tar as the other men went were al almost almost almost most exclusive for Delia Della Mary Mar was Mrs cook He noted particularly particularly particularly the rugged contour of that Jaw Jawon on an evening when Della Delia Mary fary en entered entered entered the dining room and informed Mrs Dexter t she was going out When he hell Amazon figure had dis disappeared disappeared disappeared appeared into the kitchen again Mr fr Dexter mildly inquired of his wife Delia Della Mary Mal ask first my dear No sighed Mrs frs Dexter She just tells me Mr fr Dexter Dext r looked thoughtful and scrutinized a mental photograph of the Jaw Does she ho expect ex to favor us its with a continuance of her patronage he asked after a pause Dear only knows Shell probably go like all ail the rest And when she goes Lizzie will go too and probably r f both of Mrs girls They follow her just like sheep I never saw such a woman Mr Dexter finished his dinner In si silence silence silence lence and then went Into the kitchen Della Delia Mary was putting on her hat Delia Della said Mr Dexter abruptly How much are you getting said Delta Della Mary a trifle truculently he thought Do you ou expect to stay sta here not she answered shortly Work too hard hardNo 1 No NoI Pay too small Im not sayin so Then why do you think gp pursued Mr Dexter II too far from th city How would auld you like Uko to get forty dollars a month said Mr Dexter suddenly Della Delia Mary looked at him suspicious suspiciously ly and resumed the adjustment of her hat Ill pay forty dollars on one con condition condition condition and that is that you make all the girls working around here stay in their places for the next nix Rix months The transaction is strictly between you and me You can take it or leave It it But I think he added if elf you want to take it you can ean fill the bill Delia Della Mary Iary was buttoning her jacket In front of a small mirror and amI she fin finished finIshed finished her task to the last button Then she said simply Ill At forty At With the understanding that you ou de deliver deliver liver lher the goods added Mr Ir Dexter You kape your eye on me said Delia Mary grimly as she went out the back way Frankenstein went back to the living room to Inform his wife and from Crom that hour the Boss Bosa became the marvel maryel of Gardendale How she did it nobody knew and she did not disclose her method But true it was that the Boss f possessed the elusive quality of leader leadership leadership leadership ship Gardendale settled down to an era of uninterrupted domestic service The help stayed and it talked less about the city the dark and lonely nights and the bereft relatives Dexter was a hero so was Della Delia Mary fary for it seemed a misuse of terms to apply the feminine form of the word to her She Shedid Shedid Shedid did her work quietly and she did it well Her extra compensation of 12 a month did not of course fall entirely upon Mr Dexter A score of families cheerfully paid their assessment and blessed Mr Ir Dexter every time they did It for awhile What tho the Boss did with the money they did not inquire Mr Ur Gates expressed the belief that she had to give up part of it But Mr Dex Dexter Dexter ter tel being more familiar with the Boses maxillary architecture said nn He in insisted Insisted insisted that it was sheer personality There was only one skeptic at the start and he was Mr Ir Wilson Wait Walt till your our Boss gets an organ organization organIzation organization he croaked Mr Dexter knew what he meant but he made light of it He trod on air now having won back a popularity that had suffered since he had claimed the Greenlawn Golf club championship by a default The first rift In the lute which for three months had sung so sweetly to Gardendale appeared when the Boss informed Mrs Dexter that she needed an extra afternoon out every eel week Mrs Dexter hesitated While she was hesitating the Boss went out had her afternoon and thereby made it a fix fixture fixture fixture ture I r suppose well have hae to humor her a little said Mrs Dexter when she told her husband of or the matter Next week the Boss explained to Mrs Dexter that Lizzie the upstairs girl needed an extra afternoon also This TIlls matter was referred to Mr Dexter who showed some anxiety It so much the extra afternoon because that did not personally Inconvenience shim i j him it ft was the fact tact that Lizzie did cUd didi t i not do her own asking He scented an alt organization Personal favors granted to the Boss might continue within rea reasonable reasonable reasonable limits but he lie expected the Boss to handle her own constituents Nevertheless Lizzie got the day After that there was an epidemic of extra days until not a house In the park was unvisited by the scourge Some of the other girls went direct to their employers because at first the Boss had shown some indifference to their needs now that she and Lizzie had been taken care of But soon the Boss saw that for tor her own protection it was necessary for Cor her to too take these the e matters in hand herself herselt and after atter that all the demands were made through the master of or the organization Mrs at first met the demand with a flatfooted refusal reCusal and Annie said that she would be compelled to leave leav The Boss was quick to see th the peril peri of ot a break in the ranks It was not in her mind to have the flow of gold from the Dexter treasury treasur curtailed She was diplomatic about It it for she worked it through Mrs Dexter That lady did not relish the task of pointing out to Mrs Fanshawe her duty in the matter but she felt such a heavy heny re responsibility toward the other neighbors In Gardendale that she did it came away awa with the distinct impression that Mrs Fanshawe thought she was wag meddling which was aa as entirely correct notion Notwithstanding Annie got the extra afternoon After that the theother theother theother other households that had been holding off yielded and their mistresses con eon contrived contrived to manage somehow under the new system although it had haa a notable effect on the attendance of the after afternoon afternoon afternoon noon meetings of the Study club and really interfered with a o proper investigation investigation investigation gation of the old masters of painting which were receiving a very ery thorough combing over oer that season seOn After Atter that the figure of the Boss Boy loomed larger From time to time she I added clauses to her Magna Charta There was an extension of the caller privilege which was vas clearly In the In Interest Interest interest terest of the constituents and of no personal benefit to herself save as it strengthened her hands for tor Delia Della Mary did not keep company Garden dale gritted Its teeth but the help Continued on Page Pas 12 t m If r ri a THE BOSS AND LENA LENAA L NA Ct lt t i dL A Gardendale Story By E J RATH A Athor thor of The Gardendale Burglar r ar Cure etc 4 I J t I I i i t h o It r r J Ji Jr i i ef t 14 N 1 e 11 t ti ti tr tI f I I II i t r i L I IL I II 11 W ts I Wt I I q ti t tl I r H l d l Lena L ena forever Lena L ena forever forever r A f ff 1 L Continued from Page Pa e 1 r t i 1 Stayed S ed which was all aU that the th Dose Boas Do t S 1 r i Contracted to do Some of the week 4 j a I folk olk began to cavil cavI because b Mr Dexter 1 f e not made other clauses In the It agreement but it was too lute naff l i l I The question quo of hours was wa more serious f and when the Boss abolished all break I t i II ii I fasts f ts served earlier than J E there was a tt threatened outbreak Mr i f r Dexter had hud to tobe be called in hi to quell it I i i and the they politely reviled him as he j jI a yr 1 I did ul it j t Pay was wad another matter which went t i ft right light down to the base of oC things There r r i a was suspicious unanimity in the de demand ded ded d j If nand mantis which wa was vetted Iced in every eve dwell dwelt dwelling dwelli i 1 ing in g in n the park a rk r k The housewives start started I II I rt ed rd to put their feet Ceet down only to die lIt 6 1 over cover that they had become sadly out L f i I of or practice at that wit sort of thing Their I t i efforts were feeble and they could rould not 1 11 i i i hold against the he onslaught Besides no nobody noI I u J I i H 1 Hl body cared to tu he be the first to break the I i charm harm It had been bE en so long since a girl pirl Irl i F had left her pi place ice that none ventured t I t to take tako the responsibility of precipitating i I r r ing tug an exodus r j I So it vas 15 that Gardendale fell fen Into f 1 r the clutches cs of a boss as powerful sa sagacious sai f i I I I and domineering as any who whoever I q t 1 Ie I I r ever ver ruled a city ran a state or con conducted 1 ducted the affairs of a nation I I It was the latest ultimatum L I t y 1 4 that brought the park folk face to face t i 1 i with a crisis a weeks vacation for forT T l i every girl raise in pay and II t this f was wa for the private de demand J t 1 nand mand io 5 a month for herself Mr 3 11 r r j t E t Dexter convoyed the answer z Positively no Delia ern he said which 4 Ir I meant that Gardendale was mad madi i Some av a usH be goin thin re remarked remarked I 1 marked the Boss calmly 1 t All AU right said eaid f ld Mr Ir Dexter But r 1 when the fir t one goes es pack ack goes your 1 1 i pay to Sure Ill be lavin too said the I i Boss with all the serenity of power g He reported back to the conference In a 1 progress at Mr Gates house hou e that be between between beR I R tween t veen and thirty girls r r would probably leave at the expiration of a week I We e have endured enough said Gar Gardendale GarI I j I Let them go We re have per permitted permUted I mUted this boss to rule us as if we 4 were vere children Now OW we e will rise rl up and tit iq crush cruh cru h her here We e will do our own work If neece necessary sary said Id the women We Ye will wilt help said the Ute men v Ii It was wag heroic I 1 1 i I Three days das more and ami the strike wo kl y begin The village stores were almost almot i denuded of their canned goods The dub club had hud begun to lay In in an amazing fI of nf In to tn An n avalanche ry of advance orders for din dinners F 1 tiers hem luncheons and even en breakfasts f t Gardendale was humming with excite excitement exciter r went ment Independence day was coming Tha Th struggle was at hand The priva prima privations lions of war were to be met with a laughing face fact fac After all ail It might really 4 I t be fun tun When hen Mr Ir Dexter arrived home ho that r evening his wife opened the door her herself h herx r x self and dragged him into the living room Her manner was wass at once mys myc mysterious and agitated I Horace she said ald when they were beyond the earshot of any an one who might listen read this She he thrust into his hand a rumpled en envelope end It vel ope and Mr r Dexter somewhat be lx bewildered bet r d i by b nil all this unusual perform performance t ante ance nce extracted from It a single sheet of off f paper and read mis Della Delia i am to tf if hear fear you ar your our plase phase leaving wit rate and will you OU piers rite for me meI I and cJ say ay Is it nise place plase as i am taking Joking for vise nise place plase in country I am gude sOok o ok with mach hard work being hear hearIn Tsar in this country 1 I yr T think I 1 like your t t fine so wil you OU lot let me no not t when you ou ar goin ml mi adress is miss Lena r nl delivery pos om New York Tork P S i t have a friend wants plase to EO so rite quick Y JT yr T friend Lena I Mr Dexter looked up icon from the letter Inquiringly Inquiringly 4 OhI Oh I know we any an right to toJ i J t a tf tk Ii lee ee e It broke In his wife excitedly s f i But Delia Della Mary left Ift It lying on the kitchen hen table when she went wont out and I II I just jit help hell reading it And then y vt ff happened that made mad It so O Im t that I knew you OU ought to see It it What happened asked Mr r Dexter Why Delia Mary Ma told me this after k y yo jn 1 noon that the girls had decided to stay s another nothel week weak and give ghe us more time to tofi In o c ct t fi make up our minds about the wages and other things Hum said Mr Ir Dexter rending reading the letter again Well Nell what do you ou think of It if In asked his wife I think It is Interesting said Mr Dexter I 1 better write to this girl Im Immediately Immediate immediately mediately mediate and see what she will come C me for Cor I dont see how you ou can cando do that said Mr Dexter This letter written to you Its addressed a to the Boss You any legal tight right to know anything bout it If you ou an answered answered It the Boss would know in a minute that you had read her let letter letter letter ter which would place you OU In an undignified undignified position I 1 think of that said Mrs Dexter But it does seem a n shame not notto notto notto to be able to take advantage of a chance like hike this Two girls mind you because this one says she ha hay a friend Why Id let lot Delia and Lizzie LIzzI 70 o in a minute if I could only set get et the tho th two girls How about the rent reM f S Gardendale asked her husband I ont forget our responsibilities there in rn dar usar u ar arOh Oh dear sighed Mrs Irs Dexter I wish you ever Invented this Boss Mr Dexter had the same wish but buthe buthe he ho ignored his comment Better see fee that the letter gets back in the kitchen n he said And if It I 1 were you ou I say anything about It to anybody Lets see what turns up Im interested in the postponement of the strike Gardendale did not know at first ex exactly exactly how to take the po ment Some who had grown militant after r long months of servility were for mak malt making maltIng making ing it a lockout Io on the day do originally set let thus setting an example of courage e and independence to the world But Bu Buthe t the truce was finally accepted although it was wag made quite clear dEar on both sidles side s that there would be no yielding Mrs Irs Dexter found much to do In the th e kitchen In the next few days She was hoping to catch the Boss off her guard for she was dying to know if It the Boss Bos s had written to Lena r and if Lena had made any my further over overtures tures But Della Delia Mary II had a coun countenance countenance whose immobility might eight b ba i likened to tt that of ot some Iome famous general genera l leading le a legion tc to battle It told Mrs 11 Dexter nothing If the Boss Bos was dis disturbed disturbed disturbed she sad Id not betray betm the fact by byword word |