Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/92

 "Who let you in?"

"A big man in a butler's suit; a gink who looks like a gorilla. Then another man came hurryin' in b'hind me and asked for the boss."

"Go on!" commanded the newcomer. "I was shoved into that room there, and when I was waitin' those two men had a fight at the back o' the house. And I ain't goin' to work in no drum with doin's like that goin' on in it! And I wantta get out!"

The man did not move. "Who sent you here?"

"The Oberholdt Employment Bureau."

"And did my man tell you we had work for you?"

"He told me to wait."

The big blond face did not lose its studiousness. "He did perfectly right," was the altogether unexpected reply. "Will you step this way?"

Sadie held back. "I don't want no work in this kind of a dump," she stubbornly proclaimed.

"Will you step this way?" repeated the big blond man. There was more than command in those five words. There was a threat, a cold and deliberate challenge that could not be disregarded. And the girl knew it was not her moment for finalities.

"Watch your step!" Sadie whispered to herself.