The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-27
CHAPTER 596

l cate, Inc. | My first glance at the letter from 1 the Yelda Importing Go. told me that 1 my business difficulties were by no | means thing of the past. l It was from the president, and if read, curtly and succinctly: | My Dead Mrs. Harrison: | We are sending you herewith a check in full payment of our account.
 We find that we shall not need your services in the future. This is no l criticism of your able assistance to 1 us as Advertising Consultant. But we | find 1t more convenient to do our bus mess direct with the various adver- Using media we decided to employ. With kindest personal regards, l "I am
 | Yours very truly, | HOWARD J. ROCKHILL, Pres" l I clenched my hands until the nails fairly drove into my palms. It seem ed to me that if I didn't have some not be able to restrain my voice. I | didn't know whether I wanted to scream a protest or burst into strid- ent laughter.
 l The irony of the situation was eith- CT absurd unendurably cruel. Here I was on a financial basis which would l obviate the need of any worry about I I
 now to do my best work, I found my | self scarcely on speaking terms with | one of my three clients and dismissed
 by a second. This left me dependent | for my success on the Derringforth | Shoe Goa weak reed on which to lean.
 For a minute had a sense of de- feat. Then I determined to make a 1 fight for the account it is import ant for me to keep.
 I owe it to Jim to continue hand
 ling the advertising for Hoadley's hats. I'm in equally duty bound to retain the Yelda business. l sat motionlesS in my swivel chair, trying to relax. My eyes roam ed restlessly over the thin shoulders and bowed back of Miss May. Her dingy appearance and dreary manner gave testimony that she has let life | defeat her. I knew suddenly-with deep conviction that I can bear any failure better than one 1'e brought on my self because of being afraid to | face issues and fight for what courage might bring me.
 If Jim couldn't be able to make a go of the tremendous affairs which have kept him apart from me for so long, I won't count him a failure. He was brave enough to try. He is workinng desperately and almost ruthlessly to snatch success from a mcrass of dishonesty and intrigue. Failure, however, will drive him half mad. But if it comes, and I am there to stand by-not only with love and understanding, but with firmly grounded business and the practiced aid 1t can give-my husband won't go down in the wreck of his fortunes. He will have something to offer the friends who have trusted him. "I can't let them take their account from me-" I whispered.
 Then I gave myself over to a swift review of the situation and the way ought to plan my day. After this I plunged into action. First I called Mabel StorrS to see if she's had any word from-Jim or Cordova-be it Rosa or Ramon-who's started North ward as his agent. She had no mes sage for me. but coaxed a cherry note into her voice when I told her that things were goinng swimmingly and that I'd give her details of the nice things that had been happening to me, the first minute I had free to come over and visit her at the office. We selected the following evening. Then, not taking the risk of rebum if I were to telephone and ask for an appointment. I started off to beard the lion in his den and seek an inter
 
 flee.
 Before going to the Yelda office I made a slight detour. I went home. There I carefully removed the some what characterleSS tan foulard I'd slipped into in the morning, because it required SO little effort to fasten. In its stead I put on a smartly tail ared blue serge tuxedo suit and a cream -colored waist with immaculate collar and cuffs. Above all this I set a navy blue saior faced in white crepe de chine and banded softly in the same clinging material
 templating the effect I had been at such pains to achieve, Quite imper- sonally I noted the smartness of my simple suit. It set perfectly. It fitted with careless grace. It dates back to the days when the Avenues top-notch prices were no bar in my brief plunge into extravaganza. The hat above my fluffy hair had at once a competent air and the pleasant effect of youthifying the face under its soft white facing.
 You'll dol" I said at the end of my critical inspection That is. you'll do after you add patent leather pumps and white gIace gloves. Max Hoadley once indicated that the RockhiH gen. tleman is a snob. You once had the pleasant experience of having him look at you without seeing you. Now let's what happens"
 Not until I had taken a reckless plunge by calling a taxi to transport my spotless blue and whiteness un- grimed to the Yelda offices did re- thing I've got comes from money I took from you. And I'm going to give