Evening star., 1928-01-04
THE EVENING STORY

kindly. 'i,un along nov and don,
very your head about such thIngs."
B-z-z-zz, rasped Tho signal from the
president office. ~ was O'Clock.
Mollie Stetl.pg's step dragged
Mr.. Buzzell. o white. haired patrl.
arch. nodded at her across the great
rxpInse Of mahogany and notiOrnd
her TO u gcat beside him. At one end
of the table sat Mr.. Rice. wire prexl-
dent. arms folded across fis chest, and
Ut tn other sat Mr.. Wagner. treas.
urer. busy with q sheaf 0f papers.
. Directly across from the president,
lo# In big leather chair head bowed.
I long fingers claspin2 and unciasUing
/ rervouSIy. sat Frank Conway. secre.
tary and aaics manager. 10 whom she
( Was assistant
Frank Conway, son-in-law Of the
president of the Buzzell Nnnufartur.
. ing Co.: Frank Conway. Who had IA
years before broken his ergageTnert
to her that he might marry Marian
f BuzzeH that he might climb. pros PER
ana make q mark in the world
/ Eighteen rears. Hair touched with
gray az the temples. redTimned eyes.
/ nervous hands: Il wife in Parig niJ-
tanin2 long talked -of divorce. Tn.
happiness and resultant dizsi9atI0n
mad left its mark since that night ne
/ had told her he wanted 10 be free
| that he might marry the "oId mans
daughter ; told + their engagement
| had been mistake. just IA boy and
! girl affair that had ripened through
/ y"ars OF association at school and n
the Same office after graduation into
mistaken idea of love. She had told
/ him - go to Nsrian Buzzen and had
/ tried 10 smile until the gate clicked
+ behind him
/ Eighteen years She had seen him
soar to the coveted position Of sales
/ manager and officer OF the firm
through merit of ambition and abiiitv.
Ihen the turning point. and he had
gone down. down. SIarians depar.
iure for France six months before haa
marked the end
Mr.. Buzzell was speaking. Mollie
! Sterling came back into the present
with start.
Il will lie very frank. We have all
+ been together for 20 years: ,re under.
stand thoroughly. Things are NOT "a.
/ ing right. There must be a reorcari.
/ eaton, and have called you together
TO discuss II. Things have happened
and no eyed Frank Conway across
| the which makes il necessary
/ to-
/ conway sprang To his feet
| You are being kind, sir. bu. TT
| can take this off your shoulders by
! resigning-here and now. / am 70
| blame"
/ Mr RuzZell raised his hand. but h;s
! son-in law had left the room. ThA
! men eyed each other uneasiIv ara
MoIlie Sterling's hapds were clasped
/ uSnt together. He had looked down
! al ner as ne passed. Was he thinking.
100. of that night ls years before?
m
irS. hut We all know Frank has been
given his chance. He did remarksbIv
tcr years. II intended to keep him
on, give him another opening 10 re-
. Deem himself. hut he has chosen hi
way out Perhaps / am 10 blame,
perhaps my dau-hter-
And here his voice broke. Nolue
wanted 10 reach over and rest her
hand or his.
For 20 years Miss Sterling has
given faithful and royal service 20 our
company. Her devotion has been re-
E'3rkabls. The position OF sales man
aSeF through Franks resignation 10
open. She is the only one in the or
sauizat:on tssides Frank who can
handle il: she knows il Thoroughly.
having worked with him for so long.
Ard II Is nv pleasure. gentlemen,
with your approval. TO offer that posi-
iion 20 her"
The only ore who could handle IL
besides Frank. and without Il. without
something tangible to which he co, ID
cling she knew Frank Conway would
go down, failure. The only one
besides Frank who knew the sales end.
HE must not be allowed 70 resign: he
must stay there.
She found herself standing beside
II
inS eyes riveted on hsr-four Tsairs %
friendly eyes. For 20 years She had
Known these men intimately Her
voice faltsrG1 as she began 10 speak
and she cleared her throat nsrvouslv.
Her position with ths Ruxxell Manu-
faCtur!rg 20. was her Issa-ths ore
Thing she had lived for since that
night the gate had clicked behind
fFanS Conway.
Il am sorry. Mr.. Buzzell'' she be-
gan slowly, II cannot accept the
position I an, tired-very tired. Get.
ting old. I guess" and she tried 20
smile into ;ae friendly eyes before
her. We are all friends and I ara
sure you understand. I want n long
rest. | wan, 10 so away. and as a last
request. a reward for my years %
service. l ask that YOU give Frank
another chance and let him come hack
ta his own, no not accept his reSiS.
nation. Nou can help him, He Is The
only one for the position. Mr. SuE-en =
she pleaded, HE knows. Re knows
and shcn as she turned 20 leave the
rocn she repeated. HE knowS---'
And hack az her desk IN the &C.
serted office she buried her face -
her arms and wondered II Frank Con.
way Anew
That today. as IL wears before, she
had sacrificed the one precious thing
~ her lonely life SeCa use SAs loved
him.