Evening star., 1935-09-29


prospect of their first evening of overtime
work together. And he detested magazine
stories about the business executive who gets
romantic over his secretary. and considered
such gentlemen to be undiluted saps,
Perhaps it was because she had come to
him in the spring. Or perhaps because being
browne and brown haired himself, he
would be fundamentally attracted by delft
blue eyes and hair as yellow as new cornsllk.
Though it was half an hour after closing
time and the only femininity visible was the
moose-like figure of the scrubwoman hunched
over her pail. he could still see Maryland
Hollis as she paused by his desk and said, I'll
be back at seven, MIR. Vinson." Her voice was
low: never tangled his nerves. no matter what
the pressure of the day; always carried just
the right infection of Difference o her execu-
tive superior Sometimes it seemed to him
that there might be many things going on
behind her gravely respectful eyes; only this
afternoon he had caught himself making some
wise-craCk just to see the sudden surprised
gleam OF her smile And in her trim brown
knitted skirt. and short -sleeved golden jersey
that revealed the whiteness of youthful arms.
she q once more he collared his Grant
thoughts sternly.
He must check over the changes in that
policy continuance chart before going out TO
dinner. so he could start debating at seven.
Working ones way through school is apt to
leave certain serious mindedness; so is spe-
cializing in statistics. Clark had done both.
His hard-won concentration was imme-
dlately interrupted by solid, humping steps
which halted before his desk. He looked up
into the round, rosy face of Mrs. McHugh,
Institutional nurse for the three hundred-odd
employees in the Midvale Mutual's Home
Office Her bulging white uniform rustled
with the culver of suppressed mirth.
oh. MIR Vinson," she painted. Il probably
shouldn't give the poor dears away. but this
will simply massacre you" Mrs. McHugh
had four children. lengthy hospital expert
ence, and a robust, nlan-to-man sense OF
humor which could have made worthy con-
trlbutions to any stag party.
She lowered her voice. and glanced over
her sturdy shoulder to see the sGubwoman
disappearing through the office door, clanking
mop and pail together.
It's about your secretary. the little Hollis
girl - you probably won't like to hear this.
Warningly. what with all the trouble you We
had keeping secretaries But it about to lay
me on the floor She and the Gary girl from
the correspondence department downstairs
are attending one of these preparation-for-
marriage classes at the university evening
school. And every noon the day after they
have class, they get together in the rest room
and talk over what they learned last evening.
It's My dear. did you ever know that before!
and Why. of course. but didn't know orange
juice was substitute for sunlight, to keep
baby from having ricketts, MIR. Vinson,
nearly bust
At the look on his face she sobered momen-
tarily, and remarked with understanding
sympathy, II don't blame you for being dis
gusted, Mr. Vinson. after having - how
many - three of them marry off on you in the
last couple of years. Now you'll probably be
breaking another one in - and Maryland IS a
competent girl and nice one, too But -
those two downy chicks in conference over
household budgets and prenatal influence will
slay me- Her round eyes were almost shut
with mirth. Anyhow. | thought you might
enjoy the joke while you prepare for the
inevitable
Mrs McHugh's p-diaphragmedc chuckles
came back to his ears in diminuendo like the
exhaust of departing motor truck.