The Washington times., 1930-08-04
Cathie Nervous, Self Conscious,
Makes Awkward Plea for Job

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that age ought to be in school
-" damn shame.
He moved his chair so that he
wouldn't have to look at her,
and the girl jumped violently,
and turned to stare at him, her
blue eyes wide with startled en-
barraSSment.
Moore colored slightly. Feel
ing a little foolish he stood up
and made a jerky little bow, I'm
sorry that startled you," he
said. 81 can see you thought you
were alone in here. I should
have coughed when you came
in!" Back came the crinkly
little lines near his eyes, his
white teeth flashed in his bronz-
ed face. He was smiling and
coming toward her, a hard
brown hand outstretched.
Cathie'S eyes met the
strangers. Her quick glance
took in his perfect clothes, his
long, graceful body, his thin.
dark face with the aquiline
nose and the straight black
brows. Somebody awfully i'm
portant," she decided in flash.
And good looking. And nice.
Oh, isn't he nice!"
will you forgive me if I
promise to cough next time?"
he was saying.
Instantly Cathie's lovely child
face was lit with an answering
smile. When she smiled her
eyes almost disappeared, and a
vagrant dimple trembled at the
corner of her mouth. 1t was
a beautiful smile and one that
transfigured her completely. It
made you think of sunlight, and
gallant knights and ladies. and
bright mountain flowers. It
was so bright. so gay, so
touched with poignant beauty.
"Oh. it's my FAULT" she cried
quickly, in her clear. sweet voice.
at got to thinking, and I for
got everything. So I was startled
when l looked up-and saw
you," she finished shade less
brightly.
/. Smile Fades
It was funny how she changed
again, as the smile faded. When
she smiled you forgot every
thing. except that she was a
woman, and beautiful. And
when the smile went out, there
she was, just a green girl in
makeshift clothes.
She's getting worried about
talking to a strange man,
Moore decided, watching her
first glow of friendliness fade,
and her shoulders straighten
primly. Look here, let's in
troduce ourselves the way they
do on shipboard and trains
and such. We might as well
talk as sit and. silently cry.
My names Moore - Gordon
Moore. at your service!"
Mines Paige. Catherine
Paige. But I wasn't crying!"
"Of couse you weren't!"
But felt a little like it.
just before you spoke" she
admitted. dimpling again.
II thought you looked a
little low. -
"oh, I'm not low! It's really
just the opposite that is
-. - All Cathie's training
warned her against talking to
strangers. It wasn't the thing
to do at all. Mad be ashamed
of her :. .. and here she was,
on the point of telling every
thing that was on her
THAT is," he prompted.
Air Castles
"Well, / THINK I have the
job" she finished impulSively,
scanning his face with her
guileless, clear. blue eyes, "but
that's the trouble with me, do
you see? I'm always thinking
something wonderful is going
to happen, and half the time
it doesn't. It has never hap
pened yet and"
"It will this time. I'm sure
Of it."
"Oh! What makes you think
that? Do you really think that
L. that they ! mean,
Mr.. Farnsworth
Absolutely. I know Farms
worth. He'll like you"
A long sigh escaped her.
Truly? You really think
I'm sure Of it,"
The lovely smile lit her face
again, Illuminating it. "Oh. l
hope you're right" She laid a
slim, eager hand on his sleeve.
"It means so much. I was just
sure of it, at first. when I first
came in. II could hardly
wait to see him, to get home
to tell the family I had it.
And then I got to thinking.
why, when I first started look
ing for work I used to have my
first months pay all spent in
my head before ] ever saw the
place, and when I did they al
ways had somebody else to try
out first. and so +. did you
ever have to look for a job?"
He grinned. Yes. but not
lately. 1 work for my brother.
A brother can't very well fire
you. do you see?"
Nobody would dare to fire
you!" she thought. studying his
thin aristocratic face. with its
high hridged nose and arrogant.