The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-07
CHAPTER III

CI1AI Ch LII
 Marians heart sank. Had she not made practically the same move 10 years ago? Every day she seemed to be drawing nearer to the abyss into which Angie Doran had crashed.
 She said sharply, We've never felt the need of an understuoy. Miss Herrod has been able to handle my work when necessary Miss Herrod had been with the office for 20 years. She was plain, unimagin- ative person, thoroughly satisfied with her position as bookkeeper.
 Miss Herrod is getting old" MT Fellows objected.
 She's only 38"
 "Well-that's getting along"
 Marian wanted to say But shes safe-she doesn't want my job. v Thirty y-eight-getting along-in six years Marian would be 38.-and the last six years had passed life a brief, monotonous whiff of nothing.
 You're unfair" she remarked with spirit and the frankness en- gendered by years of acquaintance. You men are just getting started at 38." Using Miss Herrod as a subject, she was arguing in her own behalf.
 He shrugged Just the same Miss Herrod is getting old. We can't let the office go to seed. We've got to be constantly on the lookout for new talent and fresh slants.'
 '"You're not planning to to let Miss Herrod go-?" fearfully.
 He pursed his lips. No. Her job doesn't demand personality. Long as she can manipulate figures she doesn't need a figure"
 The telephone buzzed and Mar ian answered.
 "Marian-this is Carma"
 "Oh, yes, Carma-when did you get back?" Carma's yearly trips abroad were the envy of her friends.
 "A week ago"
 "Why haven't you called me for lunch?" Possibly Carma had found a suitable winter outfit for her in Paris. Marian's mind made hur- r!ad and doubtful estimate of her bank account.
 q haven't been in the mood Marian-have you heard about Pete?" Carma's voice was thick and unsteady.
 "Yes, Dan told me"
 i've got to see you Meet me for lunch, will you2"
 "Of course-l2:3 :30-I'll reserve the c@rner table at Jaques." Replacing the instrument, Marian attacked the mail, sitting the envelopes and glancing at the contents. Making several piles of the open letters, her mind reverted to Sally Blake.
 Perhaps Sally should be given little more opportunity she said, putting out feeler.
 MT. Fellows answered promptly, T think so"
 She couldn't let 1t go at that "cn the other hand" she said thoughtfully, T don't know as 1t pays to spend too much time on the young girls, You get them trained, get to depending on them and about that time they leave to be married"
 Grant Fellows was either com pletely sold on Sally or in an argu- mentative mood. You left to be married" he said. "You tried 1t out, but you came back after about so long. And you were mighty glad to get back, If I remember rightly"
 T wouldn't be here today If Dan had been able to get anywhere in the business world"
 Mir. Fellows leaned back in his chair, touching his flngertips in a reflective attitude. "1 thought Dan was slated to be sales manager a few years back The head of his company talked enthusiastically about him to me. What happenedp"
 T don't know-eXactly." Marian did know she remembered the in- cident with bitterness. There had been a question as to whether Dan or Sims Crane should receive the sales managership. The fact that Sims had a dependent wife and two children had tipped the scales in his favor. Marian had refused to blame herself at the time and she still clung to the theory that, if Dan had been good enough, capable enough
 "How's he getting along nowp" Mir. Fellows persisted.
 Just the same,' she said He makes just what he did when we were married. He was cut during the depreSsion-that's when l came back to work. Now he's drawing $35 week again"
 "That's pretty good, considering the times, Mighty few of us are making what we were l2 years ago " It was a surprising observation and Marian felt something behind it.
 "But we couldn't live on It."
 "Sure you could. Thousands Of families in this country live on much less. It Just takes little manage inent. There's budget to iit every income"
 Marian wrinkled her nose dls- dainfully. Budget hate the very sound of the word,
 Too many modern women feel like that. It's the answer 10 the ever-increaSing number Of women in offices and stores
 Marian stared at him. Was he paving the way to tell her that she had husband who earned. that her place should be given. to Q girl who was dependent upon -. -