"ANN STEPS OUT"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1938, Page 10

"ANN STEPS OUT"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

COPYRIGHT,

Ry

MARGARET GORMAN NICHOLS.

CHAPTER IL—Continued. “Good morning, Miss Dryden,’’ he said, and did not look up. For two years he had said that, and not once had ever looked up. Ann took her place. And then John Hamill did an incredible thing. He lifted his head, looked at her, and smiled. „ “You’ve been with me two years, he said. Ann felt her heart skip. Was he going to let her go? Suddenly her mind revolved with ugly pictures of being out of work and needing money. “I've enjoyed being here,” she said rather lamely. “You’ve been very efficient, he said, “for so young a girl and to be unexperienced when you came. His eyes met hers. “Miss Wallace, my secretary, is going away for a month for a rest. Do you think you could fill her place during her absence?" The ugly pictures vanished. "I know I can. Or, at least, I shall try very hard.” “Splendid,” and smiled again. ‘I was talking to my brother yesterday.” Ann felt the colour surge through he cheeks. Nick had been talking about her! Nick was responsible for this wonderful opportunity. She could hear him saying, “Why not give the girl a chance She's nice. She deserves it and she’s got to get over a’ love affair.” And yet Doug’s cruel words stayed in her mind. . “He told me that you and he went on quite a party,” continued John and laughed. “He wagered me that I had never noticed how pretty you are.” / , i As his eyes . calmly surveyed her from her trim black pumps to her shining hair, Ann felt that she was being appraised. “I decided,” said John Hamill boldly, “to ' look at you and verify his opinion.” He cleared his, throat and turned his eyes to the papers before him. “Well, that’s settled. We must get down to more serious things. You will begin to learn Miss Wallace’s work this afternoon.” Now and then as her hand flew across the shorthand pad, she caught a glimpse of him. The John Hamill, the president of the agency, the gruff, unsmiling man she had imagined him to be was not really gruff and unsmiling. He could be friendly. And for the first time in her life Ann felt at ease with him.

He and Nick were quite similar in appearance—tall and blonde and bored looking. Interesting looking, thought Ann, and men of the world. The sort of men who accepted their money and positions casually and were never at a loss as to what to say or do under any circumstances.

She went back to her own desk concerned with the dignity and importance of her new position. At twelve she went to lunch and sat on a high school in a drug store and happily munched a sandwich.

When she returned to the office, she met a group of girls in the dressing room discussing her. “We just heard you’re going to take Wallace’s place when she goes away.” “This must be my lucky day." said Ann, pulling off her gloves. “You’re certainly lucky,” said one of the girls, “but he’s terribly hard to work for. How did you rate it?” “Hard work,” she said, smiling, “and regular hours. It’s only temporary, you know.” “You can call it hard work if you like,” said Stella Norris, “but in my vocabulary it’s the old S.A. Old J. H. has just discovered what a gorgeous gal Ann is. Wallace looks tired and worn.” "But it is only temporary,” persisted Ann. "Don’t kid yourself. This is just an easy way to let Wallace out. Shes outlived her usefulness.” During the early part of the afternoon Ann worked with Miss Wallace learning her work. Ann wondered if the older woman realized that at the termination of her vacation, she would perhaps find herself out of a position. About four o’clock she was back at her own desk finishing the day’s mail. Her telephone rang and she heard her mother's troubled voice. “I had to call you,” wailed Mrs Dryden. “It’s about Jean. She just told me she was going to quit school.” “Oh, she can't. Wait until I get home, Mother, before you talk to her. I can handle Jean.” Ann’s head ached. Added to the worry about Doug, and the burden of her new position was the eternal problem of Jean. “You shouldn’t have called me here,” she told her mother. “You know it’s against the rules . . .” “I know, but I had to. I don’t know what to do with the girl. She came in today, threw her books on the table, and said she’s never going back. Then she went upstairs, dressed in your best clothes, and went out. I haven’t seen her since.” "Don't worry. She's probably just gone to the movies. I'll talk to her when I get home tonight.” “I warn you,”- said Mrs Dryden gloomily. "I don’t know what young girls are coming to those days, gadding around in their sisters’ clothes and putting lip rouge on their mouths.” Her mother hung up and Ann went back to her typing. The day had been one of crowded surprising events. Perhaps her new position and John Hamill’s sudden interest would compensate a little for the loss of Doug. And all she could think of concerning Doug was the sight of him and Gail Tracy, heads close, riding downtown in his roadster. At five, her work done, she went to the dressing room and got her coat and hat, pulling the worn fur collar high about her throat. As she walked down the little corridor to the elevator, John Hamill came out of his office. “There is some one in my office who wants to see you. Miss Dryden,” he said. Nick—tall, blonde, impressive Nick —waited. He smiled down at her and took a step forward to meet her. “I’ve come to remind you that this is the night you're dining with me.” CHAPTER 111. It was a more luxurious apartment than Ann imagined from her first visit. There were deep, soft chairs, a tapestried divan, and rich, silk draperies at the windows. A negro servant in a , white coat moved to and fro fixing the 1 table before the fire. I As she stood in the middle of the I floor, Nick Hamill came toward her as I if he were about to embrace her, and

gently slipped her coat from her shoulders. “You like this," he asked, “don’t you?"■ One had to be honest with him. No use to pretend. Ann turned and smiled. “I was thinking about the shabby, faded furniture • in our living room. Old, but somehow very dear. Which reminds me that I must phone my mother.” Mrs Dryden was surprised at Ann’s cool, belated announcement that she would not be home for dinner. "And on the very night when I want you to talk to your sister." “I'll talk to her in the morning,” Ann promised. Nick was an entertaining host. He showed her snapshots of the far-away places he’d been, making amusing remarks about every picture. The servant walked noiselessly about preparing the table. She wondered, sitting so cozily beside him, what it would be like to be married to a man like Nick Hamill, and why up to this time he had avoided marriage. His wife would have everything —position, prestige, wealth, luxurious rooms like these .to- live in. and —Nick, himself. Doug’s opinion of him was hard to believe. To Ann, accustomed to Doug, Nick was a polished man of the world. Yet sophisticate that he was, there was nothing bitter or cryptic about him. He was kind and amusing. "Now that we’ve been to Bermuda and back again by pictures,” he said, “I’d like to tell you that you look quite as charming in your business dress as you look in evening clothes —which is a great compliment to any woman. Black, Ann, makes your hair seem even brighter than it is. “And now,” he said, “what about our campaign?” “There isn’t going to be any. Doug came the day after the parly. We quarreled.” He leaned forward intently. “About me?” “How—'how did you know?” She put her hand on his arm. “I didn’t believe what he said about you. I didn’t believe you were like that.” Nick breathed deeply. “My dear Ann, what amazing loyalty after one night’s acquaintance!” He looked away and his brown eyes were grave. “You can believe it or not believe it. I’ve always done as I liked, and thought that the world was created for me to' play with. Here of late I’ve been thinking that the world has been playing with me.” The servant announced dinner. Ann, in her plain black dress, with only white organdy collar and cuffs to relieve its drabness, felt as though she were a pauper at the prince’s board. Nothing was lacking in perfection and elegance! “It’s been a long time since a woman looked at me across this table. Most of the time brother John dines with me.” Ann put her fork on her plate. “I heard about your wager.” “Is that all you heard?” “It was, then . . . .” “Of course. I asked John why he didn’t give you a chance. Seriously, Ann. money is nice to have, and a working girl’s only chance is to marry her boss —unless he already happens to be married? No finer man lives than John. He wants a wife—he needs one.” “But,” Nick, I hardly know him. I couldn’t deliberately throw myself in his way. And besides,” she lowered her lashes, “I don’t know him.” “I’m sorry. I hadn’t really thought of that. Love is’important to a girl like you.” She nodded. "The most important thing in the world. I’d do anything for the man I loved. He wouldn’t have to be rich. He wouldn’t have to be anything but the man I loved.” “Good girl,” said Nick. (To be Continued.)