The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-15
CHAPTER X

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 Bill spoke slowly, Its like this Toby. I think you're going to make the grade all right. mean when Blake sees those pictures think he'll say you're great. At least, he will if Hiatt's any good as a photo grapher. I think you'll go over like 6 million dollars. Honestly I do! But-well, just in case those pic lures shouldn't do justice to you they might not, you know-1 want you to remember there are other jobs. Good ones, too. It isn't good idea to set your heart on this thing too strongly"
 Toby said, "Of course not. know what you mean, Bill"
 "Now, don't get the idea I'm try ing to discourage you," he insisted Mot a bit of it. I don't want you to think"
 Toby shook her head. "You haven't discouraged me-" she said, smiling. You've done just the opposite. It's been beautiful even- ing, Bill. It helps so much to talk things over with someone who understands, someone who's on your side. I guess that was what I needed. And the flowers" She turned her head to catch the fra grance of the gardenias on her shoulder. T know very well I shouldn't have let you buy them, but oh-I do love theml"
 Bills moment of seriousness was gone. He grinned, "Some of these days. my fine friend you'll be wearing gardenias by the truck load"
 "Oh, but couldn'tw Toby drowned in mock horror. "What would Alicia Hart say?"
 "Well, then, by the bushel. Is that better? You're going to show 'en, Toby; you're going to go places. You and me both"
 "Of course we are" She gave him her hand and Bill took it-a handclasp that was pledge.
 Got to get my beauty sleep now" Toby told him. "Oh, Bill, it's been a grand evening""
 q thought so,' he told her so- berly. Remember what I told you, Midget. You're going to go places!"
 "I1l remember she promised. "0od night, Bill"
 "G'night, Toby"
 She ran up the steps, then, opened the door and, about to enter, looked back. Bill was watching and his right hand went up in the char acteristic salute. Toby smiled, sa- luted back. Then the door closed behind her.
 Twenty minutes later, standing before the mirror in her box-like third-fioor room, Toby brushed her hair, humming tune she had heard somewhere. It was gaily spirited air, intended to set feet to dancing. The gardenias were before her in a low bowl. She had united the silver ribbon, put the flowers in water. When she raised the window for the night she would put the bowl on the window sill and 1t would be almost as good as putting the flowers in a refrigerator.
 Toby brushed vigorously, count ing the strokes, 'forty-six, forty seven, forty-eight-" One hundred strokes on each side was the rule. "Forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one-"
 She went on brushing and count ing, but she did 1t mechanically Instead of her own face in the mir TOT she was seeing Bill Brandt's- Bill as he had looked down at her, saying, Tt isn't good idea to set your heart on this thing to strongly"
 Oh, but Bill was dear! He didn't want her to be hurt when the report came about the photo graphs. And he's right, too," Toby told herself. T mustn't count on anything. I won't even think about 1t any more. I'll start to- morrow morning and look for a job"
 Roselutely she clung to this deci- sion. Bills right" she told her. self again. "He was trying to help me-" And he had helped her with all his nonsense and gaiety, with his sound advice, too. She thought, I'm lucky to have a friend like Bill. There's nobody else like him. '
 It was true. There was no one like Bill. No one Toby had ever known. Back in her school days