The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-30

"0irl? Who said I had . girl?"
Benny sputtered, whirlins about In
the swivel chair. Then he saw Ruth
and his prominent eyes glared until
Ruth, coloring and laughing. was
afraid they would pop from hts head.
Gee gosh!" he exploded ct last
"All right I bite! Who are your"
Don't be silly, Bennyi It's Just
Ruth Lester. OF course"
"Jul-yus Caesar" Benny breathed.
IT'S just Ruth Lester. OF course" he
mimicked her precise, repressed little
voice. "Goshl What have you went
and done to yourself, Ruth7 BE your
self! I amt feelin' 50 strong this
mornin'-"
Ruth laughed. THAT'S what I'm
doing at last, Benny! I'm being my
self! Do you like Ruth Lester her
self?"
Benny rose slowly from Ruths
chair, then lifted q crooked elbow q
II to ward her off. Gosh, woman!
Turn them lamps off me! You1l
blind me! Where's your specs? And
say. what have you done to your
hair?"
Ruth's little white hands, which she
had never been able to disguise, flut-
tered to her golden curls, fluffed
them. "Nothing-but turn IT. loose!"
she laughed. Its really too long to
be worn as bob"
"But gosh! You didn't have to slick
1t back till your head looked like q
yellow onion, and screw 1t into q little
knob on your neck" the office boy
protested. curiously angry with her.
Il used to think your hard pull your
eyebrows out by the roots. Say!
Maybe that was what give you that
scared rabbit look-your hair skinned
back like that, pulling at your eye
brows. and them big yellow-glass
specs OF yours, covering half Of your
face. Gee!" he marveled again.
But, listenl What'd you do to your
face? It looks different, too, not
pale and sickly-"
Ruth opened the top drawer Of her
desk and took out q box Of powder.
which she showed him triumphantly.
See! Rachel-tinted powder, very
heavy. See how yellowish It is?
Plenty Of that slapped on and my
milk-maid complexion was successful
~ hidden. But-1ve got to get to work,
Benny!' Be good infant and get
me some water for my sponge, and
sharpen q bunch Of pencils, won't
you?"
Listen, Greta Nissen!" Benny
sputtered. "You amt going to shut
up and not slip me the low-down on
why you done it, are you?"
"Greta Nissen?" Ruth raised her
eyebrows and gave him the full, en-
chanting beauty of her limpid blue
eyes.
my error!" Benny backed away,
again with that crooked elbow gesture
Of warding her oft. "Greta Nissen
or no other movie star can't hold q
candle to you.
II heard that red-headed riot
across the hall say that Ruth Lester
wouldn't be bad-looking girl II
someone'd slip her little info, about
how to dress and make up that sickly
little face of hers. Boy howdy, but
I hope I'm on deck when she lamps
the WOW you turned out to be! Gee!"
Scatter, Benny! Ruth command
ed, her cheeks very pink. her blue eyes
trimming with tender mirth. RE
member, this Is Saturday. I've some
thing else to do than listen to you
sputter 'Gee!' and 'Gosh!' down my
neck. No, I'm not going to tell you
why did it! Take these pencils
and put long point on each Of them,
please"
Her competent hands began to open
the big stack Of mail. Only one letter
marked Personal this morning-an-
other Of those big square, orchid
tinted envelopes with the distinctive.
angular handwriting in violet ink.
The handwriting Of woman Of cul-
ture and strong character, Ruth had
decided long since. The pencil sharp
ener had been grinding furiously. but
now the sound dragged, stopped al
together. "Say, Ruth! guess amt
so dumbl I know why you made up
to look like a slavery in specs and
long dresses"
"Clever boy!" Ruth laughed.
"You done it SOS you could keep
your jobl" Benny deduced triumph
antly. "You knew that the minute
Handsome Harry lamped you he'd
fall for YOU like ton Of bricks. Bet
that's the reason, too, that you've
worked 50 many places since you got
out Of business college-ain't it?"
Benny, you've been meddling In
my desk againl"
Jaw / amt either! I just happened
to see q bunch Of letters Of recon-
mendation clipped together and
glanced over 'em," Benny protested
Say. they had me goin' sure! ]
couldn't figger out why q whizz Of q
steno like you should work two OF
three weeks In job and then blow,
and why the guys you worked Tor
give you such swell recommendations
Il they didn't want to keep you"
Shut up, cenny, and get to work! =
Ruth scolded.
Eyes. sir, ats the ticket, sure's
you're born!" Benny applauded his
own powers Of deduction. Gosh!
can just imagined Married man hires
you-and who wouldn't? I'm asking
you! Wifeyt blows In. lamps new sec
rotary. Whslml Either she goes or
got wiley lays the law down. Men
TIN awful sorry, Miss Lester, but
er-necessary to retrench, do without
2 secretary for while. OF course,
best Of rec0qunendations-' All at
stuff Am ! Tight, fair frail?" Benny
concluded, with an impudence he had
never been interested enough to show
her before.
Ruth's golden head nodded slowly.
Yes, Benny was right. No boy Of II
could know how terribly accurate his
slangy version Of her past as q bust