Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-27
CHAPTER vi
4 Desperdte Plan

TIMMY had developed jealous streak
y that did not augur we'll for the
future. Now that he had made up his
mind to the fact that he wanted Theo
to leave the Office he did not see any
reason for delay.
"Why didn't you tell him you were
going to leave at once?' he asked.
because it wouldn't be fair Theo
had responded quickly.
II hate to think Of you in an office
where other men can look at you and
eve you in q way that would make me
furious If ! saw it," Jimmy insisted.
"You're too good looking to be in a
public place of any kind
Theo was on the point Of calling him
inconsistent, but she knew 1t would
only lead to an argument, and she re-
Trained. She felt guilty because she
was giving more thought to Mr.. Blakes-
lee and his affairs than she was to her
own. and there was one fact that wor-
ried her-Richard Blakeslee had taken
no steps to obtain another secretary.
Once Theo had broached the subject
to him, but he had ignored it and the
time was drawing very short. In n
few days she would be leaving the office
for good.
The plans for the trip were moving
along, but Theo could not discover Just
when Mr.. Blakeslee had decided to
leave. 1t was the first time since she
had been with him that Theo hadn't
known all his moves, and this fact
vaguely troubled her. for it made her
realize that after all she had counted
for very little in the Office.
And then one afternoon, just as she
- IAA nat
preparatory to leaving, Mr.. Blakeslee
| in his hand and light coat flung over
his arm.
"Oh, Miss Caldwell, how would you
like to come down and look over the
yacht? We're leaving in couple OF
days now, and it will be your last
chance to see it.
He spoke kindly, almost genially, and
Theo hesitated. She wanted to 90 ter
ribly, but she had promised to have
dinner with Jimmy at table d'hotr
restaurant and he would be furious II
she kept him waiting. Then she sud
denly made up her mind and spoke
quickly.
"I have an engagement, but il
you'd just wait while l telephone"
Blakeslee nodded, and Theo flew into
the next room. In u moment she had
Jimmy on the wire and was explain
ing to him. He responded with re-
proaches that finally lapsed into sulky
silence. With sigh Theo realized that
she would have to listen to long lee
ture afterward, but she was too ex-
cited to care. She would have all the
time In the world to make it up tC
Jimmy afterward, and just these few
moments to see the Blakeslee yacht. She
simply couldn't afford to miss It Ever
when Jimmy slammed the receiver or
the hook without saying good by, Thec
was conscious only Of the fact that sht
was free to go, and she hurried bacl
to Blakeslee, all eager enthusiasm.
They went down in taxi, and dur
ing the entire trip Blakesee took moi
the slightest notice of her. He treated
her as he had always treated her II
the Office. as though he were hardl!
aware Of her presence, and when the!
reached the wharf, and Theo fnall.
stood on board the yacht. he left hel
on the deck among the riot of cush
ioned chairs while he went to speal
to the captain.
1t wasn't until he had left her tina
Theo began to wonder why he hat
brought her here at all. 1t wasn't lik'
him TO want to give any one pleasure
She began to feel nervous in the mids
of all this luxury. and to wish tina
he would come back. The more sh'
thought about 1t, the more she wished