The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-04
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I Go up there and do your darndest."
Susan accepted the slip from his
fingers. He raped out, after her,
as she turned to leave, Remember
all I've been telling you these
months. Chin up, walk like a SOL
der, smile!"
Susan gave very feeble imita-
ton of the military manner as she
took leave Of the school martinez,
but her knees were shaking under
her.
She was not sure the autocratic
Mr.. Block of the super-super bust
ness methods would approve of her
just then, so she did not wait to find
out.
JoStling through the State street
crowds, through hordes of women
shoppers on the trail of juicy bar
gains, the girl felt suddenly uplifted.
Mr.. Blocks lectures, listened to
so YEARLY for so many days, were
jumbled together in her brain in a
muddled fashion. One thing was
certain, she must not seem tinid.
She must appear sure of herself
at all costs.
The facade of the building hous-
ing the Melo company was any,
thing but appealing. Huddled UNI
der the elevated tracks, smoke
stained and weather worn, 1t
seemed to the job seeker to have a
slightly sinister air.
Susan consulted the slip again.
Yes, it was the right number. Men
tally girding herself for battle, she
swung the heavy, dirty glass door
inward.
A ED-HEADED Office boy, chew
4 n ing gum, sat behind an ancient
partition near the door. Behind
him doomed stoves of all sizes and
quality.
Susan shuddered. After the heat
of the street, the place had fetid
GOODNESS that reminded her Of an
unused cellar.
She advanced and said to the
red-haired boy in what she hoped
were the proper tones, 81 wish to
see Mr.. Petterman. I am from
Blocks institute"
With a cynical gaze the youth
rose and shambled toward the rear
of the store. Susan's eyes, gradu-
ally accustoming themselves to the
graz light, could just make out in
the far corner the figure of a man
at a large, old-fashioned roll top
desk.
A single bulb, shaded by a folded
sheet of letter paper, burned above
his head.
ugh, what dismal place!" she
murmrued to herself. Somehow in
her dreams of crisp, efficient Of
fees there had been nothing like
this.
The boy shuff1ed toward her and
pointing vaguely in the direction of
the swinging electric bulb mumbled,
Mist Petterman'll see va"
Susan passed through the gate
and picked her way fastidiously
over the unbelievably dirty floor to
the desk where the man sat.
She heard an oily voice say in
gratiatingly, "Sit down, young lady,
Shuddering inwardly, Susan
slipped into the armchair beside
him. The man called Petterman
had long sharp nose and sallow
skin.
His dark suit was crumpled and
spotted. He wore a high Starched
collar that should have gone to the
laundry several days ago. His pale
blue eyes, watering under sandy
9rowS, repealed the shrinking girl.
She reminded herself sternly of
her obligation to Aunt Jessie, of Mr..
Blocks probably disappointment if
she failed, and only by the exer-
else of will power was she enabled
to endure another moment of the
mans company.
Experienced" barked the man,
suddenly harsh-voiced after the
oiliness of his approach.
Susan shook her head. II haven't
any. I'm a beginner"
The man smiled and his smile
was, curiously enough, uglier than
his frown. He said unctuously,
We'll, well, we can't all be ex-
perienced. Well teach you. You'll |
learn.
you won't" here he smirked |
horribly again, find me hard |
taskmaster."
Susan shrank into the farthest
corner of the oaken chair.
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