The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-25
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO (Con-

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Across the room, tackled to the
faded wallpaper, Norma saw cal
endar. She had not noticed II
earlier in the day. The calendar
bore the name of a coal company
printed in large lettering and be-
meath this the head Of fiirtatious
young woman dressed in red
The calendar evidently had been
added to the room as a decoration
No one had bothered to remove the
November sheet from the pad.
Swiftly Norma crossed the room
and tore off the ante-dated leaf
Yesterday had been December g.
She counted down four weeks. That
brought her to the Both. Four weeks
but it might be fivel
Painstakingly Norma drew cir
Gle about the numeral 30. 1t oc-
Cured to her for the first time
that Mark would be away on Christ
mas.
For a long time she sat and
stared at the calendar. Then she
arose, drew a large cross over the
day that had just ended. There
would be 81 more crosses to draw
before she could hope to see Mark
again. Twenty-seven more crosses.
From childhood and Sunday
school Norma remembered a hymn
about crosses. No, she told herself
vehemently, it was not sacrilegious
to think of such things!
Every day away from Mark, every
"a hours represented by cross up
on her calendar, was literal cross
to be borne on her shoulders.
Oh, what good could telling her
self to be brave do? What good
could anything do?
n II q
ATORNdA was 20 years old. She
IN was very much in love, des-
perately unhappy and lonesome. So,
as might have been expected of any
young girl in a similar situation,
she cried herself to sleep.
Morning when it came was gray
and dreary. A sunless December
day threatening snow which did not
fall. Norma did not go out for
breakfast. She dallied through the
routine of dressing, made her bed
and rearranged bureau drawer.
At GAS she was summoned to
the telephone. Chris voice at the
other end of the wire said brightly,
"Everything's arranged. You're to
come down as soon as you can and
Dorothy'll take you to Mr.. Stuart's
office. How soon can you make it?"
Half an hour, I guess. I'll start
right away"
Then step on It'll The jobs as
good as yours now"
Chris was dear. For her sake,
Norma tried to seem more enthusi-
astic than she felt riding downtown
on the street car, later meeting the
unknown Dorothy and being led by
her to the unknown Frederick Stu
arts office.
Halfway down the corridor Doro-
thy stopped. wait a minute!" she
said abruptly. You're not feeling
so high this morning, are you? Need
q little rouge. Here-let's see what
we can do"
They went into the wash room.
From her own vanity case Dorothy
produced rouge and a pinkish pad
with which to apply it.
Five minutes of artful ministra-
lions and Norma emerged, the color
in her cheeks notably Frightening
her appearance.
1T isn't too much" the other girl
assured her. "The whole building
has artificial light today"
TINE lettering on the frosted glass
Il before them read Frederick j.
Stuart, Authors Representative. +"
Dorothy opened the door and they
entered.
A slim girl, taller than Norma,
with ash blond hair, arose to meet
them. Hello" she smiled at Doro-
thy. us this Miss Traverse"
Eyes. And this is Miss Fenway,
Miss Travers. She's come to see
about the job"
"Of course. Mr.. Stuart'S in now,
Shall ask him if he can see you?
know it will be all right"
Norma said she would like the
interview at once. The slim girl
disappeared. She returned and
with nod invited Norma to enter
her employers Office.
Norma passed through the door
marked private" The man at the
desk looked up. Miss Travers? ?"
he asked.
eyes sir. I understand you need
a secretary and I've come to apply
for the position"
Stuart Strengthened back. He
was dark man and he was large
dark-rimmed spectacles. The hair
over his temples was rather thin
"CIT down, Miss Travers," he said
- Miss Fenway tells me you've
had considerable experience. Take
dictation, I suppose?"
Eyes, sir. Most of my experience
has been in law Office. I've had
practice taking letters in shorthand
and also on the dictaphone.
II see. Well, let's have a try at
it. Ask Miss Fenway for a note
book"
Norma went for the notebook
For half an hour she took dicta-
ton at high speed and afterward
transcribed the notes.
Her fingers seemed clumsy as she
hit the typewriter keys, but her
shorthand was accurate. 1t took
longer to write the letters than il
should have, but when finished they
were perfect.
Stuart studied the letters care
fully. He chewed the end of a
cigar that was not lighted. Present
~ he broke the silence.
Report for work Monday morn
ing, please, Miss Travers. Nine
o'clock"
Norma hesitated. About the sal
ary-" sh began.
yes, yes. OF course. Twenty
five dollars"
II was earning $50 on my last
job"
Well. we'll make it $27.50. Raise
you after the first Of the year u
volfr works satisfactory Rirht2n