The Washington times., 1933-04-08
CHAPTER xxx

turn from Florida was one Of
those sunny, windy April days
that seem to bring the fresh
ness Of the country into the
city streets. Almost everyone
was wearing light spring
clothes, and the florists win
dows were gay with yellow daf-
fodils and deep purple violets
that looked as if they had just
been picked in some messy
forest.
II think I'll buy a few flow
ers for Mr.. Collins desk,
Sharlie," Edna said that morn
ing as the two girls paused be-
for q flower shop on their way
to the office. "Just by way Of
welcoming him back. Don't
you think it would be a nice
thing to do?"
"I wouldn't do it, Edna. You
know how all the people in the
office will talk about you if
you do buy them. They all
think you're crazy about him,
as it is"
A flush darkened the white.
ness of Edna's skin and she
turned away from the shop
window. Then suddenly she
stopped in the middle OF the
sidewalk. -,
mo! I'm going to buy them!"
she said, as if she had been
having an argument with her
self. What do I care what the
people at the office say? I've
always wanted to do nice little
things for him, and I never
did because he had a wife.
Now, if want to, I don't see
why shouldn't.
She went back into the shop,
marching along with an air OF
mild defiance, and bought a
full dozen of the yellow flowers.
She had dressed herself with
particular care that morning.
She was always as sweet and
. clean as a flower, herself, but
this morning she was wearing
q string of pearls that she kept
for special occasions and she
had put on her new spring hat,
q tiny pull-on affair OF soft
navy blue straw.
Late that afternoon, when al
most everyone had left, she
came out of Mr.. Collins office
and beckoned to Sharlie who
was waiting to go home with
her.
"I've been telling Mr.. Collins
about you," she said, coming
up to her and tucking a brown
gold strand Of hair up from
Sharlie's forehead, "and I want
to take you into his office and
introduce you to him. But
first smooth down your hair
and take some of that paint
off your mouth, will you? I
want you to look nice"
Sharlie frowned but she took
out her handkerchief and wiped
her soft lips with it. She was
very careful to leave some of
the "Ruby 418" on-just enough
to color her mouth a little.
She had never been in Mr..
Collins private office before.
She was surprised to see, as she
followed Edna into it now, that
it did not look like an Office
or. at least, like her idea of an
office.
It was a very large room. The
floor was covered with a great
Oriental rug, amazingly thick
and very beautifully colored.
There were brown velvet cur
tains, lined with pongee silk, at
the windows; and under them
was a wide davenport of brown
leather. There were half
dozen brown leather chairs near
Mr.. Collins enormous glass
topped desk, and on the desk in
q silver vase were Edna'S daf-
fodils.
"Mr. Collins, this is my cousin,
Sharlie Dunn" she heard Edna
say, and Mr.. Collins looked UP
from some papers that lay be-
fore him.
He got to his feet and held
out his hand. Sharlie, feeling
very shy and nervous, slipped
her hand into it. He was much
younger than she had expected
him to be.
His eyes were steel blue and
his teeth were very white in
his tanned face. There was
just a suggestion Of gray in his
crisp black hair, and all about
him was the glamour Of good
grooming and well-tailored
clothes. He looked like money"
A Little Girl"
80 this is the cousin Edna's
been telling me about for so
many years." he said pleasantly.
"We're very glad to have you
with us. Edna says you're get
ting along very we'll"