Evening star., 1940-08-09

of Mine. Miss Ellis-Mr. Blake.'"
she hadl been fired for reasons
that couldn't be publicly explained.
What do you mean?" Nancy
whispered.
you're new here, babe, but
you'll learn. Say, you don't have
any idea how. some of this stuff
here is guarded"
"Guarded?"
yeah. Look. There's some
work done out at this plant that's
darned important And believe
me, they're mighty careful that
nothing should happen to it. I
have hunch that Lou Hill"
The head stenographers voice
cut sharply into the whisper. IF
you're through making a social call,
Annie"
"Okay, Miss Fletcher"
Nancy Recalls Attack.
Nancy began typing furiously,
her cheeks burning. She felt
rather like a little girl who has
been scolded in the schoolroom for
whispering
Was Annie Burke right about
this Louella Hill? Was the work
done at the Bristow plant so i'm
portant, then? She remembered
what she had seen the day before,
the black sedan that had darted
frNr,o ciIn rfr
Bristow truck.
Noon. Again the shrill sound of
the bell, in the distance the mel
ancholy sound of whistles. A con-
certed rush toward the mirror in
the washroom. Another rush to-
ward the lunchroom.
Avoiding the crowd of girls
Nancy washed her hands, straight
ened her hair and went down to
the lunchroom. AS the rush slack
ened little she edged up to the
counter. got a sandwich and a bot
tie of milk, and managed to find
seat by herself at the end of one
of the long tables.
She forgot her troubles and be-
gan wondering about Tom. Only
last summer he had spent weeks
with them at Lake Geneva, spend
ing his days boating with Pat, his
evenings dancing with her. For
a minute the drab surroundings of
the lunchroom faded from sight
as she thought of those evenings,
dancing with Tom, walking along
the lake shore with Tom, watching
the stars with Tom. Yet yester-
day, when she had met him in the
factory. he had seemed not to
recognize her.
For that matter, what was Tom
doing here? He, of all people,
didn't need to work in the Bristow
Die Casting Company for living.
She could think of no explanation.
Everything was very hard to un-
derstand.
Tom Speaks to Nancy.
She had finished her lunch and
was preparing to leave the table
when Tom himself appeared a
friendly smile on his lean, brown
face
Hello. Miss Ellis"
She looked up, startled. ooh
hello"
We'll how do you like 1t here?"
She managed smile. Fine"
He nodded politely. No explana-
ton of his behavior of the day be-
fore. Yet she had a strange idea
that his gray eyes were signaling
some message to her, warning her
to watch her words.
I'D like you to meet a friend of
mine Miss Ellis-Mr. Blake, Hugo
Blake"
Nancy looked curiously at the
stranger He, was a man of aver
age height, with broad, square
shoulders and long, muscular arms.
His hair was heavy and very blond
his face seemed amiable and rather
dull. and he wore thick-lensed, RIM
less glasses.
"Hugos great friend of mine
Tom said.
She managed to acknowledge the
introduction, wondering what to
say. After a word or two about the
weather, the crowded conditions OF
the streetcars, and the difficulties
of getting started in a job at the
Bristow plant, the two men moved
on.
Tom Reveals Her Secret.
Nancy picked up her purse and
4 prepared to follow them toward the
stairs. Suddenly she caught few
words in Toms voice that stopped
her dead in her tracks.
wonder what old man Bristow
would think if he knew that cir!
was working here under a phony
name"
"Phony name?" 1t was Hugo
Blake, who spoke in a guarded tone
Sure. I know her. Real name,
Thorne. And, believe me, Tn
surprised she's not cutting Bris.
tow's throat instead of working fol
him"
"Why?"
"I'll tell you why. Old mar
Bristow ruined her father-yo,
know, John Thorne-it was In al