The Washington times., 1924-04-11

day will do /"
He outlined more work. III
you finish all this you might
arrange these books in some kind
or order. You like books?" He
TOOK her into the small room. 1t
had a blue rug and heavy blue
linen drapes. The walls were
lined with books. "They belong
to Luis. He. wants to send some
one to catalogue them, but they've
been here months and nothing
done. Try your hand at it."
She was uneasy with alarm:
IF anything comes in / won't
know what to do"
1T will have to wait. ."
He was scarcely gone, yet
abrupt and impersonaI as he was,
the office took on deserted,
lonely air. Chickie wished there
were other girls. For two days
she cut and pasted with relent-
less speed-and was suddenly dis
mayed to find the work finished.
She went into the small room
and looked at the books. She
wondered If Luis Lamarck was an
attorney also-why his books were
here. She took down a row
of them, They were French
and STANDARDIZATION and poetry.
She recognized some Of the
names.
She stacked them on the floor,
art a loss Of some plan for cata-
loguing.
/ On other shelves were histories
and these were mixed in with
biographies and essays. 1t be-
came exciting figuring out a
scheme. She was in the midst Of
it when the door opened and
Luis, his soft eyes dancing, a
little yellow rose in his button
hole, came jaunting in. He swept
his hat, half to the ground:
Pleased to meet you, Miss Bryce.
What a charming and graceful
young lady you are"
Chickie blushed, closed the book
slowly on her finger: II wanted
to be sure / would make good
first. But do really thank you,
Mr.. Lamarck."
"Well-that's to your credit.
Where's the boss?"
I1S EOIlC W odCI dIIICHLO.
Luis whistled: "So-those books
are mine. Did you know that?
I've boarded them out for the
next year"
I'm cataloguing them"
"You are" He came and
looked over her shoulder-"Well
you sweet little thing! Can you
read French?'
No" He took the book from
her hand, read a flaming bit from
Alfred de Musset. The purring
tones colored deeply with passion.
His glance rested on her with a
moist gentleness: "Do you know
what l said to you, Miss Bryce"
No" She was annoyed be-
cause her checks stained and she
was afraid of the resentment ris-
ing in her mind. She thought
hastily: "These foreigners! They
mean nothing. They think girl
expects this"
He put the book back in her
hands. folding his own over hers:
"Shall translate it for your"
She said: "No-" and walked
back out to her desk. She was
burning with wish to say:
You know about me. do you?
You think you can look at me so,
because of that! Try it,!
She put a sheet of paper in the
machine, her hands chilly. Luis
walked over and surveyed her
with amusement: You're very
fiery, Miss Bryce. What did do
now to displease your
''Nothing-I have work to do"
''Perhaps you are angry, then,
that you have the books to cata-
logue?"
mot at all"
81 wish you would forgive my
offense-whatever it was"
He clasped his hands at his
waist and stood before her, smil-
ing. Blame it on my French
mother-please, Miss Bryce"
There was something very
comic in his attitude. Chickie
laughed and he reached over
quickly and caught her hands.
She drew them back with q sigh:
would you mind being Ameri-
can with me, Mr.. Lamarck?"
"How tiresome. my dear Miss
Bryce! Must everyone be Ameri-
can with your"
She thought, with a piercing
light: HE knows?' She an
swered, looking holly into his
eyes: "Yes-Mr. Lamarck-every-
onew
"Your pleasure is mine" He
walked to the door, turned and,
with a smile that was more than
half taunt, swept his hat in a
long curve. But you won't mind
if I come in to look over my
books occasionally? Really, Edge
man allows me to use my own
room"
He came the, next day. He sat
in an arm chair, reading. He
CAME out every few moments
with an enthusiastic: Listen to
this, Miss Bryce"
Her reserve made no impress
sion.
81 have tickets for the theater.
Miss Bryce. Now, you've been
unfirendly enough, haven't you?
Will you Gomez"