New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-08-15

she had worn her costumes at the
sleeves and damaged them with a few
ink spots, and her shoes were takiTg
on a shabby nap.
It was not encouraging.
At Daphne's left elbow was a large,
fat girl 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 IL they
had COM from anything but a 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 wolsser yet"
Daphne's luck did not last long. The
receivers found that the percentage of
inquiries following upon the advertis-
ing and clrcularizing 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 a Saturday and
instructed the manager to
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 lat liberty
Miss Pribik looked at Daphne and
noted her gloom. "Say, kid. listen
here. Whyn't choO come with mef l
can land you a 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
If over there ahead this bunch"
Daphne murmured her hasty thanks
and they left at once. Miss Prlbik led
the way to a huge building full OF
pants Makers" "Nlghtshirt Makers"
"Waist Makers" and publishers of cal
endars, favors and subscription o
She asked for Mr.. Gerst, saw him.
beckoned him over, and hailed MN
with bravado:
well Mist Goist, here ! am. back
to the mines. This is me friend NIP
| want you should give her a job-ahd
me, too"
Daphne faced Mr.. Gerst's inspection
without visible finching, though she
was uneasy within. Gerst was a large
%famboyant brute with eyes tha'
seemed less to receive light than to
send forth vision. He had an In
quisitive and stripping gaze. bu'
Daphne must endure it. After ran
sacking Daphne with his eyes, ne
grunted: "You look pretty good tc
me. kiddo. You can begin Monday
Thanks" said Daphne, humbly.
'I'm comm, too" said Miss Pribik.
"All right" said Gerst. ITS tin
you did. Wen take some of that beel
off YOU" And he ~playfully pinchec
her arm.
Adroitly evading his pincers, Miss
Pribik led the way out, and Daphne
trailed her outside.
Daphne loathed and feared the maj
already. He stood like a glowerinl
menace In the path ahead of her.
Monday morning at eight Daphne
reported for work with the LArt az
Luxe Publishing society, pronounced
by its own people (who ought to
know Lar de Lucks."
This firm was engaged In the pc
culiarly AnglO-Saxon business of graz
ing the censorship as closely as pos
sible. 1t printed everything that
dared to print under the whimsical!
. Puritanic eye OF the law. Toward
the authorities 1t turned the whit
side Of a banner Of culture claiming
: TO put In the hands Of the people tn
. noblest works of foreign genius ant
: defylng any but an impure mind t
find impurlty In Its classic wares. tn
, other side Of the banner was purpl
= and Informed the customers by ever,
; nutrient innuendo that the books wer
published In their entirety without ex
purgatlon. Vice has Its hypocritica
cant no less than religion.
one day, toward the end of her frs
week, she was startled TO find befor
her a card bearing the legend duane
Thomas" His address was given, an
! the facts that he had bought the thres
quarter morocco Balzac, the hall
. leather Fielding and Smollett, and tn
levant Court Memoirs. He had nc
yet taken the bait for the De Maupa'
SAINT.
Daphne pondered his card and hi
taste, She was shaken from her per
siye mood by the sudden commotio
Of all the women. All eyes had see
the minute and the hour hands In col
junction at XII. Names were left o
in the middle; pens fell from poise
hands.
Daphne found herself alone. Sh
was glad of the quiet and the solitud
while II lasted-whlch was not Ion
for Gerst came back unexpected
early.
His eye met Daphne's. He starte
toward her, and then. seeing that ST
glanced away. went on to his des
He stood there ~manifestly irresolute
moment. He glanced at Daphne agai
at the fire escapes. at the empty ROOF
Then he went 4 the first Of the tabl,
and with labored carelessness inspec
ed the work Of the absentee. He drift
ed along the aisle toward Daphn
throwing her now and then an int
rogative smile that filled her with
fierce anxiety.