Show r t l KATH KATHLEEN LEEN NO N KATHLEENN 0 Rr R 15 S COPYRIGHT KATHLEEN NORRIS SERVICE SYNOPSIS Antoinette Tart Taft twenty three at and ambitious am bilious but bul un ble to hold a II job lives In a drab San Fran Fran- Fran Fran-cl cisco co flat with her sister Brenda and brother who are older her sev- sev year old old enteen brother Bruce and their Aunt Meg In her job lob hunting rounds she Eha he Interviews Lawrence Bel- Bel Bellamy I lamy my editor of Bio rho 0 Journal of or Com Com- Commerce merce but bul finds lie he has no place for fora fora fork a a woman writer She Sho likes him very much as she sho tells Brenda Grenda later Dif Dlf- Dlf Barney Garney Kerr drops In Tony gets gels a 0 telephone call from Mr Green Green- Greenwood Greenwood wood city editor of the Call offering her a J Job b as society reporter Cliff returning just then accompanies Tony to 10 the newspaper office Ton Tony finds the men In the tho office once friendly and h helpful The firs first I night she he goes with Cliff and Joe Burke Durke Durk of the department to 10 a n restaurant and sees Bellamy She thrills when he be nods to her She Sh Is thoroughly happy In the hustle bustle and hustle bustle of the newspaper office odice She solves the problem of getting gelling photos The only other woman on the starr Is Dess Bess Cutter who Is very friendly with Fitch general manager er Bess comes cometo to depend on Tony Bess fleas invites Tony to 10 dine with her hor nor at nt her apartment apart apart- apart ment ment with Fitch Filch and then go to 10 the theater Barney Darney proposes to Tony and Is rejected Tony attends the Cutter affair and Is I displeased She Sh covers the winter mid carnival at al Piedmont She meets meet elderly Mrs Patterson and her daughter Ruth wife of Larry Lurry Bellamy Ruth Is In poor health Bellamy appears In carnival costume and recognizes Tony Mrs Urs Bellamy becomes verY fOnd of Ton Tony and has her with her frequently Tony Is In to love with Larr Larry She tells Greenwood that Larry Is In in a deal with the Exam Exam- ExamIner Examiner Examiner iner to 10 take tile over the Journal Green Green- Greenwood wood mood prints the story and Ruth calls Tony and tells her that It II will queer Larrys Larry's deal with the Examiner CHAPTER Continued XII XII Continued 9 Well he began sourly youve certainly let us Into a lot of trouble on an that Porter engagement 1 if Oh how Tony asked startled They talked to the thc old man FItch rope Nope Arnoldson Oh Ob they didn't I 1 They did They wanted to know how bow you got It It The Bulletin had It tonight Yes res but the thc Bulletin was careful to say that they were quoting from the Call Its true Tony saM said stubbornly They say It Isn't true At least we n sent Rob Bob ob Whiteley up to see thIs Mrs lIrt Scott and she pretty near took his head ofT off Much ado about nothing Tony saId scornfully returning to her work The city editor lingered Im Tm awfully sorry If I let yon you tn In for tor something with that Journal thing he said awkwardly llowd I know It was niS a secret It doesn't matter Tony said wearily soberly Only the Bel Bel- Bellamy's Bel- Bel Bellamy's Bellamy's lamy's happen to be my best frIends Well listen It If DanIelson sends for you you- you OU Danielson 1 I IIer heavy heary eyes lI lighted with horror Flo Daniel Daniel- Danielson ton Daniel son was the thc assistant manager ner- ner nervous nervous TOUS ner-TOUS critical was the most dis dIs- dIsliked ds- ds disliked liked man on the staff starr Oh Oil about this tills accursed Scott thing I Greeny said walking away Tony sat on at nt her desk In a state of complete terror Old Mrs Ma lus with another or of the Betsy Ross noss sentimental sentimentalities ties wandered n In Everyone her and made much of her she called Mr Sir Arnoldson While and Was Mrs Sirs Danielsons Danielson's aunt Usually she bored Tony into evading her herbut but Tony lony was In no mood to decline any friendly overtures tonight and smiled at nt her encouragingly For Fo r once nce however old Betsy Ross noss Was not responsive and left the th theoffice e office after a short conversation with G Greeny reeny mad because her daugh daugh- daughter ter er left for China today and we w e dIdn't give It any space Arch eer per er told toM Tony Tony made a des des- despairing despairIng de s pairing exclamation she had made mad mada madea e a note of this event she had meant mean t to play It t up prominently to pleas e the powerful all Betsy Ross noss an d she he had completely forgotten It I IA A few moments later later- the d call came a frowzy boy went b by y dy her desk saying casually Air Mr Ir Dan Dan- Dans Dan lelson's Ielson's s office please Miss lIss Taft The eyes of all the office sympathetically upon her she went slow slow- slowly ly t to the hallway and drag dragged ed her herway he heway herway r way downstairs to the manager s rs telling herself darkly that sh shwas she e was as a probably fired buIt It was not so bad ns as that bu but t It t was bad enough Mr Danielson n was disagreeable he was C ja disagreeable He lIe said eald that he liked dis liked the sensational manner of get ting getting social notes that Miss Tat Taft t had bad recently been employing i It t was as as not the policy of the thc paper paler to tomake t tomake make powerful enemies and hi his s OWn theory had always been to ge t what people were willing to givand give e and nd nothing else Th These ese are the nicest poop poop- nIcest people In the thc city ho h reminded her and usually Ou our r ahem ahe aher socIal P reporter er l- l lK 19 lone i one of whom themselves someone who understands t that K h at class S feel feel- S how persons or of typhoId I hope YOU break brenk breakout out with ty ty- Tony thought her cheeks eks very ery red her eyes brIght ns as slip she respectfully y watched hIm She was of a class that couldn't col Dt understand socIety folk k was as she After Arter a while awhile he hc sal said sall l That was ns all I think find and she could get et up and nd go feeling whipped hIpped and broken She went back to her desk No body Nobody looked up when hen she came In but she knew that her everybody say everybody saw dinner Arent you going to get et any any din din- din ner Ton Tony Greeny called Youre oure covering that Federated Clubs thing arent aren't you That Isn't until Isn't-until until nine she began to say thickly and putting her head hend Iowa down on the desk she she burst Into tears Nobody said anything she knew that they were all aU transfixed tran between natural distaste for the weakness of or women and sympathy for her In a day whose hose dismal emo emo- emotions emotions lions they all had experienced In their turn After a dreadful moment or two Tony regained command of her her- herselt herself herself self stood up and gathering er notes took took them to the city editors editor's desk Im going out to dinner she said almost InaudIbly The street sheet was almost Tony rouy walked blindly along salt Ping blowing her nose talking halt halt- half aloud aloud That vile Porter engagement engage engage- engagement engagement ment- ment ment Ah yes but then there was the Journal affair alTair too That was more serIous Just this time last nIght everything had bad been so serene and so happy and now her whole life was a wreck Ruth nuth had loved her Larry had trusted her and she had betrayed their trust 1 I Tired blue hungry miserably undecided un- un undecided un undecided decided as she halted In the dark street he her eyes fell upon a bent metal shield shield In a doorway The San Francisco Journal of Commerce Com Com- Commerce Commerce merce and Business Third Floor For a moment she stood looking atIt at atIt atit It apathetically then suddenly her heart began to beat hard and fast She went In She stopped halfway up the sec sec- second second second ond flight light and stood listenIng Somebody was talking at a tele tell telephone phone upstairs In the Journal of- of office of office fice flee she knew that voice olee Larrys Larry's voIce The door of the outer office where here she bad had waited so patiently n a year ago was open The Inner door was ajar too Tony pushed It further open and saw Larrys Larry's office for the second time He lIe looked up and she stood there looking at him without smiling her ber face pale and streaked with I tears Tony what Is It he said after a minute He got up and came around the topped flat big desk What's the matter She had stretched out her ber hands his met them and as she felt theIr heartening grip and saw the con con- concern concern concern cern and kindness In his eyes her he r tears began again Oh Larry Ive I've been so sorry J I she faltered clinging to him Sorry For what Oh 01 for what I let you In for I Id I'd no Idea It t mattered so sol I You know Tony said close against hIm looking up In his face with the th e lashes of her blue eyes pointed with tears you know I told them Larry I told Greeny 1 This morn morning In lag ing when Ruth spoke about It I didn't t want her to know She saId sal d I you ou wouldn't believe I hadJ bad I But I Idid did Id There was a pause I knew you did he said been feeling s so o Oh Ob Larry Ive I've horribly 1 I Im I'm so sorry I Look here he Interrupted about this been worrying hate ha ha c you ou Journal thIng Ive been sick I she whispered I Sit down you poor brain bird l I I Larry said sold lie He wheeled a revolve revolt I In ing chair to the nearer side of the thede th e went about to his own side of o f desk de k the desk and d sat down smiling nt a ather t I her Listen he said sold tutors allI nl all 1 I this about i I told Greeny Grecny I l had bad no Idea hed he'd he d Tony poured out her er confession con confession use It ft I grot great rush I I never r in n a realized until I telephoned Rut h this morning what n a horrible thin thIng g Id I'd done donel I she said Larry listen listened to her at first with bewilderment Why good beau wasn't t up to you I ITo ens It ft To To whom then Tony ask cd Had someone else hud else accident someone accident someone e hull had by hy bles blessed ed else else- I had no busi buss business busies To To 10 me ne of of course course about It It made m ness es to o talk tolk fool because Id I'd I 1 d said II t t feel like e a I the chief that I wouldn't mention It But ut If It theres there's there any blame Its It's up to me 9 Oh no Its It's not not she the said laugh laugh- laughing ing lag you do Go down to Los Flew down I 1 just got ot back back back-an n hour ago a 10 Fie ne sent me mo up In one of Then lies lie's peaceable Tony asked Oh fine I think It will n nil all straIghten Itself out lies Hes tryIng to blurt bluff me now v but he wont won't 1 told him that Id I'd talked about It like a fool and hes he's trying to make me believe bellev It makes some difference But It doesn't a bit Tony suddenly began to tell ten hIm the whole story about the Porter engagement and the signed article nod and the tile excitement In n the office night If It Id I'd only gone home Larry But I was sort of hanging around Grecny's desk and with suddenly suddenly with without out thinking It out at all I all 1 said to him film Oh by the way did you hear about the Journal It If Id I'd only thought thought- t It happens all the time Larry sold saId philosophically As for or Creepy Greeny and the talk with Danielson he hc presently added nil all news news- newspaper newspaper paper policy Catch em cm young you young and keep leep em terrIfied Is the Idea You never ne feel sure of a newspaper job He l ie swept some papers on his desk deskI together and up nave Have you had dinner I No Xo Tony suddenly realized that she was starving and happier In her excitement and nail relief relict than she had ever er been In her life lICe All An right Lets Let's walk around the corner to PIerres PIerre's and ond have bave Spanish oysters And fruits Marie Marle JardIn You know Pierres Pierre's No but you and Ruth nuth were talk talk- talkIng talking talking ing about It one night But where There'd Ruth Tony demanded I She and her mother went over overto overto to the Piedmont house this after after- afternoon afternoon noon the tenants go In next week A At t The Very First Occasion Upon Which They Two Had Been Alone Together Well Wen Tony this Is s kind of nice I Larry said going with her down the dark stairs As she sat opposite him at the thc little white table with the smoking g oysters between them and the cheerful simple atmosphere about them scented with Pierres Pierre's marvel marvel- marvelous marvel ous ous salads Pierres Pierre's clear chicory flavored chicory flavored coffee PIerres PIerre's toasted French bread her blue eyes shone upon her companion with a n liquId sapphire light They talked of ev- ev everythIng everything ev everything eagerly joyously and Tony presently reminded him Inno Inno- Innocently inno- inno innocently Innocently that this was the very first occasIon upon which they two hall had been alone together Afterward they walked to his parked car and he drove her ber up- up uptown uptown up uptown town to t the fhe c clubhouse and walked with her to the doorway Just at parting sho she turned to t o face him Larry you do forgive me I am bitterly ashamed and very cry sorry Seriously It if anyone was t to o blame and and the whole thing will straighten Itself and no harm will willbe be done It done It was I Well youve you've made me very ver p happy 1 I Tony went u up In the ele ele- elevator elevator vator valor her heart was singing CHAPTER XIII came an Interval o of t weeks when life lICe went on o n smoothly and Joyfully there was wa ns s less criticism at nt the office Tony began to feel cel sure of herself und and her work It was glorious to awak awaken en In the summer mornings to a general vague consciousness that all was right and to lie comforts comfortably bly abed reflecting upon all nn the th e details that made It so Tony daw daw- dawdled dawdled died through a n bath at ten o'clock Idled through late a breakfast gos gos- gossIping gossiping with her always Interests Interested d little aunt glanced at nt her own pa paper per and the rival papers pulled M her he r white hat to the right angle slipped d Into her loose white coat ascer trained ascertained that the yellow ow scratch pa- pa pa paper per pcr nail nud the thc pencil were where they the y belon belonged ed and went out Into thc th e dreaming warm fog og of the hilly hill y streets ready really for anything that lb yo o day might bring Sometimes It was wag a n debutantes down the lie Peninsula some some- times limes sometimes a wedding n Tony went to the clubs for presidents b breakfasts and ate the chicken pat pat- patties t ties ies and hot rolls listened to the speeches and the clapping and smelled the tho good scents cents of roses and delicate perfumes and crIsp new ne sills sl She Slie went up and down the steps of the city's hand handsomest sourest homes sat In dim great drawIng d rooms scribbling down names and dates nail and en engagements Then In n July Greenwood sent her down to the lintel Hotel Del Monte 1 to cover er the social side of the big golf olf tournament at nt Pebble Beach ach Ton Tony tool tonic Brenda with her for the en- en enchanted en enchanted c chanted weekend week and the sIsters wandered l through three perfect days of sunshine and gayety nail excitement e find went treat ent up at nl night ht to their high little win dormer dewed dowed bedroom exulting In fa theIr particular p share of or the thc general fes- fes fes festivity And It was waa there that Brenda told Tony very simply that she n was ns goIng to be bc married to Alvin At At- At Atwater water At-water water a doctor In Monterey l It i t a darling name Brenda sold lingering on It fondly No he had no money and no practice he had bad just graduated from medical col college lege loge nail he lie no wasn't-no wasn't no ho he wasn't |