The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-14
Chapter Sc.
NEW SHADOWS,


NEW SHADOWS.
The boom grew bigger and bigger.
Ruth found herself swamped under
the amount of business she had to at
tend to. AS far as her real estate
work went. she hired one of the young
men OF the town and put him in to
handle the details. p.
Write out brief report of all
you've done each day and lay it on
my desk" she said. "I'u look it over
when l have time, and il there's any.
thing wrong. I'll make corrections on
the paper and give it back to you"
Thus easily she disposed of some
of her work. 1t was a new feeling
this of being employer, rather than
employe. %
She had a telephone put in her
house, so she could be reached in the
evenings. Mrs. Bedding still lived
therefor rents had gone up, and as
a result board had gone up, and Mrs.
Bedding could not afford more than
IS a week. She still sewed-when
she could get sewing.
'Ill take a third floor ROOM" she
said And Ruth, you can have my
room for your study again, goodness
knows you need it.. Just look at this
rubbish of papers!" She indicated a
confusion on Ruth's bedroom table.
Don't touch them." the girl ex-
claimed from the bed. Mrs. Bedding,
l have plans for whole city on those
papers"
Have you now! Well, l always
said you'd do something. Well, dearie,
l amt much use around here, but I'm
going to make you some dresses.
You may have plans for a city, but
you need new dress something
awful"
"All right" the girl answered cheer.
fully.
So the stiff fingered little old lady
called gowns"
money in the bank. Ruth wanted to
buy city bonds that were to finance
the new addition"
''Pll need new material; it ought ia
be silk. think maybe pink taffeta-'
Mrs. Bedding began one morning al
breakfast.
Pink taffeta! It's $3.50 yard il
it's a cent, and it takes five yards and
money to trim it I've got a good blue
poplin in the attic, why can't that?
The argument went on. Ruth end
ed it by saying in slightly annoyed
voice
Use the poplin. What difference
does it make?'
Seems to me- grumbled Mrs. Bel
ding on her way upstairs after the
discussed mat erial, Seems to me
that if a girls bringing in several
thousand dollars a year. she might
be allowed SIS for a dress
But I'm not bringing in severa
thousand" Ruth answered gently, put
ting on her old-fashioned hat in the
hallway. I'm putting all my money
into bonds, and mother doesn't believe
the bonds will ever pay"
''Humph!" was all the reply that
came, as the tony figure went on VI
the steps.
Ruth went down to her office. The
little place was now used as head
quarters for the Civic Committee. She
had sent for the stenographer from
the factory from whom she had learn
ed shorthand, and made the girl he1
secretary. This was done out of a
spirit of gratitude for the knowledge
she had gained; as a matter of fact
the girl made very poor secretary.
Her work required so many trips
out to the flats that she knew she
needed a car. Langley urged her tC
buy one, but whenever she suggested
it to her mother; that lady threw uI
her hands and talked about extrava
gance.
Phone for machine" she told hel
secretary when she reached the office
Il have to go over to the fats today
You'd better come along, I'll have
some notes to dictate.
AS they went over in the hired car
she opened the mornings mail. givins
suggestions for answers to the girl
who tried to jot them down in short
hand as the car jumped over the
rough roadway.
She had various ideas of things tt
be done in the building of the frs
block of houses, too, which were tax
en- down in shorthand to be made vi
later into report for the Civic Com
mittee. Out on the flats-as the,
called these fields and the newly built
up part-she met Langley and a few
members of the Committee.
Every bond is Sold" she was tolt
by one of the committee. THE Marke
town people have taken them all. I
lot of the gentry'-a term used fol
the wealthy residents of the nearb,
estates-"have bought up some too
Langley went with her and the.
walked over the place. planning
changing, suggesting. Ruth was in he
element in this She and Langle,
walked and talked and worked to
gether hours at a time-always think
ing of the place they were building
always of the work in hand. No wore
of sentiment ever passed between
them.
Langley knew the heartache the cir
carried for the man whose name h.
never asked. Ruth knew that Langle,
still loved the heartless little woman