Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-06-13
MIR. Ornond Was
Not BluHed
By JANE NICHOLS



MR.. WILLIAM ORMOND appeared
lN1 In the door of the outer office
Of the Ormond and Ledgend firm OF
brokers and passed down the aisle be-
tween the desks Of his employees and
into his private office. There followed
after him perfect volley of curious
looks. Those looks had been follow
ing him whenever he came in thus for
the last three weeks. In fact, ever
since he had hired his latest private
secretary.
There was nothing about the new
private secretary herself to call forth
all this curiosity over their employer.
She was just an ordinary girl, not
pretty. with windblown black hair,
turned-up nose, and pair of blue eyes
that registered every emotion their
owner experienced-registered 1t be-
hind dark, horn-rlmmed spectacles.
There was desperateness in those
eyes when the girl made her first ap-
peaance In the Offices of Ormond and
Ledgend. And that was on the day
after Mr.. william 0rmond had adytr-
tised for a private secretary of expert
ence. Then for a week or two after
she was hired for the position there
was a sort of fear. But now there
was only a deep, abiding peace shin
ing from them and an earnestness Of
purpose. t'.t h
1t was generally known in the outer
thok tbn n ~
had not met up with that one require
ment specified by Mr.. Ormond in his
advertisement. Lucy Barton had had
no experience, either as private sec
rotary or anything else in the busi-
ness world. Why then had Mr.. Or
mond. so exact, so demanding in all
things, why then had he taken her -
as his private secretary? This the eIG
plOyees In the outer Office asked them.
selves over and over again wnenevef
Mr.. OrmOnd appeared in the door az
either end Of the room and passed
down the aisle between their desks as
he had just done. They were destined
never to know the reason.
But It happened thus: Lucy Barton
with that desperate look in her blue
eyes, appeared in William OrmonRs
private office on tn morning after thu
appearance of the advertisement and
before that awesome individual had
more than removed his coat and hat
and set himself down at his desk.
II have come In answer to your nd
vertlsement in yesterdays paper" said
Lucy Immediately she was in the office
with the door closed behind her. And
she stood with her back to that door
las IL she were determined that Mr.
Ormond, since he was the only other
person in the room, should not escape
She went on to say, "I'n be honest
with you. ! have no experience as
private secretary or as anything else
for that matter. But | hold record
for fast and accurate tipping. That II
all can do. have never worked IN
an office. But ! have mother and
three small sisters to support and
need work badly" Here Lucy stopped
for lack of breath to go on. And Ms
Ormond started to start In where she
left Off. But Lucy raised one smali
hand and took up the conversation, Il
such 1t might be called, herself.
Don't tell me there's nothing doing
There is or there will be- think
you'll give me the position on trial II
promise to do my best TO learn what
Is required of me-" 4.r
Here Mr.. Ormond got In word, OF
rather several words.
my dear Miss Barton" he said,
surely you can't expect me to hire"
81 can expect you to-" Lucy inter
rupted, "when ] tell you that have
seen you to dinner with one of your
stenographers at least IS different
Mr.. OrmOnd, | think you'll agree with
me that the time for private secrs
tary to be private is at hand"
Mr.. Ormond gasped and stared al
Lucy. Then he smiled just trife.
SIS this blnckmail?" he asked OF the
astonishing young woman.
ats request for job" said Lucy
simply and added after a moment. dc
get III"
Mr.. Ormond grinned. II guess you
do" he said. "Tll give you months
trial"
-Four weeks later when the time o,
Lucy's trial was over. he said to his
private secretary. You're doing okay
and you may keep ON. III give you
raise II you continue to improve.
And while I'm on private secretarIal