The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-12-21
Observation-Disclosures

was doing willingiy--and she was
taking orders!
The younger sister stole upstairs.
a prey to perplexity and foreboding.
What she had seen was beyond all
belief. 1t was such an inexplicable
thing that she did not even dare to
share the secret with Billy, far less
to mention the discovery to Con.
stance. But it kept Alice awake for
at least an hour after she went to
bed.
Billy did not become aware of any
unusual development until the day
following. 1t was the middle of the
forenoon when he blundered into the
library, intending to make final
plea for gasoline money. Constance
was sitting at the desk, and the eff.
cheney man was pacing the floor.
talking.
Billy halted and opened his mouth
involuntariy.
And make a note of this" II.
Hedge was saying. ITO notify the
servants that hereafter all orders
for supplies. in excess of one dollar,
must be certified at the office before
being delivered to tradesmen.''
Constance nodded as she put It
down.
Anything can do for you?"
asked Hedge, as he observed Billy.
"I-hum.'
II didn't understand. Repeat,
please"
Billy coughed and stared at his
sister. who glanced up, evidently an.
noyed at the interruption.
"Wha-what are you doing. Con.
nie?" he blurted.
Working" she answered shortly.
What are you doing?"
The question was disconcerting.
and Billy instinctively quailed under
IL.
"Working?" he repeated DULY.
"W.o-r-k-i-ng," spelled Constance
coldly What was the last, Mr..
Hedgc?"
She smiled up at the efficiency man
and poised ready pencil.
Just a moment, Miss Brooke" he
answered. Then, turning to Billy:
Your sister has taken up her secre.
tarial work in most admirable
spirit. May / ask when you will as,
sumo your clerkship?"
The question was brutal. not be.
cause 1t involved work, but for the
reason that it suggested comparison.
a secretary may be very important
person. Presidents of the Unit.d
States have secretaries, who are
commonly more important than
cabinet officers. If they We're not,
they would be abolished. A clerk
may also be important, but the titlG
lacks something. TheIe is nothing
robust or dignified about it. "Secre-
tary Jones' is a parsonage, even if
he is as colorless and insipid as
warm water. Clerk Smith" is no.
body. even if he is large. becfy, and
Delligerent. with an intellect of suit.
able proportions.
Billy Brooke WINGED at the clerk
ship. but he did not address himself
to the efficiency man.
''You mean to tell me, Connie, that
you are working?"
Certainly"
"You've-quit?"
mo; begun"
"But-Connie."
Billy found no consolation in the
eyes of his sister. They were cold
and steady. 1t was obvious that she
was annoyed at the interruption.
I'VE are still on orders for sup
Plies" she reminded H. Hedge. as
there something more under that
head?"
Billy faced about ard hurried from
the ROOM He paused in the hall and
drew a deep breath. The Brooke
family was disgraced.
1t did not add to the peace of
Billy's mind to discover what he
stance had regained her daily allow.
ance. His own was suspended, pend.
ing that time when he should decide
to assume his clerical duties. Thus
the two Brooke sisters were again in
funds, even though of limited SIZE
while their brother remained PENN.
less.
Billy and Alice hesitated to speak
what was in the mind of each, but
one day the tacitly maintained wall
of reserve broke down, and they UNI
burdened their thoughts in far cor
ner Of the gymnasium.
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