The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-05

morning paper out on the drain board, open at the ''help wanted" pages. Girl wanted girl wanted oh, there were 20 jobs open but she was eligible for none of them.
 'stcno. college grad: dept. store."
 "Steno: some coll. operate slide rule"
 "Switchbd, opr. mutt. exp.' Alert, capable woman, over 27: executive ability
 She opened her purse, the dark blue kidskin envelope she had bought so casually last spring. It was still smart looking but the change purse was limp; she shook out it's contents. Thirty cents The quarter Russ had given her yester- day. The nickel she had saved. Russ had been same-faced but clustering about it.
 "Stick with me, kid, and you'll wear diamonds" he had said. He remembered hearing his father say that to his mother.
 Thirty cents. Five cents for sub- way fare to the city. Five cents back. She could have lunch at some counter Maybe the basement of the dime store. She'd do it. She wouldn't wait around till Russ came home. till Gloria came dawd- ling in with her bargain of the day. She'd go over to New York and see if there wasn't something -anything-she could do.
 If only she didn't meet anyone from hnf,nf Thnt fhn which plagued her most of the time. Would they cut her. turn away their eyes?
 , She put on her last years fall tweed, still smart. She had pressed it herself. (How easy 1t had been in the old days to telephone the tailor to come aroundD She darn cd her gloves.
 On the street, her spirits lift ed. It was so bright and blue a day; the air had sort of tonic in it. She lifted her chin and stepped along with animation. She left the mean street with it's occasional pallid tree behind her. Ahead, in the dazzling clearness of the distant horizon, she could see the city's towers and spires New York! She wasn't terrified by it, it's vastness and indiffer- ence. because she had known it all her life as a friendly place to which one went on happy jaunts to theater and shops and restau- rants. Of course it was not the same ow. She was one of a vast army. struggling for a foothoh She stared out of the window as the train rushed over the bridge, her hands clenched in her mend- cd gloves.
 told herself. "I simply must" She had the newspaper want I ad column in her purse. There would be the agencies first Ex- pcrience? No, she hadn't an . But weren't there some things which didn't require experience' | The woman behind the desk shook her head pleasantly but firmly The woods, she said to Boots. were full of college girla willing to do anything. Had she tried the department stores? Ske had heard 1t was possible to get in over at Lacy's. Personally " she said. lowering her voice. i've only handle clerical work--high- class stuff. you understand But Lacey's-well. you might say you had year of cvollege. They like that. They won't investigate"
 Lacy's was 10 blocks away. Ter long city blocks of crowds. of traffic lights, of milling taxis. Boots walked them hriskly. i'm pelled b.. youth and a fervent hone and ambition.
 The personnel department of Lacy's. You made out long form, peppered by half a hun dred questions, most Of them sounding quite irrelevant. You filed this. A serious young wo- man with a deep voice talked to you about the aims and ideal of the big store and you went away buoycd up by new hope. May. be this time next week you would be behind one of those busy coun- ters. Lace or hooks or chintzes Part time at $2,90 a day. Four days of that Boots thought of statically. would be almost SIP Sylvia River paid SIP for hei sports shoes. but what did that signify?
 Lacy's! She had bought things here always. Blouses. gloves, pretty tailored underthings. Now her highest hope was to be on the other side of the counter. sales slip in her hand.
 She pittied all her strength against the stubborn glass door which swung outward. colliding with girl who was entering the store.
 .'Isabel!" The name tumhied out before she h.d time to think The other girl widened her eyes. 'My dear, wherever did you drop from?''