But Paige did not come down to breakfast. He went instead to get the mail and then at once to Mr. Chalmers’s room.
“Good morning! Am I too early for you?” he asked respectfully, in a tone a little more grave than usual. “I found there were some more of those office letters, and I thought perhaps it would be as well for me to get them answered and take them up to the city with me at noon.”
“Well, you are an early bird,” said the boss, yawning and giving him a sleepy look. “Let’s see what letters you have. Not another from Harrigan yet? Yes, there is. Well, we better get that answered while he’s in the mood. Are you ready?”
Paige assented.
“Okay! Let’s begin! Start on Harrigan.”
Paige sat down and went to work. He turned the letters off rapidly, went to the typewriter and typed them, took them to be signed, and had the whole lot addressed, sealed, and ready to go. Then he looked at his watch.
“I’ve just barely time to catch my train,” he said. “Is there anything more you need before I leave?”
“Oh, no! You might just tell Reva to come up pretty soon, in case you happen to see her around. Otherwise, if she doesn’t come, I can simply call the desk and have her paged. They’ll find her. Don’t worry. And oh, come back as soon as you can get free on Monday, or catch a ride. I’d tell you to take the car only Reva will probably want it, and there would be mischief to pay.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Paige gravely. “I’ll do my best about getting back.”
“Well, you’d better, boy!” laughed the boss as Paige closed the door quickly and rushed down the hall after the elevator that was just about to stop.
Reva was hovering down on the first floor where she could get a good glimpse of all elevators coming down. She meant to get hold of Paige and give him a large, sharp piece of her mind before he left, and perhaps make him miss his train.
But Paige had been around this hotel long enough to know many pleasant abbreviated ways of getting away. Before he left his room he had told the desk to send his baggage to the station for his train, and he was assured it would be there on time, so he had nothing to do but race after it. Getting off a floor above the first, he hurried down a back way, taking the servants’ stairs and dashing out the kitchen hallway. So he arrived on an alley that presently came out at the station. Retrieving his luggage, he kept in hiding behind a pile of freight until his train came in sight, and then swung on the last car. Reva was even capable of chasing him to the station. But a swift survey of the station as the train swept away cityward gave no glimpse of her. He was rid of her, at least for the weekend. And he hadn’t had to have any altercation with Mr. Chalmers about it either. Of this he was glad, for there had been no time to decide what was the wisest and fairest way to approach the subject with Chalmers, if at all.
After he was well out of the town, he went through the train to make sure Reva hadn’t come along, for she was clever enough to have done so if she could find a way to play a trick on him. She had known what train he was to take, and wouldn’t hesitate to be annoying if it suited her purpose. But there was no sign of her. He also went to the baggage car and identified his baggage. Then his mind was free to think, but somehow there was nothing he could think about that didn’t rouse his indignation beyond control. The indignity that had been put upon his Bible. The hate that had been directed toward June’s picture. They were matters not easily dismissed. Yet he must forget them. A Christian must not harbor such thoughts against anyone. And the girl was not so much to blame as her parents, who had let her come up having her own way, carrying out any whim that came into her head.
So he closed his eyes and asked for strength to straighten out this matter the way God would approve. This was not a something that concerned his job exactly, though it well might do so if that girl chose to lie about what had happened. Yet he felt that it was going to be most awkward to remain in that job, where he would constantly come into contact with that girl. He dreaded to go back, yet there seemed no way out until Mr. Chalmers got better, or some other solution came to make a change possible. If only Bill Arsdel would return, perhaps he could somehow persuade the boss to let him change places with him, or something! But that was not a matter in his hands to arrange. Well, he had a better Manager himself, who knew how to upset the arts of man and bring around things for the good of His children when He felt it was for their good. So he could rest and not worry.
Oh, if June were only at home, how he would like to ask her to help him pray about this. Then he wondered if there would be a letter from June at home waiting for him, and so his thoughts were drawn away from unpleasant matters. When the train arrived at the home station, he felt really rested and could forget his unpleasant visitor of the morning. One thing he knew, he would never again trust that precious picture of June out in the open in any hotel that also housed that snooping Chalmers girl. He wished he had a tiny snapshot that he might carry with him in his pocket and look at sometimes. Perhaps her mother had one he could coax from her. And so pleasant thoughts brought a smile for his homecoming that his mother should not be fearful for him.
He wondered, should he dare tell his mother about what had happened that morning? She wouldn’t be surprised, for somehow she seemed to have a premonition of what was coming. That undoubtedly explained some of her worries. Yet he knew his mother trusted God and would not allow herself to go on worrying unduly.
So thinking, he swung off the train, gathered his effects together, even his box of books, which in his anger he had decided to take with him, called a taxi, and went home. Somehow he had a feeling within him that maybe he wasn’t going back to the shore at all, yet he couldn’t see how it could honorably be arranged. But definitely he did not want to go back and would be so glad if he did not have to. More and more he was getting disenchanted with his job and wished there were a way out of it.
His mother welcomed him with open arms, told him the news briefly. June was not happy with her aunt, and her mother was greatly worried about her. Her cousin had reenlisted and would not be coming home at all in the near future. June’s mother was overworking, and they couldn’t seem to get a maid anywhere. Her father was talking about sending for June. It seemed to him she had about finished her usefulness with an overbearing aunt, and might come home.
This news filled Paige’s heart with joy. It seemed to him that if June came back, things would be getting pretty nearly right again.
But he could not linger long at home. He must get in touch with the office. Someone would be there, and he must give them Chalmers’s messages, and the letters must be mailed at once.
But when he called the office, the voice that answered him was Bill Arsdel’s, and Paige answered him wistfully.
“How did you get in these parts, Bill? I thought you were in the West indefinitely.”
“Well, you see, the men I went after were all on vacation, and there wasn’t any point in my just hanging around living in expensive hotels, so I came home. I hear you’ve got a cinch of a job. I envy you, Paige. And here I have to come back and stick in that old office all summer. You lucky boy!”
“Well say, how would you like to change with me if the boss is willing? There are reasons why I want to be home, and I wouldn’t mind the office work, if before you go you’ll just line up for me what you think ought to be done. I’ll call up and ask Chalmers if he’s willing. How about it? You could take your wife down with you and give her a rest, too.”
“Oh, she’s off in the mountains with her sister, and I’m stuck here alone. I’d be delighted if I could take your place, even if it was only for a week or two.”
“Okay, I’ll call right up and let you know this evening what he says. There are reasons why I very much want to be here.”
They talked about the letters and several office matters, and Bill advised Paige what to tell Chalmers.
So Paige called up his boss and found he’d gone off somewhere, but he got in touch with him.
“I
s that you, Madison?” asked the boss. “I didn’t expect to hear from you till Monday. Nothing wrong is there?”
“No, nothing wrong, but Bill Arsdel is back. His men were all on vacations. And something has come up that changes my plans. I would very much like to stay home, at least for a week or two, and I thought perhaps you’d like to substitute Bill for me. He’s got a lot of things he wants to talk over with you, and I know he’s better than I am for what I’ve been doing. How about it? Can you see it that way? I asked Bill if he’d be willing if you were, and he’s all for it. He’s horribly tired with so much travel and wants some sea air. And as for me, I’m glad to take over in the office, if you don’t mind.”
There was silence on the wire for a long minute. For it just happened that Reva had turned up at lunchtime and told a long story of her own. She said she was fed up with Paige, that he and she had had a fight and she was done with him forever. She didn’t want to see him ever again, and so far as she was concerned, the deal she had proposed was off. She was going to her friend’s up in the mountains, and he might fire Paige as soon as he liked.
Chalmers hadn’t much of an idea how long this state of mind might last with his daughter, or whether she wouldn’t presently be demanding that Paige be brought back and reinstated, but he was all in a dither about how he was going to manage with these two young people. If Paige came back Monday, as per agreement, and Reva was not gone yet, it was going to be most embarrassing to him. He hated such things, and he well knew what uncomfortable situations Reva could arrange, so this suggestion of Paige’s seemed to him a godsend. He could tell Reva he had sent Paige away and he wanted her to stay with him here for a while, where they could do things together. He would promise to show her a good time. Perhaps even a pony to ride was possible.
All these things flashed through the boss’s mind while Paige waited, fearfully, for he found that he had quite been counting on it. Well, it wouldn’t last forever, of course, and that unspeakable girl would surely soon get tired of trying to work on him. Then he heard the boss’s most important voice.
“Well, of course, Madison, you know I dislike changes of any sort, and I thought we were getting along fairly well together, but since you say that something has come up that makes it imperative for you to be at home, and since Arsdel has unexpectedly returned, and of course I’ll be needing to talk over things with him, I suppose I can manage it to excuse you. I should like, however, to have you hold yourself in readiness to return if I should send for you. It might be possible that I would have to send Arsdel elsewhere, yet I am not sure yet that I would have to. However, you’ll hold yourself in readiness to return. Can you do that?”
“Why, I suppose I can, Mr. Chalmers, though it would suit my needs much more conveniently if I were to stay here this summer. Have you any idea how much longer the doctor is going to keep you there?”
“I’m not sure,” replied the older man importantly. “I’ve invited him down for a few days to look me over, and it may be that he will dismiss me, I really feel so much better.”
“That’s good, Mr. Chalmers,” said Paige, “and I thank you for your willingness to let me stay here. Don’t hesitate to call me if there is anything I can do for you at the office. And now would you like to speak to Mr. Arsdel? He is right here.”
“Why yes, you might put him on the wire. Good-bye.”
Paige handed the receiver over to Arsdel and turned away, drawing a quiet sigh of relief. At least he was free from Reva Chalmers for the time being. He hoped he wouldn’t have to take up his residence in some far land to escape her in the future. Then he went upstairs and began to study his lesson in a real way. He wanted to make his classwork tomorrow something really worthwhile.
Chapter 18
Reva was planning to put Paige through a series of mental punishments before she took him back into her favor, and to that end she would spend a lively weekend, fortifying herself for the few days while she was disciplining him for further attendance upon her.
She had not been to her father’s room yet, and he had not sent for her, since Paige had left him after the dictation hour. As he usually took his lunch in his room, she let him severely alone. She wanted to be sure what Paige had told him about their flare-up and to give him time, in case he had made a full tale, to recover from any annoyance that might have succeeded Paige’s revelations.
So at dinnertime she came to her father’s room and knocked, in all the glory of an elaborate green evening frock that stood out around her in filmy folds, many of them, and swept the floor effectively, giving the idea that it had slipped down from her shoulders as low as it dared. Green roses in her hair, above her wide red lips, hair swept high in most astonishing lines to meet the green roses.
Her father stared at her speculatively. She had that look on her face that told him through wide experience that she had recently perpetrated some wicked little act that needed to be hidden by great attractiveness. His own discernment told him this might have something to do with Paige’s quitting the shore. He was a keen man, and that was one reason why he was so successful.
“Well, come on, Dad. Aren’t you going down to dinner? I’ve got a date for tonight, and I want to be ready when the man comes for me.”
“Yes?” asked her father hopefully, wondering if she had any idea what Paige had just done. “Well then, kitten, before we go down to dinner, suppose you tell me what you’ve done to Paige.”
“I? Done to Paige? Why, what in the world do you mean? I haven’t done anything to Paige. He’s gone home to his Sunday school class for the weekend, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, he’s gone some, but there’s something else again. He isn’t coming back!”
If Paige could have seen her face then, he would have been surprised. She actually turned white under her rouge.
“Dad!” she faltered, looking almost frightened. “He’s not coming back? Dad, you’re kidding!”
“No, I’m not kidding!” snapped her father, for he was disappointed himself to have his experiment turn out this way. “What did you do to him, kid?”
“Oh, we just had some words.”
“What over?”
“Oh, that old Bible of his. He got sore at me.”
“What did you have to bring that up for, kitten? You know how he feels about that. It doesn’t seem that that was a very wise subject to attack—not yet. I thought you were going to take it easy?”
“Oh, stuff and nonsense!” said Reva. “I was just fed up with that religion of his. You can’t count on anything, because he has his stubborn mind made up that there are things he won’t do and things he will, and he can’t adjust himself to other people. He just won’t change any of what he calls ‘principles.’ I don’t see they are any different from other people’s principles. And I thought the time had come to make a stand. So I made it!”
“Well,” said her father indifferently, “perhaps it had. Certainly, if you don’t care anymore about it than that, it had.”
“What do you mean, Dad? He’ll be back.”
“No, he won’t be back,” said her father gravely. “I guess your game is finished.”
“Oh, baloney, Dad. He’ll come crawling back and apologizing to you. By Sunday night at the latest. He won’t break his promise to you.”
“He called up and asked my permission,” said the father. “He’s sending a substitute. The man ought to be here this evening. Might be here in time for seven o’clock dinner.”
“Dad!”
“That’s right. He’s fixed it so that he won’t have to come back at all.”
“But you didn’t have to let him go, Dad. Didn’t you say you had a contract with him? He works for you. You could have told him he had to come back.”
“But I didn’t!” said the father. “I didn’t see that you were getting anything out of this, and I certainly didn’t want a young man working intimately with me who desperately wanted to be somewhere else, so I finally gave my consent, especially as I wanted to tal
k with the other man.”
“Who is the other man, Dad? Anybody I know?”
“Bill Arsdel. I guess you know him.”
“Oh, that poor fish? Why, he’s married, Dad. He would be no good to me. And besides, he’s getting gray hair.”
“There! I hear footsteps coming from the elevator. He may be arriving.”
“Heavens, Dad! Let me get out. I don’t want to be tied for the evening. I’ll eat my dinner with Arthur somewhere. Good night.” And Reva made a quick exit and went to her room to meditate.
So! He had really been angry! Well, perhaps that was a good thing. Maybe when he came back—or even if he didn’t come—when she got back, eventually, he would be more subdued. He must know that his job would depend somewhat on the way he treated his boss’s daughter.
And in the meantime, there were plenty of other young men to help her wait. Waiting with plenty of swains was dead easy. And another thing that might help, she could have some neat paragraphs put in the society columns of the different papers. Hints that she was about to be engaged, or was already engaged. Hints of who were different admirers. But then, did Paige ever read society pages? Well, it might not be natural to him, but still, if he was beginning to be in love, or at least interested in her, perhaps he would be led to go to the most likely places to seek for information about her. And anyway, if he didn’t read the paragraphs, perhaps his mother did and would tell him. Surely none of that family could fail to see what an advantage it would be to Paige to be in the good graces of the daughter of the house where he worked so acceptably.