Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-10-02
Make Believe bridelS
i
nv birth Harley I1b~~A
BY Ruth Harley
SEVENTH INSTALMENT

SEVENTH INSTALMENT
SAY" cried the girl, ''since when
have you been handing the young
boss bilets-doux? Seems to me that
amt the first time you two met,
and I thought l had my eyes peeled
for young romance around here.
You've sure put n over me-"
"Oh, go on, Milly. There's moth
ing to that \
"Huh, that's what they all say.
But remember, young lady, STAINS
got a girl, though I must say you'd
make a good understudy for Row
ene-the same silky, golden hair,
the same dark eyes,"
"But that's where it ends. Look
at Rowene's jewels and me with a
five-and ten bangle on my lly-
white arm-the only jewelry I've
got, and I'm glad enough to have
it."
sWell, then, Maris, there's Moth
ing for you to do but cut out
Rowene. l bet that wouldn't be
50 hard. They say she's just as
dumb as she's beautiful, 80 that's
going some. Say, why don't you?"
she whispered, her almond-shaped
eyes aight.
"How about you making a bid
for him? I thought that was your
specialty?" and Maris looked at the
girl intently.
Milly gave a little smirk. Then
in a very confidential tone, she
said, eft used to be, but Eve de-
cided a star salesman who can make
his twenty grand a year is all l
want"
"You mean you're engaged to
Brower?" Maris' eyes opened wide
in a%stonishment.
But, apart from a slight inclina-
ton of her head, Milly had no
chance to say anything further, be-
cause Miss Riggs suddenly appeared
and called her to her desk.
"Mr. Stanley Fayson wants to see
you at once in his office. He's
terribly upset, Maris." .
Suddenly Maris felt herself
trembling. Why should he have
sent for her? But Miss Riggs was
already hurrying across the corridor
to old Fayson's office, and so Maris
couldn't find out anything more.
Maris il numb al over as she
- .dl99zrds stan .I9as
could he want with her? Surely he
wasn't angry with her because she
had criticized his announcement.
He'd asked her to do it. Didn't he
mean what he said? Yet he had
seemed to be perfectly pleased with
her suggestion. Why hadn't Miss
Riggs given her a hint of what he
wanted?
Quickly she thought Of the letters
she had written lately, but not one
had been his. Then she remember
ed that n of his father's-or one
of the salesmen's, it must have
been-with the quotations. But
Miss Riggs had checked it over
with her and had assured her IT
was correct.
OF course you never knew when
any of the men might be trying to
pass the buck and blaming a steno-
grapher for a mistake of their own.
How hateful business was! Whom
could you trust anyway? Suddenly
she hated it all. 1t made a girl ner-
'vous. AS she turned the handle OF
the door her hand telt positively
clammy.
But when she entered the room,
Stan looked up eagerly and said'
"Oh, Pm glad you've come. Miss
Riggs suggested you might help
me. 1 certainly hope you car. Do
sit. down." Once more he indicated
the chair beside his desk.
The numbness left her body and
a glow of life seemed to sweep
through her again. Whatever it
was, Stan was lot angry with her.
But as she looked at him, she real
lied his face was haggard, and the
dark marks below his eyes told of
a ,sleepless night. What had happen
ed? 1t must have been something
awful, to leave him looking like
that. Why, his clothes looked as