The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-14
CHAPTER ONE


A DOOR OPENED and closed
gustily. Two f1annel-clad legs
vaulted the office railing, and a
quick voice said Hello, sweet
heart! The Old Man wants to see
me ?"
The senior secretary did not look
up. He docs" she said solemnly
You can go right in"
He had already gone in.
The girl on the outer side Of the
railing had a momentary impress
sion of the backs Of long legs, OF
broad shoulders and the cavalier
carriage of crisply brushed head
as the door marked J. T. Gregory,
President, closed back of them.
The senior secretary resumed
her reading of the letter in her
hand. She read II through a second
time, giving herself a moment be-
fore meeting the darkening eyes
fixed on her with dreadful sort
Of waiting. She'd seen that waiting
gaze, felt that still breathing in
Vulnerable times before as she
pertlsed the letters Of introduction
addressed to the president Of the
Consolidated Broadcasting COM
pany. o..
Familiar phrases ran beneath
her eyes:
&c. the writer feels that Miss
Reilly has great talent and would
consider 1t a personal favor II you
would arrange an addition for
her"
She put the letter back into It's
envelope and handed it across the
railing. Its a very nice letter"
she said. smiling.
Thank you. Do do you
think it will help me ?" the girl
asked. THE writer is program di-
rector at WRTX. He knows my
work well. I sang on his station
for a year before I came to New
York. If Mr.. Gregory would just
just :" She stopped, con-
scious of the note Of desperate
anxiety she had tried to keep out
Of her voice.
"Ill show 1t TO l. n II you wish.
However. I think II you take 1t to
Mr. Munson's Office, you'll get
quicker action. He arranges all the
additions. I'll ring his secretary
and see"
She broke of as the bell OF her
desk telephone rang, and picked
up the instrument.
Kit Reilly thrust her hands into
her pockets. They would tremble.
Her eyes, straying over the luxuri-
Gus Office, felt warm with resent
ment that ran like slim fame
along the growing edges OF her
dependency. The fabricated walls.
the thick carpet, the subdued color
tones, were part of the design OF
the place. labeled by the word
"Noiseless' on the typewriters; it
was a room designed to keep the
Kit Reillys from the overedge Of
hysteria-
"All ask Is a chance" The cry
was in her heart. stopped before 1t
could pass her lips.
ms - your last cnanceW
The sentence. spoken with angry
emphasis, separated clearly from
the babble Of voices that came
from the room with the closed door
and startled Kit Reilly.
The secretary was speaking into
the telephone. Sorry, ! can't put
Mr.. Healey on the wire Just now"
She glanced over her shoulder to- I
ward the door where the angry |
voice could be heard. Hes In con (
ference with Mr.. Gregory. I'll :
give him your message"
Something quick and eager !
eaped into the Reilly girls eyes;
spoke:
rs that that VANCE
Hesley?" Her vague gesture indi- I
;ated the presence that had passed
4 moment before.
I'm person" the secretary an. c
iwered without looking up, as she
iialed an inter-office number. When a
The did. she cast an uneasy glance c
1t the door back Of her Mr.. Gre r
yory. she thought. ought not 10 a
'aise his voice under the circum-