The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-08-24
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. rHt oAiiY STORY q
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rfIls coURTlNG BUSINESS

ll3y Jeanne 0lbe Loi2eaux)
L was a minute or Two past the
noon hour but Caeoline made a Last
entry in the daybook. Maude and
Laura We're already patting their hair
into shape. surreptitiously powdering
their faces and nervously making
ready to 20 TO Nnch. They We're
both under 20, OF the fluffy, big-eyed,
qnick-fading type Caroline was old
er--perhaps 25--calm, s.eady-eyed,
with smooth hair and tailored, bus.
ness look, though her salary was it,.
tie more than theirs. She closed her|
book and as the door shut on the boss
she looked steadily al their rather
tagged faces the heat and the work
were telling on them. She herself
was bright-eyed and checked. ready
for anything.
This neat Is fierce, complained
Maude Grossly. ut makes everybody
mean. feel like scratchy cat, and
the boss Is like bear. I'm sure onl,
respect for limself--not for me-kep.
him from swearing when | couldn't
read my notes this morning,
Laura nodded and pinned on her ey,
travagant headgear.
did you get to sleep last night al
all? r. didn't until this morning-lL
Is really too warm To dance--anl
Harry made me mad taking me home
II wouldn't waste time on him, only
he gives girl such a good time-ani
| got to go somewhere
Caroline broke in impatiently.
What. ails you two girls is not
heat--its this courting business. The
kind that never lands you anywhere,
and tires you all out for your work.
You've no business to dance all
night and be practically asleep the
next day. The boss Is supposedly pay
ing for your waking hours not your
sleeping ones. Honestly, you can't al.
ford not to be studying a bit on youl
work. I'm not one to howl, but IN
this dull season, and so many good
stenographers wanting summer work.
it wouldn't take much for you to gel
yourselves discharged. don't sup
pose you'll adore me for telling you
This. but It's So"
The girls tried to look scornful, but
the older girl had been friend in
time of need-she had gotten them
both into her Office. and had even
paid for their luncles their first week.
They were trifle sulky. But they
could not deny that she was pretter
than they, If little older, and much
their superior in the oifice-and ev.
cfywhere.
We've got to have some fun con.
tended Laura.
The three started together for the
door, and the older girl replied
y know that, and want you 70
have 1t, but you've got the wrong
idea of fun Dancing's all right once
In while and in the right place. But
these dance nails, and with such a
sport as Harry Hall. That's only fool
hardness, kids. You'll be sorry. You
may be all right but people are going
to Judge you by the company you
keep. To be flat" she finished as
they got out of the elevator and went
along the street, would you want to
tmarry any OF the men wlo danced
Vast night?'
The two did not answer.
You're pretty and young, and they
are having a good time with you
You're giving them your freshness,
and just being seen with them queers
yon with better men. How about Bob,
Maude?"
Maude's dark eyes filled with sud.
dc
la month. He was boy from home,
good, clean. with a promising business
start She knew that he had almost
declared his love for her. Then.
without warning, he had ceased to
come near her. Caroline steered them
past their usual place OF eating to 2
quiet dairy lunchroom.
I'm going to boss you for few
weeks she laughed brightly. "The
lunch is on me today-if you let me
order. Dancing all night, and soda,
and cake for lunch, and dinner little
better, won't do She got a little
side table and skllfully ordered some
cold meat, salad, good sweet and
milk 1t was good. Sac guided the
talk to impersonal matters, glad to
see the sulkiness pass from Laura 3
face ana the sadness from Maude's.
While they were eating Bob Hardy
came in He would have passed them
with wistful but firm little nod, but
Caoline's eye held him. She beckon-
ed to him. He came gladly enough,
4 for he had always liked her and had
been sorry when Maude escaped from
her care. He stood beside them.
Are YOU busy all tee tlme?" she
asked. Because If you are not /
want YOU to come for little picnic
with us and some Others Thursday
after Office hours. You can bring
some fruit and come my caice al ..
The slim, fair young fellow, after
q moments silent hunt for an eN-
cuse, decided to accept. He would
have preferred keeping away from
Maude. He could not forget how
sweet she used to be, and hated 10
remember that her pretty hair was
padded into grotesqueness, her hat a
monstrosity and that she would let Il
Harry Hall take her to cheap dance.
But g promised to come.
1t was queer but neither of the
girls had opened her mouth TO tell
Caroline that Thursday was the night
of another dance, and they had ex-
pected to go---in their own phrase. II
she knew 1t Caroline did not betray
the fact. She went on planning. In
the afternoon the girls braced up %