The Monticellonian., 1919-05-02

sleeves and damaged them with few ink spots, and her shoes were takir z on q shabby nap.
 It was not encouraging
 At Daphne's left elbow waS q large. fat girl whose pen rolled off large. 1 fat letters. She talked all the time about nothing of importance. laughed and tidgeted and asked questions that would have been impertinent if they had come from anything but q large. fat head.
 Her name was Maria Pribik She was a Bohemian of the second genera tion; but she was dyed in the wool with New YorkishneSs. She was an ineessant optimist and kept remind ing everybody to "cheer up, goils, the woisst might be wosser yet"
 Daphne's luck did not last long. The receivers found that the percentage of inquiries following upon the advertis- ing and eircularizing campaigns was hardly paying the postage. People were either too poor to buy books or toe busy with the molten history pour l terday's paper was ancient history enough.
 The receivers closed down the business abruptly oil 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 .tout of q iob"-what the theatrical people called "at liberty
 Miss Pribik looked at Daphne and noted her gloom. "Sny, kid, listen here. Whyn't choo come with me? l can land you job at the Lar de Lueks. Guy name of Goist is the boss and he'll always gimme q job or any lady friend He's kind of rough, but what's the diff? His money buys just as much as anybodys We better beat it over there ahead this buneh.n
 Daphne murr.ured her hasty thanks and they left at once. Miss Pribik led the way to q huge building full of Pants Makers" |" "Nightshirt Makers , .Waist Makers" and publishers of cal endars. favors and subscription books. She asked fer Mr. GerSt. saw him, beckoned him over, and hailed him with bravado:
 Well, Mist Goist, here l am, back to the mines. This is me friend Kip. I want you should give her job-and he. too"
 Daphne faced Mr. Gerst's inspection without visible hinehing, 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 saeking Daphne with his eyes, he grunted: You look pretty good to me, kiddo. You can begin Monday"
 Thanks" said Daphne, humbly.
 Pm comin', too" said Miss Pribik
 "All right" said Gerst. Its time you did. We'll take some of that beef eff you" And he playfully pinched her arm.
 Adroitly evading his pincers, Miss Pribik led the way out, and Daphne trailed her oustide.
 Daphne loathed and feared the man already He stood like 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 twho ought to l knOW) Lar de IuckS"
 This firm was engaged in the pc culiarly Anglo-SaXon business of graz ing the censorship as closely as pos sibe. It printed everything that II dared to print under the whimsically ! Puritanic eye of the law. Toward the authorities it turned the white side of q 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 10 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 it's hypocritieal cant no less than religion.
 One day. toward the end of her first week. she was startled to find before i her q card bearing the legend Duane, Thomas" His address was given, and the facts that he had bought the three quarter morocco BalZac the half feather Fielding and Smollett, and the leyant Court Memoirs. He had not yet taken the bait for theFDe Maupas- sant
 Daphne pondered his card and his taste. She was shaken from her pen Sive moed by the sudden commotion of all the women. All eyes had seen the minute and the hour hands in con 1 junction at XIL 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-Whleh was not long. for Gesst 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. lie stood there manifestly irresolute q moment. He glanced at Dophne again. at fhe fire escapes at the empty .oom. Then he went to the first of the tables and with laborcd careIeSsness inspect + o5T tI1 v#5,rI= 1f rho o oI.saIt,. IT,. l..r@