The Washington times., 1934-09-15
CHAPTER XVIII

a furry of rising and falling con-
fidence, be possible to secure an
advance Of $500, against $40 to
be deducted from her. salary tor
30 weeks? OF course, she couldn't
ask Mr.. Alspaugh to make the
advance personally, she could ask
him to speak to the office man
ager for her. Employees, she knew,
do, quite often, in emergencies.
get advances against their future
salaries, though, naturally, such
loans were not encouraged by the
executives. In Cathleen'S case 1t
probably would prove especially
difficult as she could not properly
specify the emergency.
She was now frantically eager
to work late for Alspaugh, for
everything seemed to depend on
his good will. I'm always glad
to stay" she assured him, when
he came into the room to lay q
memorandum on Ingram's desk.
GOOD" he said. "The same
place, eh?"
ANY place Will do," She Salo,
IT could work on just coffee ana
doughnuts sent in"
Eyes, but what about me? I'm
going to work late, too. Don't I
rate a little relaxation?"
At o'clock Ingram had not
returned. Alspaugh went to the
oval room with documents unex-
pectedly called for, and reported
to Cathleen that the meeting was
stormy.
At 10 minutes past a wonn-
ans angry voice made itself heard
through two closed doors In the
inner office.
II insist on seeing Mr.. Ingram"
Cathleen heard. appointment
stuff! He'll want to see me, all
right. Martin is the name
Miss Airline Martin. I'll go in
and wait for him" ,
She refused to be stopped. The
door of the office burst open and
she swept in.
I'm ging to wait here for Mr..
Ingram!" she told Cathleen.
The strange, insistent girl was
very beautiful, Cathleen thought.
Indeed Airline had dressed delih.
erately to subjugate Jasper and
her brilliance had been overridden
by the little tussle to get in and
in forcing her way in. The enor.
nous summer fur Of white fox
draping her shoulders, the dang
ling gypsy hoops in her ears, and
the gas.pump red of her frock
and hat and htgh-heeled sandals
made it impossible for any man
to be satisfied with one look at
her.
Arline'S Call
On her side Airline was an
noyed by Cathleens youthful
beauty and the music Of her
speaking voice. Ingram had this
girl at his side while he worked.
What couldn't she do with an
opportunity like that!
II shan't disturb you. You can
go on with your work. I'll Just
sit here and wait"
She seated herself in a swirl Of
white fur and scarlet skirts, and
lighted a cigarette fitted into a
long slim holder. She was Smok-
ing her third cigarette when the
door opened and Ingram came in.
Cathleen, looking up at the sound
Of his entrance, saw his face
change and not with pleasure, at
the sight Of his visitor.
How do you do, Miss Martin,
Nice of you to call but I'm afraid
I can't afford myself the pleasure
Of receiving you in the midst Of
an extremely busy afternoon"
mo? Not even one little minute
for me?" Before he could reply
she went on hastily, "1've heard
nothing from you about the play.
Mr.. Gresham was so interested in
what you said. He's rewriting It
and we feel sure that between us
we'd have wonderful hit, If
you'd only help us! You did make
me think you'd help us, Mr.. In.
gram, silly of me, but I really
thought you meant It,"
Airline had risen and moved
close to him, her face flashing
through the varying expressions
of cajolery, playful reproach,
happy excitement, and hopeful
appeal. She ended with a witch.
cry Of parted, smiling lips and
wide compelling eyes.
Ingram, far from Indifferent to
feminine appeal under favorable
circumstances, had his mind oc-
cupied Just now with a critical
financial problem. He was. more.
over, a hard man to move from q
position once taken, and nothing
had happened, since the day this
girl had precipitated the wretched
situation between him and his
son, to cause him to change his
mind.
He said now, "1'm sorry If I
housed hopes doomed to disap-
pointment. I was not, as T told
you, impressed by your friends
play. Further discussion Of the
matter is inopportune-and use
less"
Airline all but spat at him. Her
face, Cathleen noticed in surprise,
went suddenly small and ugly
with disappointment and rage.
you'll regret this, Mr.. Ingraln!''
Continued Next Saturday,
(Copyrisht 1894. by King Features
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