Show Chivalry C CS S HE i F Com Complex I t ti i COP tf E GARRET By j SMITH I e eY j Y NOON forlorn hopers in the BY employment managers manager's anteroom anteroom anteroom ante ante- room at Cromby Co boiled down downto to Jimmy Wheeler and the Plucked Chicken They had simmered since nine waiting to be hired or to hear Well file your application and Ic let you know if anything turns up Jimmy put the first of these chances shots at less than one hundred Odds had reversed on him since that independence day two weeks ago when his ex-boss ex had spoken and Jimmys Jimmy's free tree soul chased Jimmy oft the payroll As for the Plucked Chicken Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jim Jim- my considered the Old Runaround Run formula a n sure thing He hadn't given her a second look for fear hed he'd feel sorry for her No name to put putto putto putto to a maid In distress the formerly chivalrous Jimmy a admitted guiltily But hed he'd seen too many such lately Hed He'd soured on the sex anyhow since his boss's secretary tary lied herself herself herself her her- self out of a Jam and him Into one after hed he'd stood up for her That chivalry complex of yours is a nuisance nui nul- sance sancel the boss had roared Old Fletcher needn't worry Jimmy agreed with him now The assistant manager gave Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jim Jim- my a blank to fill and turned to the Plucked Chicken Elizabeth Bond was her name actually Someone's private secretary once would grab graba a typist job now We have a long waiting list Im I'm afraid it isn't worthwhile worth worthwhile worthwhile while calling again was all she drew Not even the Old Run around Jimmy handed in his blank Thanks said the assistant Well file roe your application application- And And let me know if anything turns up Jimmy finished He wondered wondered won won- dered how many such days his hun hun- dred-buck dred reserve would stand ashe as ashe ashe he followed Miss Bonds Bond's wake The girl was waiting for the elevator elevator ele ele- ele- ele vator a fragile arm braced against the wall The dim light here softened the cheek bone hid worry- worry lines and ash grey bleakness Why she was class a beauty once before be be- f fore re she began starving to death I IThe The elevator came and she swayed toward it would have fallen if Jimmy hadn't caught her Thank you Im I'm clumsy Her face lit and Jimmy looked into deep violet eyes Then face and eyes ees went dead again Shed She'd keel I over on the street he worried No breakfast probably He must do something quick At the street door Jimmy clutched the germ of an idea Pardon me Arent Aren't you Miss Bond Bond in in Cromby's just now They said you might do a letter or so for me Im I'm James Wheeler Publicity man With the Fletcher bureau once Cromby had another good typist typist typist on their list but couldn't reach her Leaves me In a jam Her eyes widened warily then turned eager Yes Im I'm free this afternoon Got a date then Jimmy Im Im- Have to dictate at lunch Mind going to Mikes Mike's place around the corner He hoped she wouldn't cave in inand inand inand and have to be carried But she made it and dropped in hi a chair with witha a sigh that sounded contented Jimmy Jimmy Jim Jim- my mumbled something about phonIng phoning phoning phon phon- ing and hunted up Mike himself Jimmy knew the answers for too I much food and drink But how did they treat a gal all out of practice And not let her know it He told Mike all You start her easy Mr Wheeler Leave it to me Jimmy returned to their table as Mike brought cups of golden boull- boull lon Ion Wont you try our new special on the house Mike invited Shall I fix up a nice little lunch as ns usual Mr Wheeler Jimmy deferred deterred to Miss Bond She was already sipping her bouillon bouillon bouillon lon blissfully Ive a feeling anything herell be I good she agreed and set down her empty cup Im a pig I Just I couldn't help it she added wistfully wistfully fully ully with a blush t Jimmy grinned Wont have stenographers stenographers stenographers ste ste- ste- ste who arent aren't good feed feed- ers She laughed Jimmy heard silver bells ells Her bouillon worked fast Violet Vioet Violet Vio- Vio let et eyes stayed alive now Jimmy would like to spend a week feeding this girl He had learned she was called ailed Betty Jimmy thought Betty was his favorite name By Bythe Bythe Bythe the time Mike brought second aid he e had her talking He liked it ft No whining She was alone and on her I Iown own wn like himself flotsam and jetam jetsam jetsam jet- jet sam am from small towns Jimmy told job job-h hunting job ting yarns too made them light set them in a past She he loved loed the one about the boss's secretary who balled up her letters which Jimmy corrected until a prize bull lull slipped by and the boss got wise And I was the one the boss bawled out Jimmy added Called it t my fault for coddling the girl and spoiling polling her That was while they sipped demitasses demi- demi asses Arent bumps fun to w look luuk back backon on she laughed She could laugh at bumps only one meal and a couple of bucks away Shed She'd walk out of or his life Ufe and begin starving again Jimmy almightily al al- mightily didn't want her to starve Jimmy almightily didn't want her to walk out of or his life How lIow could he help it ip The query fuddled his bogus letters to theoretical publicity prospects pros pros- peets as Betty pot-hooked pot them like a streak on paper Mike furnished She had to tinker his sentences Suddenly a thought popped up like an unexpected check Why not really mail those letters He might land free lance work and keep on using Betty I Look Lock here he said How about a regular job if were we're satisfied after swapping references My office is under my hat yet but Ill I'll find a cubby cubbyhole Bettys Betty's former employer told him over the phone she was as good as Jimmy thought lost her job only be- be y MC r Z a R tax y S. S 1 T d Ig She swayed and would have fallen if It Jimmy hadn't caught her cause the company failed Jimmy persuaded her to take expense money and a w weeks week's eks ek's salary in advance by pretending hed he'd be away on business most of the week Betty had a feeling this was all the reference she n needed eded from him Jimmy didn't argue Old Fletcher might say something sour if Jimmy referred her to his ex But at parting qualms began to wriggle around in Jimmy Look here he said If you get geta a chance at a better job take it IU Ive a feeling you may back out if I dont don't run said Betty AFTER AFTER FTER Betty ran everything went greyish The impossible didn't seem as possible It seemed plain impossible later after atter long hours of hammering at his best pros pros- The only spark he struck was Come and see us after business picks up By five Jimmy hit bot bot- tom He started home deciding hed he'd just tear up those letters Betty had agreed to send over by messenger But the letters weren't there the hall man reported Jimmy thought that over feeling as if somebody had kicked him Stung again Neat little little little lit lit- tle game gamel That reference he called up a plant of course He ought to have seen she came out of her dumps a little too fast He was wa a afine afine afine fine judge of women Jimmys Jimmy's phone was ringing as he stumbled into his apartment Mr Wheeler a remote voice said This is Mr A. A B. B Fletchers Fletcher's secretary secre secre- tary Could yo you see Mr Fletcher here tomorrow morning He didn't tell me to call you but but he spoke about you today Said hed he'd hoped you'd be over your grouch and back backon on your old job before this Im I'm just tipping you off oft Well Jimmy exploded Uh Uh say say youre youre you're not Miss Moseley Mr Fletchers Fletcher's old secretary No She's left him I got a feeling from things I heard at luncheon today today to to- day there might be a vacancy where you said you used to work And I got a feeling you'd be he relieved if I found another job I bought bargain bargain bargain bar bar- gain clothes and tried It ft The voice trailed oft off in silver bells that could not be disguised Jimmy was beyond speech Please dont don't be mad Mr Wheeler You saved my life Ill I'll pay payback payback payback back your money The devil with the money Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jim Jim- my suddenly felt all right Ill be around if you think Fletcher will have the fatted calf ready ready and and you'll have luncheon with me Maybe well we'll have Mike cook the fatted calf said Betty |