Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-08-19
SILKSa
CHAPTER %

A TINY blacksmith beat 10
strokes on his tiny anvil in tbs
clock on Mar;'s desk-she was
Mari to everyone, even herself
now. :. The. telephone rang imperi-
ously and another messenger with
another cable arrived at that pre-
else moment.
Mari let her breath out with a
whistle and pulled her fur toqEe
over her head determinedly. Slip
ping one arm into her coat. with
the other she reached for the de
rectory. She ran her finger down,
the AS.
American University Union -.
She read the address. jotted it
down on a piece Of paper and put
it in her handbag. "I'll be back
in half an hour" she said to the
vendeuse who had been engaged
to substitute for Anetka. "I'm go
ing to get me an American secre-
tary. I'm too woozy to make
head or tail Of what these cables
mean"
Mari was back in less than an
hour with Miss Letitia Higgins,
late Of Kansas City, who was in
the years to come to prove to be
her right hand.
Look" Mari said directly to
the Picture Of Efficiency, 1--WE
haven't much money and I can't
pay you a salary that will dazzle
you but I need help badly. I need
a good common sense point Of
view to apply to what is happen
ing. A month ago this shop was
doing splendidly in a nice, mild
progressive way and I thought
that I was a capable business
woman. But suddenly-.in fact in
the last three days-things have
been happening that make me feel
that, perhaps. I am losing my
reason"
The Picture Of Efficiency re-
garded her solemnly through
Undermined glasses.
people have been. pouring in
here like CATTLE" She waved her
hand beyond the black silk curtain
that had been hastily draped over
the doorless doorway separating
the Office from 1.-The salon. "I've
been sketching until I have a
cramp in each arm. I've engaged
more Sewing women and cutters,
and been trying to get fabrics
through in an impossible short
ness of time. But I can't cope.
with these telegrams!"
May read them ?"
Gladly. Mari handed over the
pile of cables.
"Now, if you'll permit me-"
Letitia replied in a business-like
voice, "I'll answer these at once.
7 think, under the circumstances,
the best answer is merely that you
find it impossible at the moment
to consider any of them. You'll
be glad to let them know, ETC."
Mari looked at her new Jewel
with awe. . "Qf course" she MUIR
INJURED. But don't you think we
might lose some Of them-I mean
k4tO VIII S1IO IAI0E-
ested in America and the people
. who want me to give interviews
and write for them--if we put it
Off"
j. Miss Higgins glanced at her
with surprise. mot you!" she re-
piled firmly. You're a legend
Be hard to get! Now, then, your
engagement book. Make these
people wait. No good can come
Of exhausting yourself. I think
we'd better get purchasing agent
so that you won't have to do the
shopping yourself"
Mari combed her hair, powdered
her nose and went out to greet hel
clients.
Two 1ours later she sent a note
to A-letka to tell her the things
that had been happening during
the morning. And then the thought
came back to her Of what had hap.
pened the night before.
In the bland light of midday. Il
seemed ridiculous that her remark
about spies and government
aeents could have frightened
Anetka. And that. in turn, Anet