Evening star., 1935-11-24

speeding him on to his post Of duty at the
main entrance.
1t was blue Monday morning, and the doors
would open in seven minutes, and his tie was
crooked. He knew darned we'll it was crooked
because he'd tied it without looking into
glass All right, let it be crooked. He had seen
what he look ed like in this clown suit for the
last time
He had asked them for truck driving job
any sort of job that would use his muscles
and uphold his self-respect.
Truck driver?" Mr. Knabe, personnel di-
rector, had looked astonished. With that
Harvard accent and that fine voicef" He
tilted knowing look at MIR. John Marden.
Mr. Marden nodded solemnly. Truck driv-
ing is not for you, young man. But we could
use you as reception director. can picture my
customers flocking around you, asking foolish
questions in order to hear that voice OF yours
with the cello vibrations. MIR. knabe.' MIR.
Marden waved hand. outfit him, please"
They outfitted him. Patent leather hair and
patent leather shoes. Gray-striped trousers
with a pleated waistline that sawed at his
armpits Two button coat with wide shoulders
and corset curves Carnation. Marvel OF mar
vels that he had not been required to get
permanent wave.
There had been six weeks of it. Big frater-
nifty brethren dropped into Mardens with
maddening frequency to gaze and to grin. He
had had all that he could bear. He was not
going to straighten his tie and if that tuft
of hair at the crown of his head wanted to
stand up, let it. He had smeared the last pint
of slickum on it.
A mirror. simperng from wall winged the
eye he lifted briefly as he rounded the corner
of one aisle into another. He saw himself
once more in all his Marden asininity. But
something in the sulky. tanned young face
spoke to him silently. He did not want to
listen. but he had to listen.
BE thankful, Steve Burke, for a job.
Out of college in June. and job in August.
Why. you're an economic phenomenon. You
leaped hurdle of thousands of unemployed.
Lots of guys like you with diplomas in
engineering and football letters and college
degrees aren't even eating these days.
Maybe later on, bridges will start being
built for you to be big and manly on. But
they're not doing much now. So while you're
waiting ... "
Steve glare ed. He pressed the palms OF both
hands down upon the stubborn cowlick.
Brilliant ine?' queried a voice sweetly.
He jerked up his head. A girl stood behind
the glittering cosmetics counter. She was
aiming an at omizer at him. her eyes twinkling.
He seethed with fury. Then his lip curled.
No obvious little fake like this was worth
getting sore about. Look at her Ii living ad-
vertisement of the fakery women were fools
enough to buy. Skin in subtle peach tones.
Hair - corn yellow. Eyes - ludicrous.
The girl said, Your tie is crooked.
thought you d like to know
Maybe you'd like to know" ne said.
politely, that the hair you're wearing this
morning doesn't match brown eyes,
A brief CLEAN fickered in the dark eyes.
Then she said, thoughtfully. $50 you're MIR.
Burke, the golden-tongued reception director
they got while was abroad1"
He bowed And you, believe, are Miss
Lynn Thorn. who has persuaded the great
Mike Farrell to lug a cargo of Frenchperfumes
for Marden's on his transatlantic fight. He