LOVE AND A SHOP GIRL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144328, 17 February 1914, Page 5

LOVE AND A SHOP GIRL.

ATTRACTIVE LOVE STORY OF DOMESTIC INTEREST.

BY M. C. K. BAKER, Author of “The Sin of Carine,” “One Guilty Deed,” “The Wooing of Wendy,” “Tho Power of Love,” “Sir Geoffrey Dacre,” etc. etc.

CHAPTER V. KORAH MACKIE’S SECRET. Erica knew that Norah Mackie hated her, but it did not disturb her in tho slightest, as the had no desire whatever for the girl’s friendship. She would have been a little puzzled, however, had she boon permitted a peep into tho inner workings of Norah’s mind at this moment. Mr. Smithson had just told her that her fine had been remitted and had explained the reason. Norah was too surprised to do anything but gasp. She had not seen Erica rush out on to the pavement, nor had she recognised the customer who had been induced to return to the shop. Erica had bundled her off to the "fancy,” and she had been so surprised that site had never given a glance at the customer who accompanied her. And now sho know tho truth, sho was troubled by the goatlings of her conscience, and inwardly her anger was worse than ever.

For, deep down in hor heart—if, indeed, she had one at all—she was experiencing an uncomfortable sensation of romorso at something sho had done that morning, unknown to Erica—something that she now wished she had not done—something that was, however, irrevocable. As the day wore on, Erica had little time to muse upon Norah Mzckie’s display of anger in the ever-increasing rush of business.

The atmosphere of the shop grow stuffier aud stuffier, and hor legs began to acho with tho strain of constant standing. But sho was inured to all this, as well as to tho intermittent pangs of indigestion that gripped her and sometimes made her clutch tho counter and gasp for breath.

All tho girls suffered from this malady, duo to faulty ami insufficient nourishment, and all had their pet remedies, whoso virtues they never tired of discussing when they were not. engaged u[K)U oilier more absorbing topics. Presently the clang of the first dinner hell sounded through tho curtained door at tho bottom of tho shop. Erica welcomed it with a sigh of relief, not because she was hungry—she had almost forgotten by now what a healthy appetite felt like—bat because it meant the luxurious comfort of a chair to sit down upon for half an hour.

It was true, indeed, that somowherd or other behind the double row of counters lurked a stool or two ready to bo pulled out at the first appearance of tho Government inspector, but otherwise no one would have dared to bo caught Kitting down during shop hours. Early breakfast brought its reward to Erica in tho shape of inclusion in tho first dinner batch. One of tho other girls now teliovod her at her counter, and sho made her way down towards tho baizo door. Miss Binning rose from her desk as she passed and -followed her. They both passed through the door together and began to descend tlio rickety woooon stairs to the basement parlour. Suddenly Miss Binning stopped and touched Erica on the shoulder.

“Oh, Miss Templeton 1” she said, and Erica was a little surprised at the unwonted graciopsness of hor voice. “I’ve loft my other glasses up iu my bedroom, and I can’s see to carve without them. Would you mind running up and getting them for mo? They’re on tho mantelpiece, I think.” “Certainly!” replied Erica, as she, turned to retrace her steps. She old not notice the look of malignant triumph on Miss Binuing’s faco as with faintly murmured thanks tho latter proceeded on her way downwards. There was a rule in Air. Stile’s establishment that no one was permitted to go up to the bedrooms during working hours. Miss Binning was, however, exempt from the workings of this rule owing to hor position as directress of domestic arrangements. Consequently, if sho deputed any of tho girls to go up to her bedrooms, it did not constitute a breach of tho rules. Erica was back in a moment with the glasses. Handing them over. she slipped into the chair which Alf had placed for hor next to his. Very little conversation took place at these meals. It was a case of grabbing what you could got and grabbing it quick. Erica, however, preferred to enjoy tho leisurely comfort of stretching her legs beneath the table. Sho took such lood as came hor way without any sigus of eagerness.

Norah Mackie, who generally did most of tho talking at meal times, was strangely silent, too. With a great deal of stretching of arms and a vast amount of noise and clatter, the first batch went- on. unconcernedly .with its cold mutton, waxy potatoes, and watory rice pudding. Alias llinning’s eyes wore glued upon Alf Goodrich, watching his every movement like a hawk. The gleam of hatred that flashed from them was quite unmistakable, but the others wore far too busy with their plates to take any notice.

With a dean pocket-handkerchief—-serviettes were an unknown, quantity at Stile’s—Erica carefully wiped away the dust from her thick, clumsy tumbler, cleaned her fork, which was encrusted with the remains of some previous meal, and her greasy bonohundlod knife before she began to eat. When at last the half-hour was up, Miss Binning gave the signal for return to work by rising from her cha*r. As she did so, Norah Mackie edged towards her and waited until everyone else had departed. Then she camo closer, and whispered furtively to the sales manageress. ‘‘l wish you hadn’t askcdkino to—you know what I” Miss Binning surveyed the girl with a glance of wonderment. “Why, Norah—what’s the matter? Everything is working splendidly. She doesn’t suspect one atom. I sent her up to the bedrooms just now. That will provide the final link in the chain of evidence later onl” In low voice Norah began to recount the incident of the half-crown line, and how Erica had come to her assistance. Miss Binning listened with dJy pans sxaUu __ .

“Oh, well—if you are going to side with her, of course there’s nothing mare to be said. Only—you niustn t expect mo to befriend you any mote, Norah. It will be my duty to tell Air. Stile about ” “Not that 1 For God’s sake, don tdo that!” With a sudden wild clutch Norah caught at Miss Binning’s arm and clung to it. There was a look of wild alarm on her handsome taco. Xou promised you would keep it secret. she implored. Tho sales manageress pursed her thin lips into a vinegary smile. “So I shall, as long as we remain good friends!” sho replied, coldly. “But if you go and desert mo like this, just when victory is within my reach 1 shall no longer count you my friend!” There was a wealth of hidden meaning in the iciness of her tones. , This clemency Norah did not attempt to fathom. Miss Binning had her reasons, nevertheless. She rarely did a thing without some good reason. In this instance she thought that Norah might be very useful to her some day. So she consented to keep tho secret. And for tho first time to-day she was reaping tho reward of her generosity. Sho had shown her claws, and Norah had taken the hint. To bo continued.)