The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-04-01
y RUTH
DEWEY GROVES

been 10 minutes later In arriving HI
would have been credited with, thu
transaction. As 1t was, the othel
salesman shared the commission witt
him. Stephen could not expect more
as the other had closed the deal
which is admittedly the toughest part
of selling.
When Stephen learned of his fellow
salesmar's success he was compelled
to smile over an incident that had
taken place at luncheon. Pamela had
handed him q small leather box with
the remark that she'd bought him
something else in. place Of dancing
shoes.
Curious, Stephen opened 1t. and
discovered an expensive cigaret case
within. He snapped the case shut
put it down on the table and with
the tip OF finger slid 1t over toward
Pamela's plate.
Nothing doing" he said, and there
was no humor then In his voice. $50
far your reversal Of the usual order
Of things has been merely funny. Miss
Judson, but this is too thick. don't
take presents from girls"
Pamela gazed at him a moment in
silence. Stephen saw that she was
making an effort to hold her tongue.
Speech, and plenty Of it, seemed fairly
bursting from her frightened lips and
blazing eyes.
Then suddenly she smiled. and
Stephen had an impression that she
was Weighing him. She picked up the
box and put 1t In her bag.
II didn't buy 1t for you." she said.
ITS for Harold, but I thought you
might like it. But since you have
such quaint ideas
If you want to make me a gift"
Stephen declared frankly. buy q new
car"
"If I don't need It? That would
be a gift. I'm surprised you would
accept 1t. But I do promise to buy
my next one from you"
She smiled lazily, but her thoughts
were agile. "Just for that I'll string
you good and plenty" she was saying
to herself angrily. $50 I'm only q
prospect! Well, you'll find me a hard
one to land"
* y \
The luncheon might have been
flop, considering how it began, but
Pamela saw that it wasn't. She ex-
erted herself to be pleasant, and when
they left the dining room she was
hanging on Stephens arm, laughing
at him, while he looked happily down
at her.
More than quite happily, it seemed
to Mildred. who was crossing the
lobby with dozen letters in short
hand to be transcribed immediately.
She hurried on, but before she
passed out OF sight she looked back
and saw that Pamela and Stephen
had been joined by Harold and Huck
and that Pamela was introducing
Huck to Stephen.
Mildred bit her lip in a troubled
manner. She did not like the friendly
way in which Pamela and Harold had
taken up this stranger. He was suave
and good hammered, well dressed and
pleasant. but there was something
else, something Mildred could not de-
fine. She felt, simply, that she would
not trust the man.
He slipped from her mind soon, In
the press Of work she had to do, but
a dull feeling remained. She felt de-
jectcd, blue. The picture Of Stephen
and Pamela together would not leave
her. It spread itself over the sheet
OF paper In her typewriter. Presently
she put a hand to her eyes and
pressed hard.
When she put 1t down again she
saw Stephen coming toward her, and
the sudden dissipation Of her blues.
the leap Of gladness in her heart ter
rified her. Falling In love with him?
The question. flashed through her
mind, but was unanswered. She
hadn't time to think. Stephen was
quite near now, looking directly at
her. She smiled q welcome. trying
to be coolly composed.
And then the smile vanished. Her
face became q blank. betraying not
a sign Of the shock she had Just re-
ceived.
Ito BE Continued