The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-06
AFRAID 3! II: to K: ZGuc
e n2 Hsk SERVICE. INC

Philip took out cigaret, pro-
ceeded to light it.
"My uncle" he said, "is very
wealthy man. We thought - in
the event" He waved the cigar
ct expressively in the air, apropos
of nothing.
Miss Greeley's severity increas-
ed. She did not like young men
who smoked without first asking
her permission.
"You thought" she prompted.
"Well-in the event that he
might wish to remember Miss
Barrett in his will-he would, of
course, want to know more about
her."
"Your uncle sent you here to
make these inquiries?"
Philip flushed uneasily.
"Yes," he replied, a little hest
family. THAT is-in a way; my
uncle sent me-"
81 do not understand you
young man. Did your uncle send
you or not?"
"Well-not exactly
81 see. Suppose then, you leave
your uncle's name and address
with me and | will mail him a
formal report within few days
Philip fidgeted in his chair
This was becoming an ordeal
Curse Sybil and her silly sus
picionS, anyway.
"My uncle would prefer" he
replied, Frightening as he sud
denly thought Of a plausible
answer, "if | brought him the re-
port personally. Miss Barrett, as
l explained, is his confidential
secretary. Any report coming
through the mails would natural
ly fall into her hands first. He
does not wish to embarrasS her
Of course"
"Of course"
Miss Greeley pressed n buzzel
on her desk. A moment later a
young woman stepped into her
office.
"Miss Baldwin, will you bring
me the record card of Joan
Barrett, class Of 1927"
Eyes, Miss Greeley"
Philip looked after Miss Bald.
win approvingly. Why the devil
hadn't he asked for Miss Greeley's
secretary instead of the old Anna
zon herself? He waited in un-
comfortable silence until Miss
Baldwin returned. He scanned
Miss Greeley's desk for some sort
of ash receiver; seeing none, he
pinched his cigaret butt and
threw it into the waste-basket
She watched him coldly, offering
no solution to his dilemma, and
her eyes followed the flight of the
cigaret into her basket with OBJ
vious disapproval.
To Philip it seemed an age be-
fore Miss Baldwin returned with
the desired information.
THANK you, Miss Baldwin. ]
shall return this to you later"
Miss Greeley took the card and
studied it carefully for a moment.
"Miss Barrett" she told Philip
presently, "seems to have been
one of our best students. Her de-
pertinent record is perfect. Schol-
astically she was very much
above the average, particularly in
history, literature and foreign
languages. | can give you her
marks in each subject, should you
desire specific details. There is
no indication Of any laxity either
in punctuality or attendance. She
was member of the French club
and played on the basketball
team Is there anything else
you would like to know, young
man."
Anything else? You old witch,
Philip thought, you haven't told
me a blessed thing.
zone more detail" he suggest
ed, after a moment. "How long
was Miss Barrett a student here?'
Two years"
"And where did she attend
school prior to that"
Miss Greeley looked at the
card again. "Our records do not
indicate that" she lied. 1t would
be far better, she justified her.
self, if an old mans fortune went
to a girl like Joan Barrett than
to an impudent young whelp like
this. Even assuming that he was
telling her the truth.
"You can tell your uncle" she
said furthermore, "that | cannot
praise Joan Barrett too highly.
She is worthy Of anything he may
do for her. She was an excellent
student, as ! have pointed out to
you, and her character was above
reproach. | am sure, however,
that in knowing her you have
found that out for yourselves"
eyes, indeed" Philip agreed,
without enthusiasm. He rose.
Miss Greeley's attitude indicated
quite plainly that the interview
was at an end,
He bowed slightly. "You have
been most helpful" he told her,
-..-uU