The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-23

For moment Nells hand faltered
pounding Of the machines and the endless
click Of the shifting stencils seemed to
pierce her very brain. She cast a quick
glance down the long workroom of the
Rotary Addressing Company.
Out through the windows at the other
end could be seen a patch OF blue sky.
blurred now and then by a pun Of steam
from the pipes of the adjoining building
a modest seven-story structure. Here
and there some building larger than their
own reared its head to cut the skyline
and through the open window there came
occasionally sounds from the street be-
low. sharp notes In the monotone Of the
machines.
Within, long rows Of girls leaned over
their work. their deft fingers forcing en-
velopes into the hungry maws of the ma
chimes with only pause now and then
when a fresh stack of stencils We're need
ed. Between the aisles paced the sharp
eyed forewoman, A man had been IN
charge Of the room once, but the firm had
found that he was too easy. too commits
crate Of the women under his supervision,
and they had moved him into the office,
sending in his stead the angular Miss
Petit, who forced the girls in her charge
to the limit of their endeavors. Her
sharp eye detected NelTs pause.
"Burr0wes. she called acidly She
never wasted time on Miss" If you
have one OF your silly headaches. put in
your time at the Office and go home
This is no hosDitai &"
Nells nervous fingers clutched a fresh
package OF envelopes. and the pounding
of her machine added its noise TO that of
the others. She could not afford 10 go
home. The pittance that came 10 her
each Saturday was little enough without
INDUCING the luxury Of an afternoon of
Jimmy Nelson, coming into the room 20
consult with Miss Petit about an order.
looked with kindly sympathy at the tired
girl When he had had charge OF the
room, he had been more gentle. She had
told him something Of her story in the
noon intervals, when he had insisted upon
standing treat TO hot coffee TO augment
the scauty sandwich that usually cOnsti-
tuted her lunch. Coffee cost cents a
day, and the errand girl 'who made the
trips TO the lunchrO0m must be tipped In
addition. The Rotary Addressing Com
pany paid only from 50 70 s. a week, and
coffee was a luxury TO those who did not
live at home.
There had been a time when Jimmy
had dreamed OF a little fiat wherein Nell
should be mistress. That was Just after
he had been promoted to the office and
had had his salary raised to SIS a week.
He had lacked the courage to make his
proposal in person. and had written her
a note.
u shall consider silence a polite mega
tive" he had added.
Once Jimmy had aspired to the stage,
and he had obtained the phrase from the
in the dramatic papers
that he studied with religious care. Ii
had struck him as being phrase of sin /
yular elegance. She need not refuse him.
She could Just ignore the note. He was
sorry afterward that he had not asked
'or an answer Il would have been some
thing 10 keep. As il was, she was as
pleasant as ever to him, treating him with
he same old friendliness and giving no
amt Of her reason for the refusal Of his
,ffer.
He Ionged TO repeat it. He wanted to
1e able to take her out of the place. from /
Inder the very nose of Miss Petit. yet
le lacked the courage to speak, and he |
himself with coming into the |
DOM as often as his business With the |
orewoman gave him an excuse. Of course, !
[ would never do for the Office force 10 1
hum with the girls from the operating !
Dom during the noon hour, and in the !
.vening it was Jimmy's duty 10 see that
III were out before he locked up.
So Nell struggled on Just so many
thousand envelopes must be completed to |
constitute a minimum days work. A 1
'eCord was made each evening, and the /
advancement or reduction of salary de- /
pended upon that. She had barely man |
aged TO complete the task when the gong 1
struck and the girls began to cover their /
and put their tables in order /
Veil staggered slightly as she took the /
asst of her work TO the timekeeper, who /
uttered her record in the book Miss I
Petit eyed her sharply as she went back /
o her machine.
Unless you are feeling better you had l
,etter not come Tomorrow" she said 1
rossly. I can put on another girl who /
viii make faster use Of the machine
I will be all right in the morning"
Yell answered. Miss Petit could not 4
NOW that the girl had had no breakfast. /
There had been medicine to buy. and /
Until pay day came again she would have
erve for food
She was slow In preparing for the street,
nd even Miss Petit had gone when she
topped into the elevator. The street was
lark and lonesome. Most Of the places
lad closed at >, and there We're few per-
ons moving along the narrow strip of
idewalk as she stepped out.
On the corner a little knot OF people
lad gathered about some object of inter-
st, and she peered curiously over the
houlder Of the Office boy in front OF her
he next moment she was pushing the
aen aside.
Miss Petit had slipped upon the greasy
idewalk, and lay moaning and half IN
with pain. The girls had all
one on and a bootblack was trying 10
lake her comfortable until the attention
( policeman could be attracted.
Nell pushed him away and took the
head into her lap, disposing her
o that the wrenehed ankle was more
omfortable. Then she turned to the