Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-04-25

sleeves and damaged them with a few
ink spots, and her SHOES were takir g
on shabby nap.
It was not encouraging.
At Daphne's left elbow was large,
fat gird whose pen rolled off large,
fat letters. She talked all the time
about nothing Of Importance, laughed
and fidgeted and asked questions that
would have been impertinent If they
had come from anything but large,
fat head.
Her name was Maria Pribik. She
was a Bohemian of the second genera
ton; but she was dyed in the wool
with New Yorkishness. She was an
incessant optimist and kept remind
ing everybody to "cheer UP, COILS, the
woisst might be woisser yet
Daphne's luck did not last long. The
receivers found that the percentage of
inquiries following upon the advertis-
ing and circularizing campaigns was
hardly paying the postage. People
were either too poor to buy books or
too busy with the molten history pour
ing from the caldrons of Europe. Yes
terday's paper was ancient history
enough.
The receivers closed down the
business abruptly on Saturday and
instructed the manager to announce
to his flock that there would be no
more work at present. Daphne's heart
stopped. Here she was again, learn
ing again the dreadful significance Of
.'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? I
can land you job at the Lar de
Lucks. Guy name Of Goist is the boss
and he'll always gimme 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
it over there ahead this bunch"
Daphne murmured her hasty thanks
and they left at once. Miss Pribik led
the way to huge building full Of
pants Makers" "Nightshirt 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:
"Well, Mist Goist, 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 fiinching, though she
was uneasy within. Gerst was large,
flamboyant brute with eyes that
seemed less to receive light than to
send forth vision. He had an in
quisitive and stripping gaze. But
Daphne must endure it. After ran
sacking Daphne with his eyes, he
grunted: ''You look pretty good to
me, kiddo. You can begin Monday
Thanks said Daphne, humbly.
sI'm comm, too,' said Miss Pribik.
"All right" said Gerst. Its time
you did. Well 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 Liar de Lucks."
This firm was engaged in the PEE
culiarly Anglo-Saxon business of graz
ing the censorship as closely as pos
sible. It printed everything that it
dared to print under the whimsically
Puritanic eye Of the law. Toward
the authorities it turned the white
side of a banner of culture claiming
to put in the hands Of the people the
noblest works Of foreign genius and
defying any but an impure mind to
find impurity In it's 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
cant 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
levant 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.
Daphne found herself alone. She
was glad Of the quiet and the solitude,
while it 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 a
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
od tho WORK Of tho ohCopfoo Ho drift