The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-02-21
CHAPTER xXxvIII

Sheila found Henri in one of his most tempestuous moods. Nothing suited the designer that morning. Business was very bad. The models not one of them pleased him. Their frocks did not look right. There were bills to be paid and other bills-those owed der of silk had not been deliv- cred.
 Those models! Henri was shouting that every one of them were fired just as Sheila arrived on the scene. The girls-all of them attractive and smart look ing-accepted this announcement with marked unconcern. Not one of them, standing about like so many lovely goddesses, gave as much as a sign that they had heard their employer.
 It was an old story. Business was not really bad, and they knew it. Henri lost his temper, discharged every one and imme- diately forgot about 1t every few months. It meant nothing at all.
 But 1t was not an old story to and uncertain what to do until the little Frenchman, pudgy and red in the face from screaming, sud denly wheeled and faced her.
 INT Lane sent me- she said
 "Mr Lane sent your" Henri shouted, fapning hls arms like a frantic hen. "Mr Lane says I should take you on? And how do pay you salary? How do teaoh you to walk, to stand? How do l know you can wear my gowns? How do I know that?"
 Sheila couldn't answer. She stood still under the force of the tira.de. It was a shock until she saw one of the mannequins, girl clad in pale yellow chiffon even- ing gown, gazing at her. Inelr eyes met and the other girl, turn- ing 50 that the irate man could not see, winked encouragingly.
 You girls get into the dressing room," Henri ordered. Then he turned suddenly becalmed coun- tenance to Sheila.
 "If MT Lane says you will do el" he grumbied. "Go into the dressing room and get ready. I'll see what you look like." He raised his voice sharply, Cor don, put number IF on this girl. Hurry!"
 Gordon was a plump, black garbed woman whom Sheiia was to know later as a real friend. It was her duty to see. that the models appeared in the lovely, costly creations Henri designed at exactly the moment they were wanted, her duty to see that the gowns were always in perfect orr der, hung away after wearing. She kept the girls quiet, con- cealed their squabbles, found ways to excuse a tardiness or a broken rule with calm diplomacy that would have won the admira- : ton of Henri himself if he had known about 1t. Occasionally Gordon had designed gowns which took the most exacting customers by storm.
 The older woman nodded curt ly to Sheila and led the way. to the dressing room. It was pare indeed, compared with the outer salon which was rich with smart modernistic furniture, thick car-- nets. priceless oriental rugs and smaller decorations representing
 
 The girls, divesting themselves of their finery, stood about in deli- cate underthings, chatting coolly. To watch them no one would have dreamed that they had been the objects of Henris wrath So recently. Two of them, swinging themselves to table, were light ing cigarettes. The girl in pale yell low stepped out of the frock ana tossed 1t over the back of chair, then stood before the mirror re- gardine the line of her red gold hair with speculative frown. Another was reddening her lips pensively. The fifth sat on low bench and stared casually. then smiled in welcome at Sheila. The girl with the red hair was hardly more than IS. Did the old man scare you to death?' she A asked.
 ''Never you mind the old man" q Gordon Interrupted with vigor Its time you girls were getting < into those tailleurs. Now don't & keep me waiting!"
 There were murmured protests but with one accord the manne- quins began getting into the cos tunes.
 "It's a wonder you couldn't stand on a sheet. Flo." Gordon