The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-05
In Spite Of
Lulu Otis
By JANE OSBORN
10 1891. Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.S
(WNU Eervice.l

kWI AVAIL mcclure N9Ws6papeT 6YnQtCate.1
(WNU Eervice.l
a FTER Eleanor Pickett had worked
"A as stenographer In the insurance
office Of Mansard Il Son she had to
admit that she was In love with young
George Mansard, and she had more
over to admit that she was Jealous of
Lulu Otis, the plump, strawberry
blond grass widow who sat at the
telephone switchboard in tn outer
Office Of the Granger establishment,
and spoke Of herself as Mr.. Mansard's
private secretary. The fact that Flea
nor took Mr.. Mansard's dictation and
had got SO that she could attend to
mucn of his correspondence alone
made no difference to Lulu.
you're terribly old fashioned"
Lulu had told Eleanor on several occa-
sions: "If you want to get In right
with boss you've got to show more
pep. OF course while I'm here all he
expects Of you is to take his dicta-
tion, but IL were to leave, why he'd
want private secretary. I'd like to
see you get the Job, but you've got to
remember that man like Mr.. Man
sard needs private secretary with an
awful lot of pep-some one to kind Of
buck him up."
"But you're not thinking Of leav-
ing7' asked Eleanor timidly.
swell, YOU know, girlie-a girl like
me doesn't intend to work forever.
I've only just got my freedom" By
freedom Eleanor knew that Lulu re-
ferred to her divorce papers which she
had received only few weeks before.
"And I'm not going to be In too big
hurry this time. But you can bet
that I've more than one string to
my bow"
Eleanor felt her cheeks burn with
suspicious jealousy. She had seen
Bob Mansard talking for a full half
hour with Lulu that very morning.
"You know 1 always wear earrings
to the office. Personally think It's
worth while to doll up a bit. The
boss likes 1t and lot of nice fellows
come In here all the time. OF course
you've got nice complexion but just
bit Of makeup does help girls ap-
pearance an awful lot"
Eleanor made up her mind to stop
on her way home that evening and
buy pair OF earrings and some rouge
and hpstick.
The next morning Eleanor purpose
ly reached the office ten minutes ahead
OF her usual time Of arrival 80 that
she could be seated at her desk before
Mr.. Mansard or Lulu arrived. She
didn't want to be too conspicuous In
her new earrings.
But apparently the bit of makeup
or the earrings did make difference
because when Bob Mansard came into
the room he whistled.
"Why the war paint2" he asked In
a tone Of unusual familiarity. "And,
great scott, dingle- bangles on her ears
besides"
Don't you like themp asked
Eleanor putting her hands up to the
earrings.
"Oh, they're all right-only think
like you better 'au naturel'"
Eleanor swiftly pulled off the ear
rings.
Weeks and months went on and the
situation so far as Eleanor and Bob
Mansard were concerned went on
without change. 1t seemed, however,
to Eleanor as IL she noted signs Of In
creasing intimacy between him and
Lulu. Doubtless now that she had
really gained her freedom" he was
courting her in good earnest. Then
came one Saturday morning when
Eleanor could not fail to see an un-
wonted hrilliance In Lulu's eyes.
Heard the excitement? Lulu asked
Eleanor and then went on to explain.
"pm leaving for good In a few hours,
grille. just came around to sort of
say good-by. I'm going to get married
Monday"
'I-hope you'll be very happy-Oh,
I'm sure you will" stammered Eleanor,
and then dreading the answer to the
question-"May L know the name Of
the lucky mann"
Lulu's "You ask Mr.. Mansard after
l am gone" left no doubt whatever
In Eleanor's mind.
OF course Eleanor didn't ask Mr.
Mansard anything about it but just
went to her desk and worked like a
Trojan all morning. At half-past
eleven Bob Mansard drew up chair
beside her desk and dropped Imply
into 1t.
"She's gone at last" he sighed.
Lord knows how rye been looking
forward to this moment"
"You mean-Mrs. Otis-Lulu?" asked
Eleanor timldly.
Lulu, indeed" said Robert. sand
now Eleanor I'm going to make allong
story short. I've loved you from the
first day you came-but I've never
dared tell you until now."
"But why did you have to waltz
she ased bewildered.
Because l couldn't bare to be alone
here with her-with Lulu. / was
afraid she would never leave. You've
no idea how she bossed me and both
cred me before you came. and I didn't
dare discharge her."
"But l thought she thought you were
one of the strings to her bow"
Maybe she did," sighed Bob Man
sard. taking Eleanor's little hand in
his. But introduced her to sus-
ceptible friend Of mine with load
Of money. But don't let's talk about
Neutrality-suspicious. tell me you