The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-23

she failed, and only by the exer- cies of will power was she enabled to endure another moment of the mans company.
 Experience? parked the man. suddenly harsh-voiced after the oiliness of his approach. - Susan shook her head. "I haven't any. I'm beginner" The man smiled and his smile was, curiously enough. uglier than his frown: He said unctuousiy' "WeIl, we'll, we can't all be ex- l learn. You won't" here he smirked horribly again, find me a hard taskmaster."
 Susan shrank into the farthest corner of the oaken chair.
 TT hope not" Petterman hitched .his own chair several inches nearer. "Salary's SIS to start and we | work Saturday afternoons. No nonsense about us. Eight to 5:30. Expect punctuality." The pale blue eyes bulged at her. The man seemed to be wait ing for an answer. Susan mur- mured, "Of course"
 Petterman nodded. "You'l do. You'll do. How old are your"
 s'I'H be 20 in October" Susan faltered. The answer seemed to l please him. He leaned toward her and she caught the repellant odor of old cigars.
 | Youths no sin. It's a fault soon overcomes." he mouthed, managing to come as close as pos sible to Susan. "We'll get along" | Petterman's bony hand snapped out and closed over her roupd | wrist.
 Mighty pretty little piece" he whispered hoarsely. Susan had great difficulty in repressing a scream. She got to her feet. There l was a brief struggle in the course of which the swinging bulb was broken and the man received a short but stinging slap on the cheek. Through the nightmare Susan was conscious of the red haired boy staring at her. How she got past the wooden gate, how she managed to pull open the l she never knew. But suddenly she found herself, dazed and shak- ing, walking safely along under the l..
 She had the utmost difficulty winking back the tears. So this was what life downtown was like! I This was the sort of thing you had to endure if you were to earn your living. She thought, almost with awe, of Aunt Jessie's prophecies about lecherous old men in the Loop district. Aunt Jessie had | been right! Managing by heculean effort to wink back the stubborn tears she wended her way listlessly back to the commercial school. | All the glory had gone out of the day. She wondered why she had | ever imagined herself as brisk | and confident wage-earner. As Susan joined the smart prom l enade on Michigan avenue she heard an agreeable masculine voice | calling her name.
 Miss Cary. Ahoy there! Why the rush?"
 She turned to meet the smiling eyes of Robert. Dunbar, looking tall and well groomed in gray fiannels.
 His smile faded and, swinging l along beside her. he inquired in a | solicitious tone, "What's the mat ter? You look as though you'd had bad news"
 Susan's forced calm threatened to desert her. Her under lip trembled. To the young man she appeared rather like a pitiful child.
 "Here, now!" A firm arm steered her into the doorway of a sweet-palace on the avenue. She found herself seated at a tiny marble topped table. "Tell uncle. " said Robert Dunbar masterfully. What's up? Who's been making you cry?"
 She told. The words tumbled forth tempestuously. She bit back a sob and described the monster of the stove works in all his spidery ugliness. A short, sharp epithet es- caped the lips of her companion. :,
 "T beg your pardon!" muttered and tear the hide off that baby in few minutes The young mans jaw was set. He looked equal to I tAG taoAs
 I Susan shuddered. No. you mustn't. Please don't. Forget
 told you! I got away and -
 here she regarded her still ting ling fingers with some pride-"l
 left the print of these on his
 face!"
 "Atta grill" Young Dunbar re-
 garded her with admiration. But
 I'd like to leave few prints my self"
 susan's great eyes implored him. Don't. please. II would only make trouble. You're awful iy kind. though. And I appre- ciate It."
 She strengthened her lat. pow dered her nose. 1T must set back | to school. I'll have to report to | Mir Block. By the way, where