The labor standard., 1919-03-01

watched and quoted, and even joked about, but all that would help the cir culation and the advertising. If MT. Fordyce looked favorably on the prop osition, would he please discharge the managing editor?
 The young woman who was now the city editor was really qualified for the Job. The few remaining males who now worked as office boys and ship ping clerks could be easily replaced by women and new era would open for the Banner-the Banner would become famous the world over as a paper run entirely by women.
 Bennett Stokes read the letter twice, then he looked intently at the begrimed ceiling of his office and lighted his pipe. Then he laughed a little grimly, replaced the letter in its torn envelope, put it in his pocket and stepped quiet Iy to the door, opened it and looked first to the left then to the right At the right he encountered the eyes of Olive Claggett standing a few feet away
 1T couldn't help but see,'' she said. ''NIr. Stokes, I didn't believe you were capable of doing such thing.''
 Then with sudden courageousness Bennett blocked the passage as Olive tried to, force her way by.,
 "Good night" she said. CT hope when you are quite through with Mr. For dyce's letter you will forward it to him." By this time Bennett had two StrNNv hON0s AN 0NvA's Vrlsts an0 wSs guiding her in spite of herself into the room. He closed the door behind them and ordered her rather than asked her to take chair.
 'Tm not going to discuss the letter now," he said. 1.-The ideas a good one. but I'm thinking about something else. Ever since you've been here, Miss Clag- gett, you have avoided me and have made me feel that you bore me a grudge-and the funny thing Is that I've been curiously drawn to you. It's one of those things that man can't help-that sort of foreordained witch cry of one woman. I'm not blaming you-heaven knows you have fought against eyerting lt If you ever were aware that you had it. I'm simply ask
 
 antfpathy.''
 '.But it wasn't my idea to ask for your resignation" Olive said. In spite of herself she felt hot tears yelling into her eyes. stI shall miss you very, very much-more than you can pos sibly know. I wrote the letter because was delegated to do so, and knew my duty was first by the Banner. Be- sides, there are bigger things for you to do.'' And then the business mana ger broke down completely, and, bury ing her face first on the side of Ben nett's desk and then, as he gently raised it on the rough exterior of the shoulder of the editorial office coat, she said exactly what she had determined never to admit-that she herself felt a strange and compelling attraction to Bennett.
 @ AAnd when that sort of attraction is amutual there is only one thing to do," Bennett was saying. ..1'here is no of the marriage"
 There was knock on the editorial door and the voice of the city editor, suggested as Bennett's successor, called in impatient syllables "Olive, thought you were coming"
 Olive quickly rose to go. with look of a guilty schoolgirl.
 But what shall I tell them about MT. Fordyce and the letter"
 "Oh, they might as we'll know" he said. I'm MT. Fordyce. Running small %rvxyy, 10 ,,nrc ic (, f,OIiCl, fo S7 <,f ,,o;vn Yes, tell them they can have it and good luck to them-but they must name new business manager"