Straight ahead open and
aboveboard for you, my girl!"
Then she went quietly to the desk and transacted her own
business; but her beautiful day was clouded. Her heart was no
longer leaping exultantly. She was sickened and sorrowful over
the evident nerve strain and discomfort which Eileen seemed to
have brought upon herself. She dreaded meeting her at dinner
that night, and she wondered all the way home where Eileen had
gone from the bank and what she had been doing. What she felt
was a pale affair compared with what she would have felt if she
could have seen Eileen leave the bank and enter a near-by store,
go to a telephone booth and put in a long-distance call for San
Francisco. Her eyes were brilliant, her cheeks by nature redder
than the rouge she had used upon them. She squared her
shoulders, lifted her head, as if she irrevocably had made a
decision and would not be thwarted in acting upon it. While she
waited she straightened her hat, and tucked up her pretty hair,
once more evincing concern about her appearance. After a nervous
wait she secured her party.
"Am I speaking with Mr. James Heitman?" she asked.
"Yes," came the answer.
"Well, Uncle Jim, this is Eileen."
"Why, hello, girlie," was the quick response. "Delighted that
you're calling your ancient uncle. Haven't changed the decision
in the last letter I had from you, have you?"
"Yes," said Eileen, "I have changed it. Do you and Aunt Caroline
still want me, Uncle Jim?"
"YOU BET WE WANT YOU!" roared the voice over the 'phone.
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