Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-14
READ THIS FIRST:

READ THIS FIRST:
Charlotte C~hatterton, nicknamed
Chatty, is a born gossip. She loses
her job in Mrs. Mayberry's millinery
shop because she talks too much.
Her mother. a dresmaker. has one
wealthy customer, Mrs. Van Mugs,
an old friend. Through her Chatty
gets a job in the files department
Of Mr.. Van Mugs bond house down
town. There she falls in love with
Dave Jordan. a young bond sales
man. and he begins to pay her a
great deal Of attention.
Billie L~angenau, in charge of the
files, tells Chatty that Dave never
pays any attention to any Of the
girls in the office except Agnes Her
ford. Mr.. Vans secretary. When
Chatty repeats what Billie said. she
adds a lie Of her own TO it-and
says that Billie told her that Dave
and Agnes were in love with each
other. Agnes threatens TO tell Mr..
Van that Billie has been g~ossiping
about her, and Chatty determines to
stop her if she can.
Finally she steals Agnes desk KEYS
and goes through her desk. trying to
find a note she has seen Dave hand
to her. The note is innocent enough,
out Chattv finds Agnes diary while
she Is hunting for it-and in the
diary is the whole story OF Agnes
love for Mr.. Van. Chatty tears out
the pages at home that night and
sends them to Mrs. Van. Agnes does
not discover the theft at once.
Billie and her sister. Sara, come
to live across the hall from the
Chattertons. and Chattv learns that
she Is separated. but still married to
a man named Brewster. However.
no one knows this, including George
MAYHEM. a bond salesman. who Is
IN love with Billie. Billie insists
that she feels only friendship for
George. but one night when Chatty
reDorts that she has cen him out
with another girl, Billie bursts into
tears.
Chatty has a "date" for that same
evening with Dave Jordan. and Bill
lie. who Is kindness itself. always.
helps her dress herself for it. Chatty
is ashamed of the little flat where
she lives with her mother and young
brother. Pud. She is particularly
ashamed of Pud. who works after
moons and evenings in Tomlinson's
drug store. helping the owner sell
alcohol and gin. Chattv has begged
him not to do this, especially since
she knows that he sells his goods
to Winnie Talcott, a s~tenographer
at the office.
Next morning Chatty remembers
that she left her handbag in Dawes
roadster. She hopes he hasn't found
It. for in that bag Is Agnes diary.
with the pages torn out. Later that
morning Agnes comes to Chatty
with the diary in her hand and asks
II Chatty saw anyone 90 into her
office Monday night. Chatty calmly
shakes her head.
CNow 60 on with the story
CHAPTER XVII
Chatty never knew how she kept
herself from going to pieces at the
sight OF the little black book that
she had left in Dave Jordan's road
ster the night before.
Her brain felt as IL 10 were a
great wheel. whirling very fast in
tside her head. so fast that it was
hard for her to think clearly:
Let's see. Dave must have found
the book in her handbag. And then.
Of course. he had ONE upon Agnes
name written in it and brought 1t
down to the office.
But where's my handbag. and
where Is hep" Chatty asked hedslei
wildly. "And why didn't he tell
Agnes that he found her diary n
nv bag in his carp"
agnes" she began slowly, -
don't know anything about YOU
diary. Why should anyone want &
tear pages out OF II? Who would be
interested in 1t but yourself? J
don't see why you're so upset"
She sat there. listening to her.
self telling falsehood after false
hood, as calmly as II she were lis
tening 20 some other person TELLING
them. She marevled at herself To-
being 50 cool outwardly.
why wouldn't ! be upset?' slit