“Neither did I,” said the girl staidly, “till I got to putting down some of the things I heard the girls say, and stringing them together with nonsense of my own.  One evening I showed some of it to Mr. Veltman, and he took it here and had it printed.”

“I was going to suggest, Mr. Surtaine,” said McGuire Ellis formally, “that we put Miss Kitty on the five-dollar-a-column basis and make her an every-other-day editorial page feature.  I think the stuff’s worth it.”

“We can give it a trial,” said his principal, a little dubiously, “since you think so well of it.”

“Then, Milly, I suppose you’ll be quitting the shop to become a full-fledged writer,” remarked Dr. Surtaine.

“No, indeed, Chief.”  The girl smiled at him with that frank friendliness which Hal had noted as informing every relationship between Dr. Surtaine and the employees of the Certina plant.  “I’ll stick.  The regular pay envelope looks good to me.  And I can do this work after hours.”

“How would it be if I was to put you on half-time, Milly?” suggested her employer.  “You can keep your department going by being there in the mornings and have your afternoons for the writing.”

The girl thanked him demurely but with genuine gratitude.

“Then we’ll look for your copy here on alternate days,” said Hal.  “And I think I’ll give you a desk.  As this develops into an editorial feature I shall want to keep an eye on it and to be in touch with you.  Perhaps I could make suggestions sometimes.”

She rose, thanking him, and Hal held open the door for her.  Once again he felt, with a strange sensation, her eyes take hold on his as she passed him.

“Pretty kid,” observed Ellis.  “Veltman is crazy about her, they say.”

“Good kid, too,” added Dr. Surtaine, emphasizing the adjective.  “You might tell Veltman that, whoever he is.”

“Tell him, yourself,” retorted Ellis with entire good nature.  “He isn’t the sort to offer gratuitous information to.”

Upon this advice, L.P.  McQuiggan reentered.  “All fixed,” said he, with evident satisfaction.  “We went to the mat on rates, but Shearson agreed to give me some good reading notices.  Now, I’ll beat it.  See you to-night, Andy?”

Dr. Surtaine nodded.  “You owe me a commission, Boyee,” said he, smiling at Hal as McQuiggan made his exit.  “But I’ll let you off this time.  I guess it won’t be the last business I bring in to you.  Only, don’t you and Ellis go looking every gift horse too hard in the teeth.  You might get bit.”

“Shut your eyes and swallow it and ask no questions, if it’s good, eh, Doctor?” said McGuire Ellis.  “That’s the motto for your practice.”