The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-20

lars. Not a cent OF II.
But she wanted Billy to make CT
himself the man she knew he could
be; not remain the boy he seemed
content to be. A gay, generous
completely likable lad who danced
through the night, and then
yawned through the morning. He
was no weakling at work; but he
never seemed strong enough to
punch a time-clock.
And that's exactly what Boss
Collins, head of the Acme Com
pany, wanted his employees to do.
Betsy, the best secretary in the
office. punched the time-clock
faithfully. Not that she was a
sour-faced spinster who lived, and
loved, by the clock.
She was young and very pretty
and she had fluffy hair. She liked
to dance as we'll as the next one;
danced a great deal better than
the next one, as far as that goes.
But she was disciple of diSci-
pline.
Their love for each other was
deep. 1t was also. as you can i'm
agine, sometimes difficult.
Betsy. darling"-if he'd said it
once he'd said it a hundred times
the last year-"when are you
going to marry me?"
when you get a raise"
CHI oil oHHnH oYH che
meant it, too:
Not that I care about the
money, darling. But it is proof
that the boss thinks you're settling
down and taking your work seri-
ously."
LIKES JOB
But 7 am taking my work seri-
ously," he would protest. I'm
crazy about the job And there's
never been a complaint since I
started to work as an office boy.
and now I'm assistant bookkeeper.
II know it, darling. But want
you to be head bookkeeper and
you would be, one of these days, if
you'd only listen to me.
THE boss is old-fashioned. He
was brought up like your father
and my father. He's hipped on
getting to work on time
you're wrong. He likes to get
to work ahead of time"
well why don't you fool him
and beat him to it some morn
ing? You know the old proverb,
dear, the one about the early
bird"
Yea, but who wants to hook
worm. I'd rather be night owl
and catch a pretty girl like you"
But this particular August night
she didn't snuggle at this particu-
lar point. Instead, she sat up
stiffly and said quietly:
Billy, I'm terribly serious. 1
love you. You know that. That's
why I want you to succeed. And
you've got your chance right now.
Today when I was taking dicta-
ton from Mr.. Collins 1 learned
that Adams is being sent to the
Philadelphia branch. That leaves
the job of head bookkeeper open,
and"
That leaves a free-for-all,"
Billy cut in, between Hunt, and
Adams, and yours truly"
Exactly" agreed Betsy. And
you're much the Smartest of the
three"
You're prejudiced, honey" he
said softly.
"Of course I am, and glad of
it. But even if I didn't love you, I
work in the same office with you,
and I can tell who does the good
work and who doesn't. Why,
you're twice as smart as both of
them put together.
But" her voice was firm, they
get down to work on time"
Yes, and as soon as they're
sure the boss has given them the
eye. what do they do? Sit back
and loaf. I'll be dashed if III play
to the grandstand like that"
! sometimes, she remarked
= crisply, tits necessary to put OF
an act, if that's what you call
it, to get what you deserve in this
world"
I'll surprise you some fine
day." he bantered, and beat the
boss to work"
The day of miracles is over"
. she replied bit icily.
"Oh, no, it isn't" be insisted
merrily. Il don't deserve you and
I certainly didn't put on an act
to win you, and I got you, and
that's a miracle, honey" and he
Rugged her to him.
Encouraged, he said:
"C'mon. Let's go out to Grid
ley Farms, do a bit of dancing
out there on the pier, have our
selves a swim, and a nice drive
home in the moonlight"
She started to agree. Then she
wriggled her right hand out of
his clasp, held it in front of the
light on the dashboard of the
car and looked at her wrist watch.
It read half past II.
TERRIBLY LATE
Heavens" she gasped. cts
terribly late. And tomorrowS a
working day. We must go right
home"
Darn that watch" he spoke
sharply. Il wish I'd never given
it to you"
"And so do l." she retorted