The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-10

GAIL MEADOWS TRENTON. 90
goes dinner dancing with BILL NOR
GAN. and meets CHRISTOPHER
REID. handsome son of the mai
who was responsible for her father
unjust imprisonment and death. Shit
tells Bill about her father and de-
clines his proposal OF marriage. The
couple returns to Calls home wher,
she lives with her mother. ANNA
and spinster AUNT BELLE. Gal
explains to Bill she has promised
her mother that she will not marry
until her fathers name is cleared
Using the name Gail Meadows. SHE
obtains a stenographic position in the
John Reid jewelry store and dis
who had been there five years might
have been guilty Of her father:
ruin,
CHAPTER FOUR
If she hadn't been there on a
secret mission Gail Meadows would
have enjoyed her position at
Reds.
1t was for less money, to be
sure, which meant no new clothes
and some careful managing but
once on the inside the atmosphere
was pleasant. Calls work was
easy and she began to like the
background of shining jewelry.
She told herself it was a herit-
age from her father who had
passionately loved the precious
stones which had caused his down.
fall.
She ought to have hated those
rows of emeralds and diamonds
and rubies in their satin cases,
but instead they fascinated her.
There was a glitter and polish
about the entire place which pene-
trated even to the office where
Gail typed. There was even a
certain splendor about it, par
ticularly when Chris Reid con-
descended to grace it with his
presence.
He stopped at her desk the first
morning she came to work asking
carelessly, Everything okay?"
Lifting her eyes to his Gail met
his ardent golden gaze. She
answered politely but to her
annoyance her heart had begun
to pound.
Everything is fine, thanks! 1t
was very kind of you to tell your
father that we know each other.
He wouldn't have hired me other
wise"
Chris laughed.
Knows Father
II know my father" he said
easily. 1T wasn't on my account
but because you were a friend of
Cy Morgan's son. He's all for old
friends. old books, etc. The tried
and true. He distrusts everything
new or modern. That's why I'm
such a trial to him"
Are your" she asked surprised.
"oh, but definitely" he re-
torted.
Perhaps because of this CONVEX
sation, which took place in full
view of the other employees. Gail
could make little Roadway with
them. Tobias Wentworth as man.
ager Of the store had no contact
with her. but the bookkeeper
through whom Gail had hoped to
gain some information was as
aloof at the end of month as
she had been that first day.
Only the janitor who for obvious
reasons was called Buzz" threw
any light upon the situation.
II was he who told her that the
exotic looking Helen Stiles was
in love with the manager.
They never says two words to
each other" he declared. but one
night l seen her kissing him"
II Helen had been a blond in
stead of a raven haired brunei
Cal might have been more in
terested since both the bookkeeper
and manager had worked at Reds
when her father was there. But
the only blond in the store was
Hazel Stone and although Gail de-
lioerstely cultivated the stenog-
rspher 10 the extent Of lunching
several times with her. Hazel's I
conversation was confined 10 a dis
,ussion OF the attentions of her
various men friends.
Have you worked az Reds I
very long ?" all asked finally.