New Britain herald., 1925-06-25
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by Beatrice Burton

Dick ran his hand through hls dark hair. But. good Lord! Where is she?" he asked, unaware that he spoke aloud. ~" t...
 Susan Briggs cleared her throat.
 Mrs. Gregory came into the of flee this morning 10 see you,"' she said. huskily. .a
 Dick wheeled. Why didn't you tell mel" he asked sharply. Where was l when she was here?"
 You had just gone out to lunch," Susan Briggs answered, "and and forgot to tell you about 1t.
 A telltale blush mounted 10 her face. She had not forgotten. to tell Dick! .. She hadn't wanted to tell him about Gloria's visit. And Dick knew 1t.
 She looked at him with her un- spoken misery in her eyes.
 'I suppose l ought to tell you something, Mir, Gregory" she said, after a moment. T was just going to telephone you about it when you came in tonight. ;. ." ... ... O..
 Dick waited silently for her 10 go | on. ....
 q don't know whether should have done it but l gave Mrs.. Gregory the key to your house to- day." she said at last.
 Did she ask you for it?" Dick asked. .~,
 Susan Briggs nodded.
 Well, I'll bet that's where she it, then , =. at the house!"' Dick exclaimed. His eyes. lighted.
 "I wouldn't wonder" Sue Briggs answered dryly. It took all of her nerve, her gallantry, to say those three small words in just that tone.
 From under her lashes she saw Dick go into his office. She heard the creak of his swivel chair as he sat down in it. Then there was 8 long silence. She knew that he was making up his mind whether to go to his wife or not .. .. his wife who was waiting for him in the house that was his and hers.
 Not daring to move, Susan Briggs sat there. She knew that the hap piness of all her life depended upon whether Dick stayed there at the office or went 10 Gloria that night. And so certain was she of his decision that presently she began to put on her hat to goa home. AS she stood before the mirror tucking a strap wisp of hair behind her ear. Dick came out of his office. He car- ried his hat and his inevitable brief case was under his arm.
 Good night, Susy," he said in a matter-ot-fact voice, as he went out. He did not notice that she made no answer.
 Miss Briggs stood there where he had left her., with her hands still holding the brm of her hat. She did not move until the sound of his retreating footsteps died away down the corridor of the building
 Then she opened the, drawers Of her desk and took all the things that were hers from them. Pitiful- ly few they were. Tablets and pen. cils, small box of talcum powder, face towel, and an old candy box full of odds and ends. ... 2
 She looked around the room where she had worked for 50 many years as if she were trying to print it on her memory. And yet she knew it was the one place in the world that she never would be able to forget!
 She took off her hat with jerky impatient movement, and sat down at her desk. After moment she put a sheet of clean white paper into her typewriter and began te write:
 Dear MT. Gregory:" she begar and could gosno further.
 What could she say to him? The truth was impossible. She couldn't write to tell the man she loved thai she wasn't going to work for him any more because he vas in love with his wife and not ith her!
 She couldn't tell him that hel heart was broken and that there never would be any happiness any where for her again. And yet that was the truth. .. Anything else was lie. >
 Well, then, she would have tc tell him lie.
 She raised her hands above the machine, held them poised there ar instant, and then wrote rapidly:
 T am taking this opportunity tt tell you that am resigning my position at once. for one where will receive a larger salary. sincerely yours,
 Susan Briggs" She neither dated it nor sealed it just laid it in the wire baske on Dicks desk where he would b' sure to see it first thing in th' morning. .,s . AS She turned to go out Of hi office she brushed against his olt ! office coat hanging against the wall It smelled Of the tobacco he smoked F in that villainous pipe Of his. Tn sleeves of 1t still held the shape o 3 his arms. ..s
 , Susan Briggs put her arms aroun' il. hugging 1t close to her breast 3 and laid her cheek against its rougl l tweed surface. Her mouth twiste' and a tear slid from under he D closed eyelids. t Suddenly she Ioosened her hol Of the coat and let it swing bacl I into place. She hurried out Of tn { office.
 In the outer room she picked U Q her belongings, snapped out th I lights, and went. e A cleaning woman was moppin c up the floor of the corridor. Behin her vas a small girl with enermou black eyes and a mop Of stralsn e black hair. As Susan Briggs pssse |. her she held up her doll for her | y admire.
 ,Seo no,Iv? 2" she said. Nils