Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-03-01
The Gray Moth
By DORA NOLAN

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"a 1870. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
The senior member Of the adver-
tising firm Of Andrews & Anderson
was speaking. His tone was persua-
sive. there's a clean two thousand
In 1t for you, Andy-and month off
to spend 1t in."
The brains Of the concern ran q
hand through the mop Of brown curls
that covered the spot where his cap
ital stock found housing accommoda
ton. "Tve made use Of everything
from black parrot to blue mari
gold" he said, ITO push Duchette's
toilet preparations so far-and I've
come to the end Of my rope. Why,
man, / don't even know henna hair
when I see it."
II would suggest" replied the
senior member, highly amused over
something not apparent to Andy,
"that you and Miss Gray put your
heads together over It" And 80 say.
Ing he left the Office, closing the
door behind him.
The girl at the typewriter desk by
the window flushed and raised hands
to thick auburn braids, which encir-
cled her small head Andy came close
to her-too close to suit Mrs. Grundy's
idea Of the relationship between
member Of the firm and an employee.
His hand rested on the back Of her
chair. She allowed 1t to stay there
a moment before changing her posi-
tton.
"What In the deuce is henna hair.
ZonaT
You'll find a sample on your coat
sleeve soon, Mr.. Anderson, If you don't
keep a proper distance. I'm she'd
ding"
Shades of immortal Venus" ejac-
ulated Andy; "you don't mean to tell
me that old fakir Is going to put on
the market something any dun-col-
ored female can splash on her top
knot and have 1t come out like that
glorious mop Of yoursl And it's up
to me to be party to"
II believe I'd connive at painting
the Washington monument purple for
two thousand uollars!" interrupted
Miss Gray.
IF get 1t I'll share 1t with you,
vacation and all What do you say
dear?" Now Andy's arm found Its
way around the girls shoulders. With
a quick shrug Miss Gray shook It off.
She stood up. "Pll say, Mr.. Anderson,
that l have a mornings work to do
which you are interrupting."
"And I'll say, Miss Gray, that your
duty to the firm owes me this much
inspiration" "Ouch!" cried Zona,
rubbing her head-whlle Andy depart
ed laughing, holding gingerly between
thumb and forefinger hair Of the
color fashionably known as "'henna."
Entering his own private sanctum,
Andrew Anderson laid his trophy care
fully on his desk. sat down before It
and gazed at 1t moodlly. So far he
had put over ten Of Duchette's toilet
preparations successfully but his ideas
for the eleventh bore q strong resem-
blance to q hens tooth. Instead, he
pictured the owner Of one particular
head Of henna hair alone with himself
In a camp he knew to be for rent on
a certain mountain lake-pictured her
ost in a canoe. tramping through the
woods, and so on without end.
Until the senior partner returned,
which was fully an hour. his secre-
tary's mornings work" seemed to
consist of gazing from dreamy gray
eyes down upon traffic laden street
and desultory scrutinizlng Of morn
Ing daIly-the latter until an item on
the society page caught her attention.
This won second reading, which re-
suited In concentrated thought. From
the time when he did appear until one
o'clock, Mr.. Andrews kept her busy.
Then Andy came in. ready to 60 out
to lunch with the head Of the firm,
as was his daily custom. 1t was while
the latter was making preparations
to leave that Zona inquired of Andy
whether the morning had brought an
inspiration for the lad" work on the
henna compound. Andy gloomily shook
his head.