Evening star., 1935-12-25
CHAPTER KI.

CHAPTER xI.
IH ONT do 1t. darling" Cen
evieve pleaded, Work
hard and be business
- woman, or else 60 home
and marry Elmer. Anything but
what you are doing. This senseless'
hectic"
She made a helpless gesture, tears
in her eyes. Nov suppose you
hate me! can't bear to talk to
you so. Butt can't bear not to!"
Genevieve's tears melted Kay's
anger, left only fear. She threw her
self into the others arms.
But the terror remained, like q
spur. With a desperate, nervous de-
termination she threw herself for a
while into her work, and she re-
rnembered that matter Of a raise in
salary, and waited for propitious
time to broach the question. Twice
or thrice she was on the point OF
speaking to Chick about it, yet each
time her courage failed. 1t was not
till June that she found the time
and the resolution coinciding.
Rantoul had asked her to work
with him one evening on matter
which just then engaged his energies,
and Kay demurred.
Usually I'm glad to-" she reminded
him. But I have a date tonight
that made two weeks ago"
Cant you break it?" he suggested
gravely. AFTER all, that's the con-
dition under which we work here
you know. When we're busy 1t means
long hours for IN all"
IT ought to know that" she as
sented Indignantly. "Ive worked
hours and hours of overtime, ano
never got cent for it.
Chick looked at her thoughtfully
and for so long that Kay became
uncomfortable under his steady eyes
''You don't need to be so glum about
it," she exclaimed. Its truel AND
I've never had raise, though you
promised me one when I should have
learned the business"
Think you've learned it?" he asked
81 notice you've used a lot OF my
ideas" she retorted.
Chick pushed aside the papers or
his desk. "Sit down, Kay" he said
Lets talk this over" And Kay die
sit down, a little breathlessly, hel
heart pounding cravenly against hel
ribs. He waited a moment, smiled
q little.
Kay" he said. cts long time
since we've had a straight talk. Hon.
est and friendly. I've always remem-
bered that day We walked around the
lake together. You were so straight
forward and fresh and young anc
wise. I liked you then and I like
you now. But, Kay, it's harder tt
like you now"
Kay said defensively: at isn't
question of liking mel"
t"Oh, yes, it is. in way" Chick as
sured her. when you asked for wors
here you were untried. you knew
nothing about the business you wert
young. There was no reason in the
world why I should hire you-except
that I liked you. In fact, I did II
against my better judgment"
Kay tried to speak, but her lips
were dry.
81 knew you were a gamble" HI
said. And I've tried to make 1t
winning gamble, tried to bring vol
along as fast as possible. But. Kay
to make good in any job, any pro-
tession, takes all the energy q person
can summon to the task. It isn't 9
half-time job"
"Half -timel" Kay protested. "I've
worked till midnight many night!'
"But many morning you've come
In so tired and sleepy you weren't
good for much before noon," he tolc
her. Kay, you can't run around till
the small hours with lot Of ir-
responsible kids and then be bright
and shining at your desk at g."
81 suppose you'd have me tuck in at
z every night" she exclaimed re-
aentfully.
He hesitated, and his eyes shadowed
'T didn't mean to start an argu-
ment with you, Kay" he said, more
stiff1y. what you do at night is
nothing to us, none of our business.
But the firm has right to expect
that you'll be on hand in the morn
ing, fit and ready for the days work"
II haven't been late dozen times
this year."
Kay" he told her, "you were an
investment, with U.s.. On a cost-ac-
counting basis, it's an expensive prop
osition to take person who knows
nothing Of the business, and show
her how the wheels go round"
Kay's lips stiffened. She laughed
unhappily. This is q joke on me,