The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-04-18
AShOrt Story
HERE'S PROOF
By John Okada
CONTINUED ]

wv = ~ CED
The employees of the Wright
Construction Companys main Of
flee were preparing to &c home af-
ter another days work. The girls
were Strengthening out the top of
their desks by throwing everything
carelessly into the drawers and COW
ering the typewriters. Then men,
unmindful of the chaotic state of
their equipment. had simply ceased
working and were regarding the
seconds on the wall clock as it la
bored past the black numbers and
finally indicated five O'Clock.
Hal got his hat and waited
for Jim and Mac to show up. He
mumbled Goodnight" TO the men
and girls who we're leaving, even
to Kathy, the bashful, plain blond
who worked at the corner desk in
the the office. After a few min
utes. Stanley came out of the
doorway. Hal started to turn away
unconsciously, but seeing how
foolish il was, maintained his po-
sition and regarded Stanley who
had also seen him and was deli
bertly avoiding his glance. AS he
passed with hurried steps, Hal
spoke affably. Goodnight, Stan
ley"
Stanley made no reply nor did
her even look at Hal. He quickened
his steps and disappeared around
the corner Hal wasn't surprised
anymore; but, still, he. couldn't help
wondering over the complete MI
friendliness of one who had alweys
been amicable enough.
well, here we are. Let's be on
our way" Macs loud voice disturbed
Halls brief thoughts and he turned
around to face his two friends
"Whats's wrong?" asked jim
you look worried"
Oh, it's nothing" said Hal
with a trace of concern still lin
gering on his face, 81 just got
snubbed by Stanley again. Should
be immune to il by now, but I
can't help thinking how funny 1t
Isl
Forget it pal, forget it," said Nee
sharply, "He isn't worth thinking
about. Way he's been treating us
you'd think we stole his best girl.
I've quit trying to get wore
out of him. said Jim, after al
these weeks To expected him tc
have forgotten our little argument
in the tavern, but, no, he won't ever
look at me-
who cares If he doen't," roareC
Mac, WHO cores? I sure as hel
don't. We don't owe him an apology
anymore. Look what happened ev
erytime we tried to make UP to him
If he wants to be friend with us a,
gain, it's up to him. Now, forge
him."
Guess you're right" replied
Hal managing to look less con-
cerned, Lets get going"
The three men started down thu
corridor towards the elevator.
Stanley paused for a minute in
side the entrance of the building
to light a cigarette before he step
ped out into the sidewalk and JOINED
the five O'Clock crowd He carried
his light topcoat carefully slunl
over his arm SO that the soil,
weight in the pocket was well-bal
anced and guarded against dropping
or knocking against his body. H
had planned carefully and patient
ly, and now that he saw no reasol
for stalling any longer, he had de
| cided that the courtship could com
to its fruitful termination. He could
! MT resist the temptation to smil
to himself when he recounted hi
cleverness in laying the groundwork
for the final date.
Meeting Kathy Academy" ant
unobtrusively had been too easy
Getting her to go out with him wa
even easier She was such a dunn
blond. a homely, bashful, scared
l, little kid who believed every sill,
word he threw at her and whom M
one would really miss, though he
absence would eventually be no
ticed. That was the main thing, thai
in time the proper people woult
miss her presence in the office un
obscure as she ordinarily was a
that corner desk of hers. He hat
been afraid at first that she might
be suspicious of his demands, thai
she would want to tell everybody
that the nice choking Stanley Briggs
was dating her, but he managed
in his capable way to keep her quiet
He was supposed to be in love with
her though he could never think
of it were it not for her great use
fulness in his plans. He had con-