The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-28
CHAPTER 597 Copyright, 1920, King Features Syndi- cate. Inc.

I
 l When I stepped into the elevator | after leaving the Yelda office, where | I'd been refused an interview by MT. l RockhilL had no idea how I was 1 going to contrive to get one. By the | time I stepped out of the elevator I had found my ''inspiration.' It was
 simple It would be efficient-pro- l vided it worked.
 I went over to the sign of the blue bell and gave the operator in charge | of the pay station switchboard a
 quarter and my Sunday best smile. To | this I added the YeIda number and | my request that she ask for Mir. Rock | hill and when questioned as to who | wished to speak with him, reply: 1 Its a personal call"
 l The girls understanding look
 amused yet repelled me. I was count ing on my "hunch" that a gpod-look- | ing and experimenting young man | like Howard RochhilI might receive
 call now and then about which he
 wouldn't care to take the office into | his confidence. But even if this work
 ed and I got my telephonic com
 munication established, I wasn't sure
 that I'd really find myself "vibra ting
 on the same wire" with the snob bish young man I wanted to reach. There l still was plenty of room for the sup position that I was in for a second 1 | The switchboard operator inter
 rupted my by-no-means pleasant re- | verie.
 | Here's your party" was her well | come announcement.
 | With my heart humping as if I
 were a school girl on my way to face
 the principal I stepped into the booth | and, undaunted by the heat Of the l day, I closed the door after me. 1 Hello, MT. ROckhillI'. I said in a
 voice that wobbled and threatened | to break at the edge like a badly
 'set'' mold of belly. This is Mrs. | Harrison, of the A. L. Harrison com | pany."
 There was smothered ejaculation
 which might have expressed anything | and didn't fail to convey annoyance 1 at least. But I went with a new waver in my voice. This was noth- ing less than a ripple of amuseme ent | at my own elaborately planned cos tune, willing now to collar and cuffs in the terrible heat of the tel | ephone booth.
 I've come to ask you for char acter,' Q reference" I explained pIac- | idly. exploding my bombshell of a big idea. You wouldn't dismiss your valet without one, would you?" A chuckle came over the wire. It held a not of satisfaction, as we'll as amusement. I'd counted for the valet" to tickle Mir. Rockhilrs fun nybone, even if my request for character" didn't tickle his sense of humor,
 Where are you?' he asked. Those words were my plan realiz- ing itself-my dream come true. Downstairs in a telephone booth. whiting with a combination of heat and chagrin because of the summary
 
 hce," I replied. 'I think I'd have the courage to come back and face your office boy, however, if sufficient ly urged"
 "Consider yourself urged" said he tersely.
 There was a note of excitement in his voice which didn't escape my newly sharpened perceptions. My experiences with both Carl and Max Hoadley had made me realize how dangerous it is for the woman in business to let men be particularly conscious of the fact that she is a woman. I determined, however, to make MT. Rockhil1 respect me as woman of brains and ingenuity. I intended to have his consider me shrewd-a worthy opponent, a worthwhile ally.
 vas absolutely certain that with a srobbish society man of his type this would put me on an imper sonal plane of business efficiency. It would not have the effect of inter esting MT. Rockhiu in me as a wom- an, for he'd consider me man nish creature, with a cold, hard and unattracttve brain from the point of view of anything but business
 When I returned to the office I gave my name again coolly. as if I hadn't been refused an interview 10 minutes before.
 Take Mrs. Harrison right into MT. very boy who'd been party to my humiliation.
 He obeyed. I found myself in the supercilious presence of MT. Howard RackhiN,
 Well. Mrs Harrison?" he asked without rising and in a completely i ''you've-g -got-to-show me- tone.
 Do I get character or your bus mess again ?" I dema nded, tersely. | hadn't been invited.
 The keen eyes took me in with | unmistakable thoroughness-and ap- provaL Some remote brain-ceT reg istered a surprised recognition of | young RockhilTs repnarkable resem- l blance to Max Hoadley. Tall and | well built though he is, he still pos | with fair hair waving back from a | low forehead and bulky shoulders | his general appear i ance of athletic fitness
 Sit down." he said finally and | suavely. Let's hear your arguments. | That is. in case you have any argu- l ments to show why you should go | on handling our advertisiing''
 1T might do better if I head your | arguments for concelling what l thought-on the basis of a gentle | mans unwritten agreement was 10 | be a years contract"
 You understood that?" demanded | MT. Rockhin
 I'd have taken the contract on no 1 other basis" I replied "I can't inn | agine producing results in a few | taken the testimony But McGuire ! had given bail and arranged for a 1