The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-29

lamps cold green light made her
ash-blond hair CLEAN like a halo
about her face. He could see
her smile as her customer
chatted. She was swift, smiling,
efficient. Perhaps he had better
not mention the dancing. They
were all working silently, swift
ly. He turned away and got
out the books. A few minutes
later, Carl Masker, the firms &C
countant, came in and they set
to work in Stella's office check.
ing the bookkeeper'S statement
for this branch.
Walters Work
Carl Masker, the husband of
Agnes Riley, was a quiet, sober
young man of Is, three years
Walters junior (and eight years
younger than Agnes Riley, his
wife, who managed the Thirty.
fourth Street Anastasia). He
had an undiStinguished face
and a rather diffident manner.
He did most of the talking, in
an eager, ingratiating manner,
Walter listening with that dark
intensity which was so attrac-
tive in him.
Their work at Stella's branch
concluded, Walter dropped Carl
at Thirty-fourth Street and
drove swiftly out to Brooklyn to
the Fulton Street branch, man.
aged by Jerry Leach. Walter
was dissatisfied with Jerry and
the entire management of the
Brooklyn office, but there was
so much diSSenSion, so many
vicious quarrels among the Riley
sisters (excepting Agnes, who,
from the worst of the lot, had
miraculously, through the power
of love, become the best) that
Walter had decided to ignore
the mismanagement of the
Brooklyn salon.
He picked up the days re-
ceipts here, checked up the
books and for no particular rea.
son drove back to Forty-fourth
Street. He had meant really to
go to the Fifty-seventh Street
salon-his special pride and
pet-but, instead, he drew up at
the Forty-fourth Street building
and went up. 1t was quarter to
6. The down elevators were
damned with weary men and
women at the end of a dismal,
tiresome day. The ascending
car was empty. The colored
operator regarded Walter with
unblinking envy. He swung open
the door at the fifteenth floor
and followed Walters slim,
straight figure with admiration.
Boy" he muttered under his
breath, "Ah wish All had that
baby's dough!"
There was feVer1Sh activity In
the reception room. Most Of
the girls were already changing
into their street clothes. Miss
Norma, at the counter, was
frowning over her sales receipts
and swapping TT all who inter-
rupted her. Now the office staff
were the haraSSed ones, while
the operators liStleSSly covered
their tables and chairs and left.
A few stray customers were get
ting finishing touches.
Walter passed stiffly by the
busy office girls into Stella's de-
serted office. He stood with his
hands in his pockets, staring
through the heavily draped win.
dows out into the dismal, wet
night below.
After few seconds he turned
abruptly and went out. Miss
Germuth, the bookkeeper, was
swapping rubber bands about
mounds of bills.
"Ready?" he asked.
She gave him a sugary smile.
The deep frown between her
eyes smoothed out.
"Just in time"
Thanks. I'll lock these in
the vault. You'll make a de-
post first thing tomorrow"
"Righto." She smiled briskly
as she rose. Awful night, isn't
it?"
He agreed, somberly.
He carried the money into the
vault in Stella'S office and
swung the great lock. Miss Ger
muth did this every night. He
was conscious of doing some.
thing that was not in his regular
line of duties.
Ito Be COntinued)
Copyright, 1895, by Julian MessnsP.
Inc.)
distributed by King Features
~ Syndicate, Inc.)