Judge — March 17, 1917 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AN OVERSIGHT Ry ELLIS 0. JONES ““ HERE will I tind Mr. Spiff?” asked Mr. W Grimshaw of the elevator starter in Cheapley’s Department Store. “Credit: department fth floor in ‘This car going up.” Arrived at Mr. Spi Mr. Grim- shaw found a young man with light hair, round shoulders and extreme clerical expression in his countenance. ating himself in a chair beside Mr. Spiff's desk, he pulled out a letter and laid it open before Mr. Spiff. “Did you write me that letter?” asked Mr. Grimshaw with a neutral inflection “TL believe | did, yes, sir,” replied Mr. Spiff ina tone which indicated that he wished to be as apoio- getic as the necessity to be firm would allow ‘ou see this item of $708 has been running quite at while and—" “Yes, Lam familiar with that fact,” replied Grimsha’ “In fact, L may say that I am pain- fully familiar with it. Indeed, it is this painful familiarity which caused a phrase in your letter to strike me with terrific force, and that is the real reason [am here now.” Mr. Spiff closely scrutinized the letter before him in an effort to discover w horrible blunder + he had committed. Grimshaw leaned over and pointed with his finger. “ You sce, here, after reminding me that the account is long overdue, you say that perhaps I have overlooked the matter.” “Yes, 1 see,” admitted Mr. Spiff. “Well, did you think it possible that I could have overlooked the rear. "s private office, Claire- Ketharyn “Well—as to that “But you were well aware that you had written to me about the matter a number of times.” “Don't misunderstand us. Mr. Grimshaw,” parricd Mr. 4 b> etree ae Professor and it registered * trut! ‘So you have forgiven your husband. This little machine demonstrates whether a person is lying or telling the truth. Yesterday I attached it to an automobile agent who was trying to sell me a car, He had lied so much that he believed it himself, you know ! MUFFLED HER WRATH Did he offer you an ample apology ? te apologized a whole set of furs more than I expected | Spiff. account. You see the poli “Hold on a minute,” interrupted Grimshaw. “You're getting away from the subject. This is not the first time I have received letters like this not only from your firm but from others and now I'd like to get at the bottom of the matter if possible. You have had lots of experience in such questions, else you would not occupy this position. Now you may not consider it proper to answer me fully and frankly, but this is what I would like to know: Are there many people who are able to overlook a matter of this kind? I mean really over- look it!” Mr. Spiff was evidently embarrassed for a re- ply, so Grimshaw continued. “Because if there are, 1 should like to get ac- quainted with some of them and find out how they do it. Now, as for myself, 1 can’t conceive how I could overlook it. On the contrary I am haunted by it. Your bills come several times a month In addition to that my wife reminds me of it. 1 think of it every time I pass your store. 1 think of it every time I see your advertisement in the newspaper. I can’t possibly get it out of my thoughts. And so I ask you, if your obliga- tions to your employer would allow, to refer me to some of your most successful overlookers.”” “Really, Mr. Grimshaw, you know that it is not in the province of the credit department to go into matters of that sort.” “Very well, then, Mr. Spiff. I see your posi- tion clearly. Therefore 1 must tackle the problem myself, I shall make one more superhuman effort to overlook this account, and if I fail, I suppose I shall have to send you a check merely for the sake of my own peace of mind. Good day, Mr. Spiff.” “It is not our intention to push you unduly about this 'y of this store J comicbooks.com