The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-21
The, pEN |, !, =! 81 5lE};S$
, COPYRIGHT 1927 by NF.A Service

&\A ~ = d @SSs ~ 49,
| lonely, for all her success, and tears
were slipping uncontrollably down
her cheeks. If only Aunt Flora
would let her alone-stop kidding"
her, let her be herself in peace
When she entered the foyer of the
twenty-five story office building
where the Peach Bloom Cosmetics
Company occupied an entire floor
the factory was in Jersey-she was
again the brisk, business-like young
private secretary. A pleasant excite
ment routed her depression. She
was glad her new, ,smartly tailored
black cloth suit had arrived in time
for this suspicious day. A glance in
the mirror in the elevator told her
that the silk blouse, with its pleated
fichu and its high collar and frilled
cuffs, was exactly the right thing
for the suit. 1t made her look we'll
dressed, efficient but not masculine.
And the hand-sewn black felt hat
looked the eighteen-fifty she had re-
luctantly paid for it. Mr.. Garfield
would recognize her eminent fitness
for the dignified position Of secre-
tary to the president. Gladys
Holmes had, that last week, worn
powder blue silk crepe, with long
tasseled sleeves that must have an
noyed Mr.. Garfield with their flut-
terings. And Gladys had clicked
about the offices on absurd, three
inch French heels. The dirnples in
her shamelessly exposed knees must
have been disgusting to a business
man like Mr.. Garfield.
She went briskly to her office, a
little cubicle outside the private Of
flee of the sales manager, opened
her desk, arranged notebook and
pencils ready for a call from her
boss whenever he happened to stroll
in-late as usual on Mondays, filed
basket of correspondence which
she had answered on Saturday, and
was, at ten o'clock, making care
full graphic representation of sales
report on business for the month of
March when an office boy skidded
into the room.
1.-THE old man wants 10 see you,
Miss Cameron" he grinned at her.
He was probably the only human
being connected with the entire Of
flee force that did not feel any awe
at all of Miss v. v. Cameron.
Any other girl in the world would
have snatched up vanity case and
powdered her nose before obeying
that summons. Vera rose instantly,
did not even pat the smooth, flat
braids of hr brown hair, for she
knew that they lay in immaculate
order against her brow and over her
small ears.
She was guilty of one evidence of
vanity, however. She took from its
hanger the severe little jacket to
her new suit, buttoned it snugly
over the white silk blouse, arranged
collar and cuffs with quick def
fingers and then walked briskly but
unhurriedly down the long corridor
to the door marked Mr.. Garfield"
AS she entered the secretary's Of
flee. she cast an appraising and pos
sessive glance at the big mahogany
desk which would now be hers. A
thick oriental rug lay suavely on the
floor. Oh, 1t would be nice to be
mistress Of this pleasant place, nice
to have the other girlus envious, re-
spectful!-
She tapped, with fingers slightly
cold with nervousness. upon the door
labeled private" AS she opened the
door to Mr.. Canfield's loud below
Of invitation, a girl almost collided
with her, a girl leaving Mr.. Can
fields private office with an open
notebook in her hand.
"Mr. Garfield will see you now,
Miss Cameron" the girl spoke in
lifting, sweet voice that fairly rip
pied with triumph.
THANK you, Miss Fitch" Vera
answered, her voice cold and even.
Rosemary Fitch! Rosemary Aunt
Flora'S hooking, fond warning-"I'm
afraid you may find outp-came to
Vivian's ears, in which the blood
pounded sickeningly, as cleverly as
If her aunt were there, noting her
defeat, her incredible defeat.
Rosemary Fitch flashed smile at
her cut of wide, china blue eyes, and
rustled to the swivel chair before the
mahogany desk which Vivian had
just appraised as her own.
"Come in, Miss Cameron. How are
you today? Fine, hope" Mr.. Can
field doomed cordially. "You see
we're making some changes around
here"
Vera closed the door with an ice
cold, trembling hand and walked
Jerkily to the seat beside the presi-
dents desk.
Mr.. Garfield" she began tremu-
lousy, but courageously, for anger.
made her brave, sis Miss Fitch 60
to take Miss Holmes place as your
secretary?"
well, yes" the big, broad old man
nodded, his keen, slate-gray eyes
narrowing as he regarded her
quizzically, Have you any objec-
tons. Miss Cameron"
Il had hoped to be promoted
to the position myself" Vera told
him, her mouth, her adorable kiss
able mouth held firmly to keep it
from trembling. 81 have been with
the firm longer than any of the
other girls now that Miss Holmes is
gone, and II know I'm better
secretary than-than-Miss Fitch"
"You mean that you can take die
tation faster, turn out more letters,
make better graphic representations
than Miss Fitch don't your" Mr..
Garfield asked gently; almost pity
ingly.
II certainly do" Vera retorted,
tears yelling up in her eyes, to her
intense disgust.
ST ooraa NTH x,o,, &c ~ @I,~.~