e said reassuringly as the young lady
hesitated at his door.

"Pardon me?"

"I heard you had been here," he repeated with deference.

"I wish to send a despatch," she replied with an odd intonation. Her
reply seemed so at variance with his greeting that a chill tempered his
enthusiasm. Could they possibly have sent him a deaf stenographer?--one
worn in the exacting service at headquarters? There was always a fly
somewhere in his ointment, and so capable and engaging a young lady
seemed really too good to be true. He saw the message blank in her hand.
"Let me take it," he suggested, and added, raising his voice, "It shall
go at once." The young lady gave him the message and sitting down at his
desk he pressed an electric call. Whatever her misfortunes she enlisted
his sympathy instantly, and as no one had ever accused him of having a
weak voice he determined he would make the best of the situation. "Be
seated, please," he said. She looked at him curiously. "Pray, be
seated," he repeated more firmly.

"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 fo