, 1920-03-18

curt as II could be. Maybe ] had bet
ter resign, after all"
"Look him over first !" admonished
the willy Ruth. 81 thought his voice
was perfectly delicious. When is he
comingi Let's have supper over then
you slip on that dark blue georgette.
You look like a million dollars in
that"
.'Ruthie, don't be so slangyI" said
the mother patiently.
"Silly child! !" laughed Nan. picking
up her hat and starting toward her
bedroom. l told you I did not expect
to mix business and pleasure. Do you
think l would ever fuss up for my en-
ployer? Why, they pay me to write
their letters. not to dress up like a
chorus girl. i must have made some
awful blunders. He said that the let
tiers could not be mailed as they were.
oh dear, and l was feeling SO efficient.
tool"
aust resign at once, deari That
will be best" insisted her mother
comfortingly.
AT eight o'clock sharp the buzzer
sounded in the tiny hall. On her way
to answer Nan instinctively put her
hand to her shining brown hair and
smoothed 1t.
Mrs. Taylor and Ruth sat waiting
patiently for Mans employer to leave.
Presently they heard laughter, a mans
ringing voice and Mans little chuckle.
She never laughed hat way except
when she was happy.
HE sounds young and ~good-looking.
too, doesn't he. motherY" demanded
Ruth. listening attentively. "They
don't sound businesslike to me, either,
talking about plays and books and
everything"
The door opened and Nan called
them. When she had presented them
she turned to her mother. "Mr. Hen
derson wants to take me to see vaude-
vile over ut the Palace. mother, the
nine o'clock performance. you know.
Is 1t all right7"
Mrs. Taylor looked at the young
man and nodded smilingly.
Ruth followed Nan to her bedroom,
and shutting the door carefully be-
hind her, asked. Wherefore borrow
mothers sealsS!n coat and powder
your nose and rouge your cheeks
just for your employer"
Nan had the grace to blush as she
lifted a little swirl of blue tissue that
was, II you please, a spring hat.
"Silly |" she said again, and hurried
back into the living room.
81 was just telling Mr.. Henderson
about our mining stock. dear. and that
1t made us quite Independent again."
her mother said. ~ told him, too. that
I thought 1t would be wise for you to
resign. There was something wrong
with the letters, was there not7 You
are inexperienced. of course"
ION the other hand. the letters were
perfect, quite perfect" Mr.. Henderson
FASTENED to assure her. You won't
think Of leaving us. will you, Miss
Nan, hat is. not yeti / am going to
be right In the Office now for two
months"
"No, 1 like It" Nan smiled up at
him from under the bewildering swirl
of blue tissue. II am going to work
always" she added emphatically.
At the door the good-looking young
man paused. His hand had a posses
sive touch on the little fur-clad sleeve
beside him. "Of course, Mrs. Taylor.
/ know that some day I am going to
agree with you. ! am going to urge
Miss Nan to resign" He laughed boy
ishly. flushing a little.
"Now. the only difference between
sis and me is that l am open and
a~bove-board, mother" calmly acknowl-
edged Ruth when the door had closed
on the two. "T1l bet my new red hat
that Nan knew about him all the time.
Mix business and pleasure7 All a girl
wants is the chance"
at is fate, Ruthie. / know" said
Mrs. Taylor when the high-priced purr
of Mr.. Henderson's smart gray road
ster had proclaimed that Nan had
found the mice and pumpkin coach
that waits for every Cinderella in the