Evening star., 1940-08-08

thand? FiHng?'"
was forming in her mind. She felt
sure that John Bristow would laugh
at her, that perhaps even Pat would.
There was chance, though, that
she might succeed.
She began to feel little happier
about the prospective job in the
| factory offices of the Bristow Die
Casting Co.
Were almost there" John Bris-
tow told her. Sure now. you don't
want to change your mind?",
mot me-" What was it the truck
driver had said? I'D rather stick
with it,"
Arrive at Plant.
She took out her compact and
studied herself curiously as she
busted new powder on her short,
straight nose. Somehow she'd had
a feeling that these last few weeks
must have aged her. 1t was almost
with surprise that she met the love-
ly young face in the little mirror;
the wide brown eyes, the warm,
creamy skin with its sprinkle of
tiny golden freckles on the bridge
Of the nose, and the red-gold curls
that blew about her forehead. She
finished powdering her nose and
closed the compact with snap. For
the first time she felt that John
Bristow was right. Her life was
| just at the beginning.
Here we are" Bristow said
cheerfully.
The car swung of to the right
through a pair of metal gates, and
slowed to a stop In a little yard.
Nancy got out of the car and stood
staring about her curiously.
She saw long. wide. two-story
building of red-brown brick, dark
ened here and there by smoke,
with what seemed to be huAdreds
of windows. Near the car a mar
row walk led up to door marked
Employees Only"
John Bristow led her up a flight
of steel and cement stairs to the
second floor, and through q glass
door marked "Offices" into a big
room filled with desks, men and
| girls. filing cases, and the clatter
of typewriters. Nancy stared about
her as they passed through the
| room. This was where she would
spend her days from now on. 1t
seemed to her that the clatter of
typewriters thinned a little, and she
became uncomfortably conscious of
the curious scrutiny of many eyes
before they had walked the length
of the room and entered another
Office that faced the. front of the
building.
Grimshaw UnfriendIy.
Afternoon, Grimshaw," John
Bristow said. IT brought the new
girl out with me-"
The man who rose to greet them
from behind big, flat-topped desk
was tall and very thin. It seemed
to Nancy that he was gray all over,
not only his suit, but his limp,
thinning hair, his slightly protuber-
ant eyes behind heavy glasses, even
his skin was a faint, unhealthy
gray. His face was deeply lined,
and there was a peevish, complain
ing twist to the corners of his
! mouth.
"Oh, yes, the girl to take Miss
Hills place" Grimshaw said, look
ing Nancy over curiously. Whats
your name, miss?"
''Nancy-Ellis" She remembered
the new last name just in time,
with an uncomfortable feeling that
she was blushing.
| The thin man noted 1t down on a
slip of paper and began firing ques-
tions at her. Tipping? Shorthand?
Filing? Dictaphone? Experience?"
She answered as best she could.
She had taken a business course in
college, to the great amusement of
her father and brother. But ex-
perience-well-.
John Bristow answered for her.
"Oh, she'll do all right as soon as
she gets on to things" :
"Of course" the Office manager
answered. His smile was even more
unpleasant. than his frown. He
pushed a buzzer on his desk, and
in a moment the door opened. Miss
Fletcher-this is Miss Ellis, the new
girl. Show her around bit, take
her around the plant enough tc
learn where things are, and tell hel
what to do" He added, to Nancy
you'll have some forms to fill out
you can come back and do that
later"
Good luck-Miss Ellis" Johr
Bristow said as she passed him. 81
hope you like it here"
She flashed him a grateful smile
Thank you-I'm sure I will"
| Miss Fletcher Is Curt.
As. she went out the door she
heard his voice saying, "Grimshaw,
another Of our trucks-just this
afternoon" and the thin, almost
whining voice Of the ONCE manager
answering, II know-but we're doing
everything we can"
Miss Fletcher indicated desk
with a wave of her hand. That's
your desk. You can keep your purse
in it If you like. I'll show you
where your locker Is" She led the
way past row Of desks whose
occupants stared openly and GU
| riously at Nancy, paused beside one
and pointed to a stack of work.
1--WE got to finish that before
| I leave tonight. And every min
ute I spend showing you around Is
going to make me just that much
| later"
| Nancy wondered If she ought to
offer an apology, or suggest that
she help make up the lost time.
She decided 1t was best to keep
4 meekly quiet, however. The an
i gular Miss Fletcher didn't look as
though she would welcome friend