The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-01
DECORATOR
BY JANE OSBORN.

saw the familiar figure of his office
boy looking upward with wide-open
mouth and, as his line of vision went
upward, he saw the girl.
She was slender and graceful and he
admitted to himself from the first that
she looked very charming on the top
rung of the ladder. Still he resented
the intrusion and was only slightly
Modified after her explanation.
You are Mr. Tracy, aren't you," she
said in the most self-confident of sweet
young voices. Il am Miss Grey. am
here to do your Office over. Mr.. Til
dcnham arranged it.
Mr. Tracy would have explained. as
he at first intended to do, that he con-
sidered her presence an intrusion, had
it net been that as she had turned to
make her explanation she had leveled
upon him eyes as blue as sapphire.
Then he sat down at his desk, rang
for his stenographer-there were no
women stenographers at Tildenham's
and trie' to concentrate his atten-
ton on answering the days mail
In an hour her task was done and
she left with the explanation to Mr..
Tracy that she would resume her work
before his arrival the next morning.
And Mr.. Tracy" she said by way
of parting. as you usually lock your
desk at night. l must ask you to leave
the key with the cashier on your way
out tonight, so that when | come in
the morning | can have everything
moved from this desk to the new one"
Morgan Tracy meant to object
strongly. But again he caught the
sapphire blue of her eyes and merely
looked annoyed. He babe her good
evening and went home. He felt that
he had been rude to her, and instead
of feeling resentment at her intrusion
he felt as if he owed her an apology.
So it was that when. just as Miss
Grey had returned from a hasty din
ner in a nearby restaurant and was
busy directing the paperhangers. Mr.
Tracy appeared on the scene. But it
was Mr. Tracy without his usual dicta-
torial manner.
Il didn't like the idea of having YOU
here alone in this deserted office" he
said. so have come to wait here till
YOU are through and. if you will permit
it and have no other escort, to take
YOU to your home"
Miss Grey did not attempt to CON
ceal her obvious satisfaction at this
courtesy. You are very good" she
said and then, holding up some of the
treasures from the case she was I'M
packing: See, Mr.. Tracy, isn't this Il
better wall calendar than that dread
full colored Autograph And these new
brown blotters will be a relief to you
after those frightful pink ones. I know
you can't get them at downtown deal
ers, but it is worth the difference to
have to order them specially. And
then l ordered some bronze desk fit
tings that will be so much better than
those frightful pressed glass and
cheap brass things"
That night when he escorted her
home she insisted on being left at
the corner. She had not permitted
him to take her home in a taxi, and
now she was not even going to let him
know where she lived. The next morn
ing Mr.. Tracy found her at seven in
his office. The change was marvellous.
From a dull, embarrassing room, de-
void of character, it had been trans
formed to a room of distinction-not
IN, hl1C 4
manly because it had been nodded I'M
der the trained eye and skillful hand
of woman.
Il never knew in what a Wilderness
| had lived before" he admitted. Il
really do not think | have such afro
cious taste. / always knew that my
office was uncouth. | disliked that fire
insurance calendar as much as you
did. But | didn't know how to change
1t. It's the same way with my apart.
ment. l have spent enough money on
1t and still it doesn't SATISFYING. Per.
haps you would undertake to trans.
form that, too-unless you confne
your skill to Offices"
Miss Grey laughed in way that
was tantalizing and simply said: Per,
haps." Then she got into her coat
and adjusted her hat at the mirror
that hung in screened corner Of the
newly arranged office.
Just at present" she said, lets &C
and see Mr.. Tildenham. He was ex
pected in this morning, | believe"
Together they entered the office OF
Tracys chief and Tracy believed him.
self dreaming at first when the delight.
full Miss Grey greeted that stern bust
ness magnate with bear hug and 6
kiss. Hello dad" she said. I've
won the bet. Now come and see how
| have done it. l pretended | was an
interior decorator you had ordered to
redecorate Mr.. Tracy's office"
you see, Mr.. Tracy" she continued
her right hand was in that of heI
father and now she laid her other
hand on Mr.. Tracy's arm in a friendly
fashion as if to complete the circle
you see, Mr. Tracy, father and are
great chums. You've no idea how
much | know about his business, and