davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
By II. L. YATES
CHAPTER I.
Miss Twenty-s Seven of the Silks

good, little girls Dab your noses and put on your
lOl smiles. Good Morning is coming"
1t was a wonderfully sweet voice, and solemn. But there was
the flavor of a laugh hidden in the mock solemnity. That was a
trick of Joannas She had adopted it from someone. Joanna
adopted all tricks of manner that promised to be successful adj
ditions to her own original store of them.
Obediently, the young women who fanked Joanna behind
the silk counter, a bevy Of sheer, sinuous young persons made in
variations Of the homogeneous pattern of the day, dabbed their
noses, softened the craftiness of their too-wise eyes, and shaped
smiles about their grotesquely scarlet lips. 1t was each days
preparation for what was a daily ceremony-the ten o'clock visit
to the silk counter of "Good Morning.
"Good Morning, it may be explained, was, in a more
definite way, Mr.. Leroy Hardness, an imposing gentleman of
sleek grooming risen to the dignity of a longtailed coat, and
tremendously impressed by his responsibilities as arbiter of the
worlds events and, incidentally, the autocratic Buyer who rules
the destinies of the silk department. Promptly at ten o'clock each
morning-the store opened at nine-Mr. Hardness. freshly mag
nihcent, tapped his fingers on the spread Of the silk counter, en-
comprised each of the young women behind it with a friendly,
condescending glance, and said to them collectively: Good
Morning.
There was much rivalry among the servitors of satin as to
which Of them first would see GOOD Morning. down the aisle
and announce his coming. And if, by any chance, Mr. Good
Mornings eyesrrested a little longer on one rouged face than
on another among his silk counter nymphs, why, there was a
full days scandal ahead.
1t happened oftenj too often. Joanna herself had been
bothered a bit, of late, because Good Morning. had fallen into
the habit OF looking at her, more and more speculativelv. The
morning before she had decided she could not ignore that mean
lngful look In the Buyers eyes any longer. and had tilted her
chin at him. She was prepared to do it again.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
Puzzle Day

When railroads were first being
built, gangs of men were sen ahead
to cut all the trees in the path of
the right of way. One farmer made
an agreement with the company to
clear his plot himself. and retain the
lumber.
But the farmer gave his helpers
very strange orders. On the first
day they were to cut 15 trees and II
Of the remainder; on the second day.
30 trees and IT of the remainder,
and so on each day increasing the
previous days amount Is trees and
cutting IT Of the remainder, until
the day should come when they
would find that after cutting Is
more trees than or the previous day,
there would be no remainder.
The helpers discovered that by fol.
lowing orders, the number Of logs
cut each day was exactly the same.
How many trees were cut, and
how long did 1t take?
Last puzzle answer:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03

was startling bare, and solid. and
sedate. And the secretary wasn't
as an owners office assistant should
be. Not even pretty. That is, not
pretty according to the silk counter
standards. She vas pale, and needed
touching up at the cheek bones.
Joanna could have shown her how
to lay On n of the red, three of
blue, rub it in, and whiten with
Florette's pink. And she wore no
bracelets or bangles or. even, the
dangling jet earrings which were the
mode.
Really. she must be stupid, that
secretary of the old mans. and with
her opportunities Still-something
about her fascinated Joanna. Miss
81 caught herself rubbing at her
lips and wondering if she'd marked
them too red that morning.
go
nj EW doubts. new spectres.
I'M took their place in the parade
III that marched heavily cross
the shop girls brain. The creditors,
those inexpressibly little people who
fatten on the meagerness Of the
shop girls purse with exhorbitant
prices for fimsy things, dug in
their prongs and faded away. They
were now OF the yesterday. For
the first time-the first time that
she could remember-Joanna, wait
ing to be dismissed for some I'M
known offense against some I'M
known customer, thought OF tomor-
row as it doomed within her own
outlook. Dismissed from one store.
the others would be, for a time,
barred to her. And she had strug-
gled long to attain the opulence Of
salesgirl OF the higher grades. Had
she been more accessible morally
she would have been more pros
porous.
But Joanna stopped short Of a
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03

/ pathetic as she made her way along
the counter to the aisle exit. She
felt but did not respond to the friend
ly touches of gentle fingers on her
arms and wrists as she brushed by
her silk counter companions. She
nodded silently at a florfd, but
sincerely whispered:
Buck up, grille. If there's a row
with the landlady before you land
another job. I'll share up!'
And so she came at last, her brain
battling with a frenzied parade of
rapacious creditors, Cohen, who was
threatening her now for the over
due installment on her last winters
fur wrap; the perfectly adorable hat
she'd bought yesterday and promised
to pay for tomorrow; the women
! who ran the hosiery shop who had
refused to give her another pair of
silk stockings until she paid for h
last -four pairs-so she came at last
to the outer door of the Old Mans
office, on the uppermost floor.
Joanna had never seen Graydon,
the n Few of the store en-
ployes below the rank of buyers had.
He came and went through a private
passage, reached by his w ele-
vator and opening into the street
through an entrance reserved Tor
him alone. The store tradition was
that he was pompous, sourly grim
and gray, eccentric and fearful. For
such a tradition the meagerness or
Tuesdays pay envelopes-their utter
incapacity to cover the require
ments of fragile lingerie. silk hose,
natty pumps, twice a week mani
cures and bi-weely supplies of beauty
pots was an ample foundation.
Hardness had austerely en-
phasized his AT once!" but Mr..
Graydon did not seem to be in a
hurry. A soft voiced, efficient Sec
rotary, a girl, who seemed some
how to be from a different world
than that OF the garish shop, out
side, smiled warmly at the pitifully
defiant y shop girl, who stood
haughtily at the office threshold
announced: I'm 81. Did the old
Did Mr.. Graydon want to ask my
advice about the business today?'
The secretary ignored the affecta-
ton.
"Oh, so you are Joanna!" she said.
simply. II sem Mr.. Graydon's sum
mons to your department chief. 1
don't know what it is, but I'm sure
it's important. I'll tell him you're
waiting"
Joanna, urged by the secretary.
found a chair. Somehow the at
mosphere of the old mans office
worried her. 1t wasn't what she'd
expected. Not at all in keeping with
the most approved disclosures Of old
mems dens on the movie screens. 1t
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
marriage?' Dick asked, sarcastically.

m%arriage?" Dick asked, sarcastically.
m LORIA slowly shook her head.
There won't be any second
~ marriage for me-, Dick" she
said. "This is my only venture. . :.
Do you know, it's almost two weeks
since we s~eparated?"
She saw his brows draw down in
a scowl. tits longer than that" he
said. Its almost two months since
you ran away from home to follow
Stanley Wayburn down to New
York;"
Gloria bit her lip. "Oh, won't you
ever forget that?" she asked i'm
patiently. THAT was just a kid trick.
I wasn't half so wild about
Stanley Wayburn as I was about
New York. And I wanted to get
even with you for going away on
hat trip and leaving me behinc"
IF i could believe that . . :"
Dick began.
Gloria waited breathlessly, but he
said nothing more. Presently he
took a book from the pocket of his
coat and opened 1t. He began to
read.
Gloria rose and held out her hand.
II must CO." she said. tits getting
late. . -"
Then she sat down again. II real
ly ought to CO." she murmured. But
she knew that so long as Dick was
there she could not leave. Invisible
chains held her to that bench. .
1t was good just to be near him
again.
II showed a couple Of people our
house last week. Dick remarked
presently, without raising his eyes
from his book. ct hope they'll buy
the furniture, too"
Gloria set her teeth. tits too bad
you can't get rid OF the house as
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03

great many things. a stopping short
too many people, CHASING her as
one of a genus-the ultra modern
with.
She counted frantically and esti-
mated for herself one week of idle
ness without being too deep in trou-
BILE. OF course, If the worst came to
the worst, she could pawn the fur
wrap. Cohen wouldn't know.
But Joanna didn't want to pawn
that coat. At any Of the dancing
places to which the boys took her
it would be missed Immediately.
Other girls are observant Of such
things and. really. a fur wrap is a
necessary mark of caste, nowadays.
None OF the boys would be coming
around for her II she showed up
any place with her old and un-
furred coat. None. that is, except
John.
JohnI
She'd quarreled with him only last
night-again! She'd told him he
was entirely too muggy to keep up
the pace with her. Somehow, the
thought of John, with whom a quar-
rel was never worth a second
thought since none lasted from one
evening to the next, comforted her.
She looked, suddenly, at the Old
Mans quiet, unimpressive secre-
tary. She smiled a little, inwardly,
with the thought that she, the Sec
rotary, would be about the sort OF
a girl John pretended to want her
to be-
Fancy the glorious Joanna with
the shimmering gold brown hair and
the flash of scarlet across a field
of velvet pinks, like that! She al
most laughed when the other girl,
in response to the purr of a buzzer,
nodded at her and said.
That's Mr.. Graydon. He'll see
you now. Won't you go in?"
The vision Of John. and the silly
spectacle of herself trying to be like
the quiet, soft self-effacing secre.
tary just to please him, had cleared
Joanna's brain Of the imminence OF
tragedy. Her head was up and SC
was her heart when she went
through the door and stood in "the
presence"
r. HE expected to face the liv'
~ ing image OF sinister car
IL toons she'd seen. When she
realized that the elderly. rather
portly gray-haired nan who stood
behind a great mahogany table to
receive her, was THE Old Man.
and that he was actually smiling
across to her, she wrinkled her brow.
Then a. great light came into her
mind.
SO, THAT was It, She might have
knownl She was alert, shrewd, cum
ming, all at once. She braced her
self for the fencing. The fur wrap
could go hang. There'd be no diff
ference between the owner. who
could summon her and Mr.. Good
Morning." who had to come to her
counter with his fawning.
did o send for me? I'm from
the silks-No. 81" Her very tone
was a challenge.
The old man pointed to achair.
pleasantly. "Twenty-seven stands
Wont you sit DOWN." he asked.
for Joanna, doesn't it,"
She answered, shortly. Joanna
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03

- UT, strangely, Good Morn
ing" was not approaching in
u his usual languidly majestic
manner. His expression was stern,
as IL ne carried new matters Of i'm
p%ortance. He didn't stop at the next
counter, but came right along.
Good Lord" exclaimed the young
person OF Joanna's night, HE has a
crouch. Somebody's in for it!'
Joanna struck her pose. Joanna
had many poses, one for every cir
cumstance. For Good Morning" she
had rehearsed a way of elevating her
chin, putting one hand to the back
Of her head SO that her elbow and
forearm would show off well, and fix
ing the other on her hip. The effect
in her mirror had been extremely
her hair and the one at her hip
Topped down suddenly.
Mr.. Hardness had no good morn
ings for any of them. He walked
directly to where Joanna stood and
stopped, abruptly facing her. There
was neither smirk nor smile in his
half closed eyes. Once he had in
terrupted an unfortunate shoplifter
and had looked at the trembling
young in just hat
Miss Jonna," he said, his
words sharp and evenly cold, have
the goodness to go at once to MI.
Graydon's office. You are to be
spoken to, by Mr.. G%raydon himself.
At once, II you please"
Pencils dropped to the floor be-
hind the silk counter unnoticed.
Eyes stared. Blank faces turned
upon the startled girl. And she
stared into the fatuous face of the
man acros the counter as If he had
woven her in some evil spell.
Mr.. Hardness was, no longer, "Mr.
Good Morning" He was an ogre;
the serf Of a tyrant and nearer of a
tyrant's summons. He stood there,
cold, immovable, piercing. Waiting.
waiting for Joanna, Joanna Of the
gold brown hair that had watched
him on other mornings, to hurry
away at this unheard Of bidding!
For, so far as the record was re-
membered at the silk counter, no
other girl employee had been sum-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03

- tuTIllIlS heI sui 0JSo ="
Dick
He nodded. "Of course Every
body in town knows Forgan. Rich
old duck" he answered. why do
you ask?"
Because 1 was his stenographer
all last week." Gloria explained
simply. did you really think l
was drawing the long bow when l
said I was going back to work?'
Dick said nothing.
II quit my job yesterday, how
| ever" Gloria added. She waited
for Dick to ask her why she had
| given up her position. She wanted
to tell him how Ulysses x. had
come to court her. $50 that led
know she was attractive to other
men. even If her own husband no
longer cared to live with her!
But he remained silent, staring
straight ahead Of him at a bed OF
dusty. tired-looking flowers.
Gloria wanted to lean over and
stroke his hand. But on second
thought she decided against it. He
looked so stern.
Poor Dick!" she said suddenly.
We've made a fine hash Of things,
haven't WEI"
At that he turned and spoke;
"We?" he asked.
"I....I've made a wreck Of your
life," Gloria corrected herself. you
might have had a nice wife to love
you, and children. -"
Dick gave a short laugh and
lapsed into silence again.
What you really should have
DONE" Gloria went on thoughtfully
was to marry Susan Briggs. She's
an awfully nice, good women, even
If she. is terribly homely. And she
would have made you comfortable
and contented to her dying day..
or yours. wouldn't she2"
Dick concealed a smile. "Susan's
not so terribly homely," he said
II think she's rather above the av
erage in looks. Yes, and she'd make
any man a good Wife"
That maddened Gloria. How de
you know she would?" she asked
Grossly. "Just because she know:
how to handle a typewriter doesn't
prove that she could run a house
....or a husband, either! I'll bel
she can't make coffee like mine!'
She looked at him, daring him t,
defend Susan Briggs.
II can make wonderful coffee
My mothers giving me cooking les
sons she added.
Whats the big idea?. = Are
you getting ready for your SECOND
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
THE so FAR:

II plOI1 pO
Gloria Gordon, beautiful flapper.
lawyer. Her idea Of marriage Is fun
n fine clothes but no work
or children.
and hires a housemaid. But Dick
has to let the maid go. for Gloria
has swamped him with her debts.
She becomes infatuated with an
out-of-work actor. Stanley. Wayburn,
and follows him to New York. But
he spurns her. Then she tries to get
a job as a chorus girl n fails. Dis
M, takes her back, but not as his
Gloria begins to suspect that he is
In love with his secretary. Susan
self and Dick widens daily.
At last she wiring from Miss Briggs
o confession that abe is In love. with
Dick, and insists that Dick discharge
Gloria leaves him and goes home to
Dick sends her $50 weekly. but
she returns 1t to him and gets a job
as stenographer for Ulysses K. For
gan. a wealthy widower. But Ulysses
x. makes owe to her. and she resigns
Gloria's family, headed by her
energetic. Aunt porcas. try, to petite
sion Of her heart:breakipg troubles by
them. maddens Gloria. She leaves the
park. There Dick finds her. asleep
on q bench. He asks her If she has
really gone back to office work.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
A Million Dollars

W1HAT would you do if somebody suddenly left you a
wv million dollars9?
The Times is offering 800 in prizes for the best answers
to this question written in 300 words or less.
Joanna, whose story begins on this page today, was left
a million. Read about what she did with it.
The first prize is $50; the second, 500; the third, $40;
the fourth, So the fifth, So, and there are twelve prizes of 81
each.
Send your letter to the story editor of The Times so it
will reach him on or before Nov. 10.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
Million Dollars

have read, I suppose" he said, quite
slowly, as If he wanted her mind TO
follow him, "of Cinderella and the
Prince, who put her foot into theI
golden slipper"
yes" Joanna replied: I've read
about it-lots. But I'm off the
prince stuff, and 1 put on my "
slippers, thank you!"
Then the old man laughed.
Laughed as some OF his executives
didn't know he could laugh. He
dropped the Jade paper weight and
rose. Joanna rose with him, but he
turned to a window and looked out
into the skyscraper maze that
opened, here and there, to release a
glimpse Of an ocean liner ploughing
it's way down the sapphire river to-
ward the Narrows and the sea.
When he turned back into the oom
Joanna stood by her chair, Watching
him steadily. He went almost up
to her, so close that he had to look
down at her, and she had to tilt her
face to look up at him. When he
spoke again there was a new note
in his voice.
I'VE mustn't fence, JOANNA" he
said. II didn't send for you with
any idle pretense. I am to have the
pleasure Of delivering to you a mes.
saga rather interesting message.
I assure you. Something has hap
pened to you-or for you, that, 80
far as I know, has never happened
to any girl-at least so unexpected
ly. First, I am to hand you this
The sense Of impending climax
suddenly numbed Joanna's brain.
The n OF Graydon had bel
come portentious. She stared,
fascinated, while he turned to his
great desk.
When he stood over her again she
took into her hands. wonderingly, a
small, thin book which he silently
held out to her. She looked up at
him. He closed her fingers about
the book and then lifted its cover
for her. A folded letter dropped 20
the floor. Graydon recovered It
and opening it. gave it to her. mo-
tioning her to read It.
She saw her name, with the store
given as her address.
When she had read the first typed
paragraph, Joanna with the SHIN
mering gold brown hair. clutched
rantically as If with her hands to
catch her wandering wits, One
hand fluttered then, to her throat.
She swayed. Graydon caught her by
the shoulders and guided her as she
dropped into her chair.
ITO BE Continued
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03
THE
WIFE
After Talking to Dick, Gloria
Determines to Go Back
to the House.

easily as you got rid of me, isn't it?'
she asked watching his face. But II
was as blank as that of a good poker
player or a Hindu.
II hate the thought Of other
people living in our house with our
things" Gloria went on, after a few
minutes. Il don't want anybody to
take maps on my chaise Tongue. or
sit in your armchair. 1 don't
want any man, but you to use that
little red smoking stand Of yours. .
Her voice broke. She fought hard
to keep back the tears that welled UP
into her eyes.
You broke into the house the
other day, didn't your" Dick asked,
suddenly.
Gloria nodded.
"Why2"
She shook her head. She knew
that If she tried to talk, she would
burst into tears.
@1T was alamost sunset, and pic
HlCkcIS VIII HdQ COIIlc " the
1 park for supper, walked past
them with baskets on their arms.
Somehow or other the women were
better looking than the men. Per-
haps it was their ready-made smart
ness. .
But anyway beside Dick, the men
looked flabby and weedy to Gloria
Or else too fat and solid. Why.
she wondered, had she never seen
how much better he was to look
at, than any other man alive?
mot that he's so handsome" she
remarked to herself, but he's 30.
HIMSELF" She loved him for the
simple fact that he was Dick. For
his face, because it couldn't by any
possibility be anybody else's.. -. and
for his mind that was so utterly
sound and decent.
"It took me a long time to find 1t
out" Gloria went on thinking. but
I know it at last. now, when it
would be better If I didn't
Wasn't that just like Life, though?
It was full of such tricks. Civ
ing you what you wanted just a lit
tie too late? Like a Valentine com
ing the morning after Valentine day
land in a plain envelope!
Gloria rose. well, this time I'm
really going" she said, unsteadily.
Dick rose with her. and they
walked slowly out Of the park to-
gether. .. close together as lovers
walk, and yet worlds apart!
THE following day. Gloria
started out to go job-hunting
III again. A slip Of paper with
two or three want ads" on it. was
folded away in her purse. along with
three $40 bills. . her last weeks
salary.
She walked along Thirtieth st.
looking in the little shop windows.
In the window of a store was a
display Of lustre bowls. lovely
orang and sea-blue nes 1.-The very
thing for the mantel in the living
roomi' Gloria exclaimed, looking at
one thai glowed like h sunrise.
Then, with a jerk, her brain told
her that the living Don no longer
belonged to her. Dick was going to
sell 1t and everything in it to the
couple Who were looking at the
house . . that is, If he could.
Gloria walked on. down the street.
She didn't feel at all like going up
into one # the great office buildings
to ask for a position. She felt like
Mrs. Richard Gregory" that morn
ing and she couldn't step into
the role o, Gloria Gordon" looking
for a placa TO work.
She didn't want to work in an
office. She wanted to go back to hes
own house She told herself truth.
fully til she had felt like a Ash
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-03

Manners" She wondered how long
it would take him to show his hand.
Her resentment grew more bitter
each minute. More and more she
was convinced that there was only
one, and a commonplace motive. for
the genial reception of a ~salesgirl,
and a pretty one such as she knew
she was, by the wealthy, powerful
owner Of the store.
The man across the table settled
himself in his chair and faced her.
A curious expression played about
his gray eyes.
"Ah. yes" he murmured: Joanna
Manners-I understood that was the
name. Would you mind, Joanna,
telling me where-and how-you
live?". Joanna narrowed her lids. 1T
live alone, and not in a palace, either.
And the best of it is. I'm satisfied"
Her employer seemed not to no.
tice the irritation. Then you don't
live at home? Not with your fam
ily?"
"I haven't any family" she an
swered him. still biting her words.
AS an afterthought she added: but
1 can take are Of myself as well
as a family could. and I do"
The elderly man smiled at this.
He began to recognize the symptoms.
II am sure of that, my dear" he
said, softly. 80 let's speak Of your
friends. What kind mean, have
you many?"
She had caught that what kind"
She s~tiffened in her chair and looked
him full in the face. She was en-
Uttered anew by that curious ex-
preston under his gray eyebrows:
IT haven't any friends, particular
ly, besides a bunch of boys who are
as light in the head as they r on
their feet, but If 1 want any more
I'll pick them out for myself"
III RAYDON darted a quick look
at her. He was silent for q
III minute, toying with a Jade
paper weight. When he spoke he
had resolved, evidently, to shorten
his approach to whatever 1t was he
had to say to the salesglrl from the
silk counter, who was not disposed
to be humble in his presence.
IT must say that you impress me"
he said, as If voicing a profound
conclusion, "as one who would not
hesitate to dismiss friends, il they
were not invited" Again he was
silent. Joanna fancied that he was
preparing a new method of attack.
She built new Notifications around
her scruples, and waited, craftily.
Graydon was still patient. you