The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-09-08

"But the lunch hour shouldnt count" Corbett reminded Sue. Tt isn't on your time schedule. You aren't my secretary from one to two"
 "The curfew doesn't sound un. til five o'clock" she told him. "Thank you, It's nice of you. But the sandwich at the drug store counter wins"
 "Ali right. give up. But If l want to sit at the drug store counter. ." He laughed, weiA Into his own office, and was still there when Sue went downstairs. A few minutes later, from her vantage point on high stool. she saw him go out of the door and signal a ta:iicab. Sue hadn't been aware of the girl sitting next to her at the counter. Now she was conscious of the scrutiny of the girls eyes.
 "You're the boss new secre- tary, aren't you?' she asked.
 "Oh, yes."
 Im in the general steno- graphic room. was passing this noon and heard him trying to take you to lunch. Why didn't you go?" ,, Sue counter, questioned.
 "oh, he would have taken you to & swell joint-given you e good meal. You should have ac. cepted. Don't be too upstage. It doesn't pay. Why not get as much out of him as the next one? She took a bite-a too.big bite. nal b.sttAa an taANiah and | Sue decided that this girl would get everything she could from | everyone.
 "Does he often take the--girls in his office out?" Sue asked. She didn't want to promote the gossip vein in tho conversation, but she was curious. Besides, some such lead would put her on q friendlier basis with the other girl.
 No! Not that bozo! He thinks he's so many stories above the rest fo US that all the fire ladders in town strung together couldn't get to him. That's why you should have gone. We're all curious"
 "Ohv Sue glanced down so the girl couldn't see the smile hover- ing around her lips. She was curl ously relieved. Not that 1t mat tered, one way or the other. whom the man took to lunch, she told herself. He could have q regular filing system If he wanted it. Sally for Monday. Sadie for Tues day, Jane for Wednesday. :. But she was glad that he didn't. It made him q little finer. q little moro the type of man she had thought him.
 "Go with him the next time," the new girl urged. standing up and wiping her too-red lips on . paper napkin as she did. Tell us what he does and says, and where you go. Game?"e
 Sue shook her head. "I lunch with my husband or a girl or two I know"
 "oh, married?"
 Sue nodded.
 Did your husband lose his job? It happens. I'm that. way: too. Mine hasn't had a stroke Of work for six months. But l say that as long as one of us brings in a check, what's the difference He can't see 1t, though. He gets grouchy, says a man shouldn't be independent" , | The gtrIS race was uetle sharp, the eyes were a little tired but the soft radiance crept over 1t now. "He-he can't seem to understand I get a kick out of helping. Well, so long. I'll sec you later."
 The women of the world-the, were all >alike, Sue unused. Wher they loved a man they wanted tt help him. It wasn't duty. II was a privilege. But men were the natural aggressors. Of course they wanted to shoot the gam' and catch the fish and bring tht results of the days foraging bacl to the lair where a chosen woman waited. Life was difficult whei if worked in reverse. She fel curiously warm toward the gir who had sat by ,her at the drui store counter.