Evening star., 1923-03-11

with an expressionless eye, showed
Jean to her drawing desk and told her
to report at 8 o'clock the next morn
ing. But Jean knew that from tho
moment Farrow laid eyes on her. he
resolved that only over his PROSTATE
body should she mount one step In
the firm OF Elkins & Co.; and her
heart sank within her.
AS for the drafting room itself, IL
was incredulous, then hostile, then
friendly; and then Jean became
merely one Of the pleasant, well-liked
workmen Of the firm.
Jeans first month merged into a
second and third; six months. year
passed. Jean was still an eflcient.
inofensive draftsman and nothing
moro. During all that time she never
had moro than a greeting from Elkins.
Outside the office, matters had gone
better. Jean had kept up her tennis
on the public courts, and there made
friends Of some pleasant people. But
she was not happy. With her second
year IN New York. she realized the
firm Of Elkins & Co. was not doing
we'll in the world Of bridge building.
The drafting-room diagnosis OF the
latter condition was fairly accurate
and was interviewer with comment on
the boss that Jean at first resented.
But she came to believe that all that
was said of him was correct.
The drafting room said that he was
not spot on his father as an office
executive. that he was brilliant field
engineer. and It was too bad that he
hadn't sense enough to stay in the
field after his fathers death and let
some one else run the New York end.
Why. ran the gossip. some OF his
achievements in the field when
we're classics. His handling Of his
men. his quick resourcefulness. the
speed and sureness Of his construc-
tion-no one ever had excelled him.
Bill Elkins lacked creative imagi-
nation and didn't know 1t. That was
why the firm was not getting the big
contracts it had in tho old mans day.
The old man was 4 real mixer. This
exclusive stuff might be all right in
an uptown club, but 1t was a poor
commodity on West street.
She had been with the firm two
years when, leaving the ONCE late
one afternoon, she ran onto Elkins
in the elevator. To her astonish-
ment, Mr.. Elkins added q word or
two to his customary greeting.
Still in the drafting room, Miss
Atwood"
Yes. Mr. Elkina' replied Jean.
He eyed her speculatively, and as
the elevator stopped at the main floor.
he said slowly:
I'm disappointed in you" And
putting on his hat he disappeared
out of a side entrance.
The brute" she exclaimed to her-
self as she plunged into tho subway.
I'D like TO tell him that I'm disap-
pointed In him, and sos every one
else. Conceited snip! Why doesn't
he give me a chance? Think of the
Chilean contract we're bidding for.
Well lose that too. I could crochet
a better design than the one Mr..
Elkins has OK.'d.''
She was still fuming when she let
herself in at the door Of the apart
ment. Her landlady met her In the
hall.
II moved you into the rear room
today, Miss Atwood. had a chance
to rent your room for two months
at double the rent and l knew you
wouldn't mind"
1T doesn't seem fair" said Jean
little fretfully. but with the familiar
sinking of the heart at the thought
of a row.
Not fair! Not fair" The land
ladys voice rose.
"Oh, all right" returned Jean
meekly. and she went on into the
dark. hot bedroom.
She threw herself down on the
couch bed. Disappointed in her!
Suggestion after suggestion she had
made. and Jim Farrow, through
whom all suggestions must be made,
merely laughed at her.
Cunning, isn't it?" he'd say OF
her designs Nice tatting pattern
Why don't you try it on a woman's
magazine?"
She lay for q long time. bitterly
considering her failure. Finally, Jean
went to work on some sketches of
her own for the Chilean contract,
sketches which she knew would
never reach the eye Of either the
chief engineer or Of Bill Elktns-.
TT was perhaps week afterward
i that Jean Atwood spent q Sunday
with some OF her friends at a quiet
little resort on the sound. When the
bathing hour came, Jean was play
ing g1ngerly in tho water close to
shore when a man swan in from the
float and stood up beside her. 1t was
the boss.
How do you do. Miss Atwood? I
was waiting for you to como out to
the foat"
II can't SWIM" acknowledged Jean.
Cant swiny'
"No, Im-rm afraid OF the water"
Every line Of Elkins lean, tanned
face expressed surprise. Afraid!
Why, saw you play q superb game
Of tennis this morning Aren't you
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