med to arrive nowhere.

Then, unexpectedly, Bob Sidney telephoned to her at her flat one
evening: "Partner and I have just decided to take you on, if you'll come
at thirty-eight hundred a year."

Una hadn't even thought of the salary. She would gladly have gone to her
new creative position at the three thousand two hundred she was then
receiving. But she showed her new training and demanded:

"Four thousand two hundred."

"Well, split the difference and call it four thousand for the first
year."

"All right."

Una stood in the center of the room. She had "succeeded on her job."
Then she knew that she wanted some one with whom to share the good news.

She sat down and thought of her almost-forgotten plan to adopt a child.

Sec. 6

Mr. Sidney had, during his telephone proclamation, suggested: "Come down
to the office to-morrow and get acquainted. Haven't got a very big
force, you know, but there's a couple of stenographers, good girls,
crazy to meet the new boss, and a bright, new Western fellow we thought
we might try out as your assistant and publicity man, and there's an
office-boy that's a sketch. So come down and meet your subjects, as the
fellow says."

Una found the office, on Duane Street, to consist of two real rooms and
a bare anteroom decorated with photographs of the several White Line
Hotels--set on maple-lined streets, with the local managers, in white
waistcoats, standing proudly in front. She herself was to have a big
flat-topped desk in the same room with Mr. Sidney. The surroundings were
crude compared with the Truax & Fein office, but she was excited. Here
she would be a pioneer.

"Now come in the other room," said Mr. Sidney, "and meet the
stenographers and the publicity man I was telling you about on the
'phone."

He opened a door and said, "Mrs. Schwirtz, wantcha shake hands with the
fellow that's going to help you to put the Line on the map--Mr. Babson."

It was Walter Babson who had risen from a desk and was gaping at her.

CHAPTER XXIII

"But I did write to you, Goldie--once more, anyway--letter was returned
to me after being forwarded all over New York," said Walter, striding
about her flat.

"And then you forgot me completely."

"No, I didn't--but what if I had? You simply aren't the same girl I
liked--you're a woman that can do things; and, honestly, you're an
inspiration to me." Walter rubbed his jaw in the nervous way she
remembered.

"Well, I hope I shall i