The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-12
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she has asked us to entertain a great many of the visitors to her New York office. can't help hear- ing a lot of the shop talk and be- cause I've worked for her myself I'm naturally interested"
 A grunt was her only reply, but now she felt at ease and found no difficulty in proceeding directly to the subject uppermost in her mind.
 were both 50 sorry that your stay has been overshadowed by the accident this morning. Tom wanted plenty of free time to talk to you and he's had 50 little. I'm afraid things have been very much upset all around but I hope you've been at least fairly comfortable and that you're not forcing your- self to stay against your wishes. I'd like you to do just what you most prefer, so please be honest with me-"
 II don't pretend what I don't feel," he replied coldly, and she felt she had again unintentionally offended him. But she reflected that since she apparently had q special gift for irritating this par- ticular person, she must simply go ahead, as best she might, and dis- regard 1t. So she smiled amiably and went on as though he had not spoken.
 T want to thank you for help ing out this morning. Tom said you volunteered to do anything he wanted or needed. It was a ter hible thing and we appreciated the way you all offered to help.'
 "Hrmp! We'll, Mrs Averill, frankly, that--er--incident was to my mind badly handled; very badly handled indeed"
 She looked at him in some aston ishment. And in the silence she heard the ripple of gravel. the whispered purr of an almost noise- less engine, and visualized the stop before her door of the gorgeous Stoner. Then she hardened her heart. Tom-poor Tom, caught in the net of sociability!--could meet their guests. After all, he had probably lost his chance to set over to the garage and she was moi going to lose hers with Statlander who was just well started.
 "As office manager of the west. ern plant" The curt, didactiC voice went on and while she lis tened respectfully she also con. trived to hear the succession oi small sounds---light laughter, thu murmur of masculine voices, the rustic of movement into the sud. dently lighted drawing room tell. ing her the play was about to be. gin without her assistance. T have had to meet many emergencies,' Htatlander went on. "Once a smal 1 explosion and fire, when my dril saved the lives of a number of er1- pIoyes. We maintain a small, well. equipped hospital, where accidenti and cases of sudden illness art very we'll handled"
 "Yes?" said Linda politely, men. tally observing that illness orr an accident was something to be "handled" with thoroughly bust. ness-like efficiency.
 "Yes. l know that. in the case of a faint such as yours this morn. ing, the victim should be laid out prone. but with the heels higher than the head"
 i've read that somewhere murmured Linda helpfully.
 'It's the best medical practice recommended for first aid treat ments. Now I was entirely willing | to take charge this m0rning--tt give you the benefit of my exper. ience-but my suggestion that
 do this was passed over without any reply at all by Mir Pratt. Sim. | ply because he got there first, h< seemed to think he could do as ht
 wished. He insisted upon tryinf | to help you stand when you were
 evidently not able to do so. As fai
 as I could see the correct methodi of reviving you were ignored"
 .It was awfully good of you {, take so much interest" said Liadi meekiy--almost too meekly, sh, feared, until she saw him relax int a frosty smile. A stiff grimace 1
 was, but meant for a smile.
 'sI wish I'd known you were s'
 such an expert" she said softly
 "You've been too modest. MT Stat lander. I knew you were mar yeious business executive but I did mt realize you were so many -sided Stili, a person who's efficient in bil
 things usually is in small ones, too
 He visibiy melted. "That's onl
 way of looking at iti I'd have beer glad to talk about your case ana that of your uncle with the docto but there was no chance excep when others were present."
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