"I desire only to pay for my telegram."
"Not at all. It isn't necessary. Just be seated!"
In some bewilderment she sat down on the edge of the chair beside which
she stood.
"We are cramped for room at present in the construction department," he
went on, affixing his frank to the telegram. "Here, Gloomy, rush this,
my boy," said he to the messenger, who came through a door connecting
with the operator's room. "But we have the promise of more space soon,"
he resumed, addressing the young lady hopefully. "I have had your desk
placed there to give you the benefit of the south light."
The stenographer studied the superintendent of construction with some
surprise. His determination to provide for her comfort was most apparent
and his apologies for his crowded quarters were so sincere that they
could not but appeal to a stranger. Her expression changed. Glover felt
that he ought to ask her to take off her hat, but could not for his life.
The frankness of her eyes was rather too confusing to support very much
of at once, and he busied himself at sorting the blueprints on his table,
guiltily aware that she was alive to his unshaven condition. He
endeavored to lead the conversation. "We have excellent prospects of a
new headquarters building." As he spoke he looked up. Her eyes were
certainly extraordinary. Could she be laughing at him? The prospect of
a new building had been, it was true, a joke for many years and evidently
she put no more confidence in the statement than he did himself. "Of
course, you are aware," he continued to bolster his assertion, "that the
road has been bought by an immensely rich lot of Pittsburg duffers----"
The stenographer half rose in her chair. "Will it not be possible for me
to pay for my message at once?" she asked somewhat peremptorily.
"I have already franked it."
"But I did not----"
"Don't mention it. All I will ask in return is that you will help me get
some letters out of the way to-day," returned Glover, laying a pencil and
note-book on the desk before her. "The other work may go till to-morrow.
By the way, have you found a boarding-place?"
"A boarding-place?"
"I understand you were looking for one."
"I have one."
"The first letter is to Mr. Bucks--I fancy you know his address--" She
did not begin with alacrity. Their eyes met, and in hers there was a
queerish expression.
"I'm not at all sure I ought to undertake this," she said rapidly and
with a touch of disdainful mischief.
"Give yourself no uneasiness--" he began.
"It is you I fear who are giving yourself uneasiness," she interrupted.
"No, I dictate very slowly. Let's make a trial anyway." To avoid
embarrassment he looked the other way when he saw she had taken up the
pencil.