The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-04-30

Her eyes were dark with pdin
and she caught her lower lip be-
tween her teeth to still it's trem-
bling. She knew what he was
thinking about. He was incoming
over the Arcey woman agalr.
Il hear Simon is coming mon
ey,' said Esther, suddenly. She
had to shatter that reverie. She
couldn't stand 1t any longer II
wonder how he does the business"
But the shaft barely grazed Mr.
Joseph's intense preoccupation.
1.-THE man is an artist" he said,
SIMPLY, in that mellifiuous baritone
which played upon Esther Con-
RAIDS heartstrings and set that or
gan to vibrating within her like
an Oriental windharp.
She was silent. Simon was Jo-
seph's bitterest professional rival.
But the conversation languished
and Esther, who hao had some
faint hope of starting something,
again dispaired. 1t was 'sery dis
couraging. Here it was, a perfect
ly swell Spring afternoon. In
any book that she had ever read
it would have been one OF those
priceless opportunities for d girl TO
really get acquainted with her
boss. She could, for instance,
have asked him about his boyhood
home in Buda-Pesth, or wherever.
Or about his travels in other for
eign lands.
She might even have preached
the closely guarded secret of the
little studio which he kept locked
behind the salon. Once, when the
cleaning woman was there, Esther
had stolen a glance through the
half open door and had spotted a
rough sort of sculptor's equipment
clay, figure shroudAd in wet
sheet, and few plaster studies in
anatomy.
Mr. Joseph was wont to spend
his luncheon hour there, in what
the staff called huddIe with HIM
self, emerging with that peculiarly
haunted, luminous look Of creative
frenzy. But this secret passion of
Mr. Joseph's had been reduced to
the dimensions of hobby, crowd
ed out of his life by the demands
of a growing business.
Miss Conrad felt that if she
could get him to talk about those
private ambitions she would he in
fair way to register herself upon
his mind. But as it was she knew
that he hardly noticed her, except
as o. piece Of efficient office ma
chinery. And she loved him,
acutely.
She lokeod down at the thick,
creamy page of the appointment
book and read there once more a
name that Infatuated her. Vivienne
Arcey. Miss Arcey was down for
an extensive overhauling, too.
Everything from the Babylonian
treatment for the suppression of
superfiuous chins, to Joseph's own
personal charting of a new make
up to go with her Spring ward
robe.
1T WOULD TAKE
HOURS. AND 1T DID.
1t would take hours. And it was
the last appointment ON the book.
Once more Joseph woulG be work.
ing on the Arcey woman after
hours! Esther colored with baf-
fed anger and a sudden tear
cleaned like a diamond on her
long lashes.
'That Miss Arcey hasn't paid
her bill" sa.0 Esther, suddenly
and bluntly. Shall I ask her for
it when she comes in? She's late
right now
Mr. Joseph did not turn. He
snapped the scissors, -sloomily.
"How much is the bill?" he asked.
But Esther felt that he didn't care;
that Miss Arcey could have the
whole shop If she wanted it, and
the boss thrown in.
'Seventy-five dollars" said Es
ther. That's a lot of money"
Hush" said Mr. Joseph, quick
ly. Here she comes"
Miss Arccy appeared In the door
way. She looked rather like Es-
Their. The same amber eyes.