The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-20

office, and he's had everything gone over with a fine-tooth comb"
 But what do you suppose the file was? I mean, why was it so important?"
 Good heavens, how should I knowP Half the time can't make head nor tail out of the stuff I'm typing. But I suppose when it's all put together it does mean something. They called me in and asked me if I'd typed some pages about g. new gasoline order. Does that mean anything to you?" Sue Mary shook her head. 'No but I think Miss Grant asked Vera to type some such thing yesterday. I know Vera was al- most ready to go home when Miss Grant came out and told her to do something. I heard her men, ton gasoline"
 "Vera-" Kitty's well def1nied red lips frightened. She's sup- posed to be SO efficient, but I notice she always has time to drop her work when young Ross Clark comes in. He was here last night, just after you left, and she in- veigled him into conversation two minutes after he came through the door" Kitty's eyes narrowed and a smile came to her lips.
 Tt would be funny if she had that file. If she was so interested in Ross last evening that she for got to type that order and it's the one they're all hunting for now. Wouldn't that be just too lovely?"
 Lovely? No, it certainly wouldn't be lovely" Sue Mary said emphatically. She stared at l Kitty, mindful of the girls dis like for Vera.
 Don't be petty. Anyway, you or I could have made the same mistake just as easily. If we didn't know 8 paper was impor- tant, and we got it to type just before going home, we might do teh same thing and be in the same jam. Furthermore, we don't know if Vera has it at all"
 But her own words didn't carry conviction. She knew Vera had the paper. Sue Mary was sure of that ard the realization left her Wor- ried. Vera was new in the office and it wouldn't look well for her to be the cause of all this confusion.
 Ste Mary shrugged her shoul- ders, thought, as Kitty smiled wisely before going back to the office. Vera was the epitome of efficiency, and certainly, if she had unknowingly held on to an im- portant paper, it wasn't a crim- inal act.
 Back in the office, Sue Mary found an excuse to take some work over to the filing cabinet near Vera's desk. She looked down at the dark-haired girl. During the weeks in which she had come to know Vera at the TYP headquarters, had eaten mid- night suppers with her, Nick and Natalie, had talked religion, phi losophy, politics, war, and social problems, she had come to admire Vera's intelligence, to envy her calm and boise.
 Now she would have. to try an6 help her out of this situation She hated to be involved in any difficulty at the office, but she couldn't get out from under this
 Vera" she said in a low voice MT. Clark is in 8 terrible state He's mislaid or lost a paper They're trying to find Miss Grant to see if she knows where it is It's something about a gasoline order. Have they questioned you yet?"
 No flicker of expression passed across Vera's face Her brow was calm, her lips soft and parted in a half-smile. Only the pupils in her dark eyes dilated. Sue Mary felt Q little stab of fear, but when Vera's voice answered, low and pleasant, she felt a flush of em- bar1assment pass over her face at her own doubts.
 Gasoline order? I don't know Sue Mary, It might be here ir this stuff" She ruffled some pa- pers on her desk. Miss Grant gave me 8 whole pile of works last evening before she left"
 She looked up and smiled. "l suppose Kitty has already tolc you. I mean that young Ross Clark came in and talked to me knew she was watching every move I made. Anyway, he sug- gested driving me home, but vetoed that. I did stop to have a drink with him, though. AnC because I didn't want to keer him waiting around here with Kitty looking like a green-eyeo cat, I c1d push some of this stuff aside for today"
 She stared out the window, lost in pleasant thoughts. Hes rather interesting. AS a type, I mean Of course, he's interested only ir himself and his set. Never hao 8 real idea in his life, suppose Her voice trailed of and Sut Many leaned over and took he