The Washington times., 1935-12-05

OC11 1AOIAI 44CbAANNA WA 49,
had read the novel, but he wanted
q little more time before he de
cided about it jeff thought the
chances were 10 to l that he
would take it. Kipp thought he
would go mad if something didn't
happen one way or the other be-
fore long. E.
And then, after another week
In which nothing did happen,
Lewis Sherman took Ann to
lunch and offered her a job at
a salary which left her breathlesS
with excitement and aStonish-
ment.
They had finished their dessert
and were lingering over coffee and
cigarettes. Ann lifted incredulous
gray eyes. Surely not that much,
Lewis?"
Lewis said, yes. that much. He
said: I'VE think we can make you
worth it to us. Ann. You've al
ready made a certain name for
yourself as a designer of smart
clothes. We believe that with the
right publicity we can build you
into one of the most important
young dress designers in Amer
lea. And if you've got your eyes
open, darling, you must know that
young American dress designers
are becoming damned important.
The trend is definitely in that di-
rection and Tracy'S wants to be
identified with it. Well give you
a tremendous lot of advertising
well play up the Buy Ameri
can angle. I promise you, Ann,
that within six months I will have
made your name a byword wher
ever smart clothes are worn or
talked about. It's not merely
money I'm offering you. it's d
career"
Ann said: eyes, Lewis, know" ;"
Her smoke-gray eyes were shining
darkly as they had a habit Of
doing when she was deeply stirred.
Her cheeks were flushed with
color and her fingers reaching
for a cigarette we're frankly trem-
bling.
Lewis leaned forward and gave
her a light. well, Ann" he
asked quietly. what about it9'
I'm tremendously excited. More
thrilled. probably. than I've ever
been in my life" she smiled at
him gravely But I'll have to
talk it over with Kipp. of course" J"
Naturally" Lewis said then:
"1s it true that for some time now
Kipp has been without income?"
Ann nodded. Perfectly true.
Between that and waiting to hear
from Halliburton about his book
and wondering how much longer
I could hang on at the shop. I've
done quite a bit Of worrying one
way or another. " She lifted
her shoulders in a quick, weary
little Shrug.
Ann regarded him suddenly
with direct. compelling gray eyes.
'You are perfectly sure, aren't
you, Lewis" she demanded evenly.
"that I am worth all this money
to you? It isn't, by any chance,
Just you feeling sorry for me?"
Lewis laughed briefly but reas-
suringly. Ann, darling" he said,
81 can think Of all sorts of ways
in which I could make tender ges-
lures toward you if it were
a case Of my feeling sorry for you
AS a matter of fact, don't feel
in the least sorry for you. never
have. I've been quite lot in love
with you. But that has nothing
to do with the fact that I am
offering you a job. If I didn't
believe you had the talent and the
ability and the personality we are
looking for you wouldn't
stand the ghost Of a chance of
getting it,"
Ann, listening to him gravely,
knew this was so. In business,
Lewis would never be anything but
hardboiled, ruthless and com
pletely impersonal. He would never
allow his personal emotions to in.
fluence him with anything that
was connected with Tracy's E.
and with him, Ann decided sud.
denly, Tracy's would always come
first It was :!!::s relentless single
purposeness that had made him
al 80 one of the higheSt-salaried
executives in the city. It would
also make him. she decided with
sudden comprehension, an excit.
ing but curiously cruel lover. In
tne final analysis, women would
always play second fiddle to his
career, would always be sacrificed
to it Even she would have been
If she had ever fallen in love with
him.
But she hadn't; and now she