The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-12-07
CHAPTER II

Joe invited her to such dinner one
night In May about month after the
directors meeting. and within a few
days of his return from trip to the
Northwest where he'd been engaged In
settling the last details and letting
the contracts for the construction OF
their flax factories.
Invitations Of this sort weren't SC
very frequent, and they generally had
a real occasion. He had something
he wanted to talk with her about, he
said. "Oh, it's got nothing to do with
any of this" He smiled as he added
on leaving her, "Im going to surprise
you, Jennie"
A dinner at Joe's fiat, whatever its
occasion. deserved to be treated as a
party, so she went home a little early
! from the office-there wasn't so very
much to do these days-and dressed
in leisurely and luxurious manner in
a satin frock which she had bought,
luckily, only the week before. Jennie
candidly enjoyed dressing up, and one
of her few grievances against the sort
of life she led was that 1t offered SO
| few opportunities for this indulgence.
The dinner was at seven-thirty, and
Il was still broad daylight when she
| parked her little coupe In the side
street nearest Joe's doorway. In the
doorway she found Joe's chauffeur
waiting under his employers orders
for her to drive up so that he might
take her car into the garage and bring
1t around again whenever she want
ed it,
He was prepossessing youngster
who had taken this job on getting de-
modified from the army few weeks
previously. The irregular hours and
the touch of variety about 1t made 1t,
Jennie supposed, less unattractive to
him than most of the berths open to
a man in his position. But he was
too good, she thought, for this sort of
thing-taking Joe's actresses on joy
rides in the small hours of the morn
Ing, and so on; and she made men
tai note, as she spoke to him, of a
resolution to persuade Joe to find
something better for him to do. His
name was George Burns.
She told him her car was all right
where it was, and that when she was
out to 1t alone, so If this was to have
been his only duty for the evening he
might as well consider himself at lib
erty. He thanked her, but she
guessed from his manner that he
didn't intend to act upon her permis-
sion. In the same moment she real
lied, and she blushed bright pink as
1t broke over her, that the boy was
shocked. That he attributed-it must
be that-a sinister Interpretation to
her visit Once or twice he'd driven
her home from the office when she'd
worked late, and they'd got to be quite
good friends. Tonight he seemed to
light.
In the elevator she decided she'd
say nothing about the encounter to
Joe, at least until she'd cooled down
enough to laugh over 1t. But he,
meeting her in the hall as the butler
opened the door for her. had it all out
of her in two minutes.
"Good Lord. Jenniel What's the
matter with your" he asked at sight
Of her.
And to her swell, what is?" he an
swered. you look-as II you'd just
been kissed by travelling man."
At that, she laughed and told him.
That's a nice mess" he commented
with a grin. Here, give me your
keys. And go and take off your cloak.
You know the room, don't your I'll
be back In a minute. No, / don't
blame him a bit. It's all your fault"
He had, 1t struck her, a rather
thoughtful air when he Joined her a
few minutes later in the drawing-room.
He stood for a moment little way
off. candidly regarding her before he
spoke.
"You wear better-looking clothes
than most of the women who have
nothing to do but buy them. How do
you manage 1t, Jennie?"
She felt that her new frock was
for IT wasn't often he
showed the slightest consciousness Of
what she wore.
Il happen to be the right size to
wear models" she said. "That's the
answer. 1t saves lot of trouble"
'sThe right size and the right
shape" he amended. ITS more than
your clothes that looks good to me-"
There was the same quality, oddly
reflective for him, about his gesture,
for as he finished speaking he came
up and took her by both bare arms
Just above the elbow, gently enough.
here until the end of his train of
thought.