The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-02-18

INK Ukdlu tht Oh
"out of a job"-what the theatrical
people called "at liberty"
Miss Pribik looked at Daphne and
noted her gloom. Say, kid, listen
here. whyn't choo come with me? /
can land you job at the Lar de
Lucks. Guy name Of Goist Is the boss
and he'll always gimme a job or any
lady friend. He's kind Of rough. but
what's the diff His money buys Just
as much as anybody's. We better beat
Il over there ahead this bunch"
Daphne murmured her hasty thanks
and they left ut once. Miss Pribik led
the way to huge building full of
"Pants Makers" "Nightshlrt Makers"
"Waist Makers" and publishers of cal
endars favors and subscription books.
She asked for Mr.. Gerst, saw him.
beckoned him over, and hailed him
with bravado:
swell, Mist Golst, here am, back
to the mines. This is me friend Kip.
want you should give her job=-and
me, too"
Daphne faced Mr.. Gerst's inspection
without visible 1inchlng, though she
was uneasy within. Gerst was large.
fiamboyant brute with eyes that
seemed less to receive light than to
send forth vision. He had an In
qulsitlve and stripping gaze. But
Daphne must endure it. After ram
sacklng Daphne with his eyes, he
grunted: "You look pretty good to
me, kiddo. You can begin Monday"
Thanks" said Daphne, humbly.
I'm comm, too" said Miss Pribik.
''All right" said Gerst. "It's time
you did. Wen take some, Of that beef
off you" And he playfully pinched
her arm.
Adroitly evading his pincers, Miss
Pribik led the way out, and Daphne
trailed her outside.
Daphne loathed and feared the man
already. He stood like a glowering
menace In the path ahead Of her.
Monday morning at eight Daphne
reported for work with the L'Art de
Luxe Publishing society, pronounced
by Its own people (who ought to
know Tar de Lucks."
This firm was engaged In the Pc
culiariy Anglo-Saxon business Of graz
Ing the censorship as closely as pos
sfble. It printed everything that II
dared to print under the whimsically
Purftanic eye of the law. Toward
the authorities It turned tho white
side Of a banner of culture claiming
to put In the hands of the people the
RAl.IaCt rbra NJ nd
defying any but an impure mind to
6nd mpurity in Its classic wares. The
other side of the banner was purple
and informed the customers by every
prurient innuendo that the books were
published In their entirety without ex-
purgation. Vice has its hypocritical
rant no less than religion.
One day. toward the end of her first
week, she was startled to find before
her card bearing the legend "Duane.
Thomas" His address was given, and
the facts that he had bought the three
quarter morocco Balzac, the half
leather Fielding and Smollett, and the
ievant Court Memoirs. He had not
yet taken the bait for the De Maupas-
SAINT.
Daphne pondered his card and his
taste. She was shaken from her PEN
sive mood by the sudden commotion
Of all the women. All eyes had seen
the minute and the hour hands In con-
Junction at XII. Names were left off
in the middle; pens fell from poised
hands.
nonhnA IL hn
was glad of the quiet and the solitude.
while II lasted-which was not long,
for Gerst came back Unexpectedly
early.
His eye met Daphne's. He started
toward her. and then, seeing that she
glanced away, went on to his desk.
He stood there manifestly irresolute
moment. He glanced at Daphne again,
at the fire escapes, at the empty room.
Then he went to the first of the tables
and with labored carelessness inspect
ed the work of the absentee. He drift
cd along the aisle toward Daphne,
throwing her now and then an inter
rogatlve smile that filed her with a
fierce anxiety.
She knew his reputation. She had
seen his vulgar scullles with some Of
the girls, had heard his odlous words.
She was convinced that he was about
TO pay her the horrible compliment OF
his attention.
Her heart began b 1utter with fear
and wrath. She felt that II he spoke
to her she would scream; IL he put his
hand on her shoulder or her chair she
would kill him, with a pair of scissors
or the knife with which she seraped
off blots. No, she must not kill
him. But she would have to strike
him on the mouth.
But that meant instant dismissal at
the very least He might smash his