The Washington times., 1933-02-01
CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO
AS she turned to the right at
the end of the passage that had
its innumerable little glass-front-
ed cells on either side, all the
way along, she caught her
breath at sight of the tall, finely
built figure of Barry Deane him.
self standing in his own door
way. He was talking to two
girls-two expens lively fur.
coated, Smartly shod and hated
girls-and as Judith with sink
ing heart approached. she heard
one of them say. with the pref
tiest little laugh in the world
and fitting an appealingly pretty
profile up to the young man:
But you must come to the
party tonight, Barry. I insist
on your coming"
He was evidently demurring,
for the speaker, with a fascinat-
ing little pout, turned to the Sec
ond girl, exclaiming: Betty, if
he won't do it for me, you make
him!" and Judith in a quick
glimpse saw that No. is
full face was even lovelier than
her profile. Her forehead was
as smooth as a baby's. Her eyes
were darkly blue and very large.
Under her tip-tilted little nose
her mouth formed a perfect
Cupid's bow, oddly seductive Lit
tie bolnde curlS, like yellow ques-
tion marks, fluttered from the
point where her dashing little
hat was pulled down over her
ears.
She stood there, very close to
Barry, pouting and chirping up
into his face.
Ill at Ease
Judith, hesitating and embar-
rassed, was about to give the
list to a passing office-boy when
Barry saw her and came for
ward and took the list from her
hand with a brisk nod and a:
THANK you, Miss Brian"
Judith went back to her Of
flee and started to tidy up her
desk. She suddenly felt tired.
The lily-of-the-valley had a
wilted air. The sunshine had
gone.
Mr.. Deane wants you, Miss
Brian. Right away, please"
The voice Of the'manager, which
was usually quite pleasant,
sounded brusque.
Judith started. "Was-was
there anything wrong with my
work?"
He will tell you himself. He
just telephoned." Judith could
see the manager was annoyed
about something.
She'd blundered in that list,
Of course! Apart from the
pride she always took in turn
ing out a good piece of work,
just when she had most wanted
to please, she had fallen down!
All about her were instances
OF how easily one can lose ones
job in New York if one doesn't
give complete satisfaction.
But it would break her heart
to go away from here, to give
up the work she loved. And
never 10 see his face IN
the desolation of that thought
was like a cold gray wind E.
She walked trembling down
the long corridor again and
into Barry Deans office.
She found him at his desk.
He looked gravely up at her
as she entered, but showed no
sign of displeasure as he rose
and handed her the list.
you evidently didn't under
stand what I wanted, Miss
Brian. ordered a record to
be made of all the closed C.
counts in the section the
city that lies between Sixty-fifth
and Forty-eighth Streets, and
Sixth to Third Avenues, with
the dates of their closing. This
list does not carry any dates.
Will you please add them, and
I would like to have the list
back before you leave? It's
rather urgent"
Very Sorry
why, of course-I'm sorry
how stupid of me-I'll get right
at it," said Judith in a low,
apollo setic voice.
He turned away at once to a
pile Of other papers, and
Judith went back to her own
room. The practical, level
headed Judith was uppermost
now. She was furious with
herself for her stupidity.
She wou- remedy all that
now. 1t was o'clock-time to
go home-but she would work
like a Trojan.
There was a light of deter
mination in he eye as her
nimble fingers clicked upon the
machine for a good hour and a
half. The day staff h: all
left the bank by now, and the
night bookkeeperS had come in
to Judith'S department.
There! That's okay," she
sad to herself a quarter of an
hour later when she had read
her amended list through
twice. She drew a quick breath
as she rose from her desk.
conscious Of a sharp crick in
her back. The fingers of the
clock in the corridor pointed
to ten minutes of seven-would
Mr.. Deane have waited? Any