The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-04
Big Business
And Grace
By FLORENCE ALLEN
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.)


"Cut that out about my not I'M
derstanding," said Frank, not with
out some courtesy. 81 understand
what you think you mean-you
mean that you think just because
you have spent four years in college
and have come off with a degree
you are too well educated to be my
wife. Rot and rubbish What
also understand is that love you
very much, in spite of your foolish
notions, and that you are not the
sort of girl, Grace Baldwin, who is
going to be content with just a
career, if that's what you call it."
"I'n always go on caring a great
deal for you, Frank" she said.
"Only now that I've got my degree
! really think ought to use it. 1
can't give up my ideals-even for
you, Frank"
Grace wanted to succeed in some
sort of business. She had special
lied in economics and had taken
several courses in finance, and on
the whole felt that she would be an
asset to any banking house or other
establishment needing business abil-
ity of the first order. So one fine
day she went to the city carrying
with her some nice little letters of
introduction to officers of several
banks which she had begged from
the president of her home bank.
AS for the bank officers-they
didn't even take the trouble to see
her. Grace was told that she would
have to send in request by mail
for an appointment if she really
wished to see them.
Then one day she managed to see
Mr.. George, vice president of one
of the business offices to which she
had contrived to get letter of in
PRODUCTION.
81 don't want any one around
here to help run this business" he
growled after she had hopefully re-
counted her qualifications. "Our
payroll is too big as it is. No
body's really interested. They just
do their own little jobs and draw
their salaries and hurry home at
five. Do you think any of the girls
around here would take it upon
themselves to see that my private
office was kept tidy? Not much.
All they'd have to do would be to
keep after the cleaning woman
stay after hours once in a while to
see that she did the work. But no,
they wouldn't think of such a
thing"
Perhaps what you have said will
give me an idea," Grace said.
Zone or two of the other men I've
talked to seemed to have trouble
of somewhat the same sort"
But when Grace reached her
home that weekend she was thor
oughly discouraged. True, she had
little plan in the back of her mind,
but when she came to consider it,
it didn't seem so very good after
all. Late that Saturday afternoon
she telephoned to Frank.
I'm sorry said what l did to
you," she said. Maybe it is cow
ardly, but Pm going to ask you to
give me another chance. You see,
l don't believe that there ever would
be a chance for me in the big bust
ness world. Why, the only possible
chance I saw was to turn to and
keep offices clean. Honestly, l
actually worked out a sort of
scheme of hiring some cleaning
women and opening a little office
to take contracts for cleaning Of
fees and personally supervising the
whole matter. I wrote to Mr..
George about it. But nothing came
even of that. So, Frank, if you
want me you can have me-"
And of course Frank took Grace
in his arms, beyond measure
pleased to find her in this humble
frame of mind.
A few days later came a letter,
signed by Mr.. w. M. George.
II didn't see any chance of giving
you a job" said Mr.. George, "but
since reading your letter and con-
sidering your plans for an office
cleaning agency l think perhaps we
could come to some agreement.
see you have brains and courage.
I'm interested in your plan and
would be willing to backcSach VEN
ture and finance it. We could make
it a sort of side issue. Meantime
you could be Of real use. to me here
in this Office, and guess could
mention salary that would appeal
to you"
! Grace read the letter at first with
eagerness. This Mr.. George, she
had found out, was a thoroughly re-
liable business man of high stand
ing. And he had appreciated her
qualifications-he really felt that he
could make use of her. Grace's
rosiest ambitions we're beginning to
come true. And yet?
Grace reread the letter and put
it in her desk She would answer
it later in the day. Meantime she
must keep her appointment with
Frank. They we're going to consult
with an architect about building a
little dovecot for two.
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