Ward Rand was talking to the superintendent one day and I overheard him say his father died when he was only a kid, and his mother just before he came here. Maybe that's what gave him such a grave look."

"Maybe he's got a girl somewhere," said Evelyn. "He's likely going to see her. Perhaps he's going to be married. That's likely it! That'll mean we'll have to scratch around and get a wedding present for him. Though I don't know why we should. He's not in our department, and he's never tried to be in the least friendly with us."

"He's awfully young, isn't he?" said Wilda.

"Oh, he's not so young as he looks, probably. Seems as if he must be older than he looks to have accumulated all that dignity," said Evelyn, folding circulars skillfully and deftly sliding them into the stacks of envelopes she had just typed with addresses. "Have you got all your envelopes addressed, Wilda?"

"No, I've got another coupla hundred. There! There he comes back! He didn't stay long this time. He's making business snappy. Say, I wonder if he might be going down to the shore to the house party the boss's daughter is giving this weekend? I saw her talking to him the other day. Mr. Rand introduced them when I was in there taking dictation. I wouldn't put it past her to ask him. She's rather democratic, you know. And now since he's got this raise it brings him somewhat within her range."

"I wouldn't be surprised," said Evelyn grimly. "He's terribly good-looking, of course. Watch him now. He walks like a prince, and Anise Glinden always was noted for getting good-looking men around her."

"Yes," said Wilda enviously. "She can get everything she wants. I suppose he wouldn't dare decline her invitation even if he did have another girl somewhere. He might lose his job if he did. They say she's awfully vindictive."

"Oh, maybe not!" said Evelyn wearily. "I've heard she's very pleasant sometimes. There! He's coming down this aisle. You better get to work, lady. Mr. Rand is with him, and he doesn't hesitate to tell us off if he thinks any of us is loafing on the job."

There was silence at once as the two men walked down the aisle past them, both rather preoccupied with their own conversation.

Then suddenly, just ahead of them, the girl to the right, the third from the front of the room, slumped over her machine, her inert hands and arms sliding off the keyboard of her machine and drooping at her sides, her whole slim young body collapsing into unconsciousness.

Both men saw it at once, and both started toward her, but it was Reuben Remington who reached her first and caught her as she was about to slide from her chair to the floor.

"Lay her down," directed the manager, coming nearer and moving the chair out of the way. "Flat on her back.