Evening star., 1915-06-27

Wilhelmna that had brought that ecstatic
expression to her face? Manifestly he had
not scolded her at all! Vainly she racked
her brains for an adequate answer to the
puzzling question. Joe walked to his
sanctum and sat down at his desk.
Barker bounced in his abrupt way out
through the laboratory door, McBundy
following him. The president said some
thing to the Eastern manager. The New
Yorker replied. They turned into the
center aisle and walked toward the rear of
the room. Jeannette's heart leaped; she
thought they were coming overto her desk.
No sooner had she made the guess than
her delight was smothered. The elevator
happened to be passing the third floor.
Barker hailed the operator He and Me-
Bundy wheeled to the cage. entered, and
plunged from sight.
Jeanette slumped into her chair.
Tears of vexation welled in her eyes
Just then the telephone summoned the
forewoman to the stock-room on urgent
business. When she returned to her desk,
all the girls had gone to the lunch-room.
Jeanette had no appetite. She leaned
back in her chair and pondered the mex
plicable behavior of NlcBundy. of Joe. and
of Wilhclmina. She could find neither head
nor tail of the enigma. Previously she
had been sure that she understood the
Eastern managers real purpose in begin
ming Il chat with the pretty winder. Now
she was dubious.
And what had made Joe scowl blackly
when he detected the New Yorker talking
with the girl? And what could he have
said to Wilhclmina that had appeared to
scare her first, then had made her rap
turously happy?
During three fourths of that noon
hour Jeanette puzzled futilely over
the complex problem Then, about ten
minutes before one o'clock, her rattle
Drained assistant brought the first clue to
the mysterious occurrences of the morn
ing. Lizzie came back from her lunch
arm in arm with Wilhelmina. The two
chums parted at the elevator. The wind
er skipped toward her work bench as if
her feet We're winged; the head inspectors
assistant pelted to her chief. Besides the
three there was no one on the third floor.
"Oh, Jane. YOU never could guess"
painted the testing department factotum.
WHAT" inquired Jeanette without
interest.
".Ioe's going to take Meenie to Il picture
show tonight"
"What?" The question now snapped
from .Jeannette's taut lips like bark
Lizzie's shallow head was full of the
marvel of her news. She could not dis
crminate between the involuntary cry of
hurt and an exclamation of astonishment.
NO wonder you're surprised, she rat
tied on. $50 was | when Meenie told me.
And she said anybody could've knocked
her over with a feather when Joe asked
her. Right in working hours it was too
only a little while before noon. Meenie's
always thought a lot of Joe; but he never
much more than spoke to her before.
She thought you and him were keeping
company"
The elevator disgorged dozen chat
tering girls returned from the lunch-room.
Lizzie whirled at the clangof the iron door.
and saw Wilhemina dart toward the
bevy. She evidently OWNED Wilhelmina' S
purpose to spread the secret. She bolted
in order to enjoy the sensation with her
bosom friend.
Behind her Jeanette sat staring blankly.
OF course she was perfectly sure she did
A., L..