The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-24

k1e was A DE man, SltBhtly stopped. His eyes were circled with heavily rirnmed glasses and his lips twist ed to one side when he spoke. None of the girls looked up as he passed. Now and then he stopped and spoke to one of them. Now and then he broke off a length of gleaming white thread and held it up.
 He paused beside Gale Hender- son, watched as she clamped on g bobbin, then moved on.
 Gale stole glance over her shoulder, saw that he had crossed the room and was talking to some- one in the doorway. A feeling of relief stole over her. She was never comfortable when Fisher was around, especially uncomfortable when she knew he was watching her. He had a way of appearing when he was least expected. He seemed to have eyes everywhere, was all over the room at once.
 It hadn't been so bad when Donlon was on the job, but Dom Ion had been denoted after MT Westmore's death. Fisher had taken his place. He spied on every one and then carried tales to MT Thatcher-at least that was what everyone said.
 Pay checks had been lower, too, since Fisher had been in charge. The company hadn't announced @ cut, but when the two weeks pay day came around, there was al- ways less in the envelope than the $27 that was supposed to be the minimum. Instead there would be $25.50 or $23.35 or some such sum, with a notation that the rest had been deducted for breaking rules.
 ryhere were rules now against speaking during working hours, against taking more than five min utes in going to the wash room. Pay was deducted for being late, too.
 Gales pay had been deducted sev- eraI times. She hadn't broken any rules-she was sure of it-but when she went to complain there was no one to listen.
 "I'm sorry, Miss Henderson" the woman in the office had said. "The report shows-"
 No, it did no good to protest. Gale was turning out more work and working faster than she ever had. The machines had been speed- ed up. Maybe that was why the afternoons seemed so long lately, why her arms ached at night.
 She heard Q sound at her right and turned. Connie Bauman, who worked beside her, put up one hand to hide her lips. Comics face was white and drawn. Have you got an aspirin?" she asked. My heads splitting"
 There was the sharp clap-clap of footsteps behind them and both girls whirled.
 "You-Henderson and Bauman" Clyde Fisher snapped. "What do you think this is--a tea party? Don't you know the rules here? Standing there gabbing-"
 "Connies got a headache" Gale put fin. "She only asked"
 .'Oh, Connie has, has she?" The mans voice was sarcastic. That's too bad. Got a. headache! I SUD- pose she'd like the afternoon off, too--or maybe the rest of the week? How about it, Miss Bau- man?"
 "Oh, nq," the other girl said quickly. "No, MT Fisher, I'm all right.
 Maybe you'd better make up your mind about it." the man said. "And maybe you'd better remem- Der there's rule here against talking when you're supposed to be at work. We can give you a little help in remembering that. l guess that's what we'd better do. You'll find it in your next pay envelope"
 Yes, MT Fisher"
 The mans broad back turned He took a few steps, then suddenly whirled and came back. And don't forget, Henderson" he said, ''your pay'l be cut, tool"
 The door of the carpeted office of General Manager Thatcher open ed quietly and a girls figure ap- peared. She wore a brown fur coat. loosely fitting, expensive looking, and small brown hat, set at a jaunty ankle. The girl had large brown eyes and very red lips. She stepped into the room closing the door behind her.
 "Hella, Dad.'