Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/224

 morning when he came to the office. There was, in fact, little that her sharply observing blue eyes did not see, but she never heard the story of its origin. She continued to turn out innocuous copy, and to suggest, by request, appropriate birthday and Christmas presents for the wives of her friends. She also listened earnestly to the recital of long conversations that had taken place between reporters and the young women with whom they were in love. Miss Van Dyke interpreted to the reporters what the young women might have meant by certain remarks, and as her sweet good-nature unconsciously made these interpretations bear a somewhat flattering air, her popularity grew apace. Even the office boys heeded her mild requests, and the managing editor went the length of remarking that she was a hard-working, level-headed little woman.

A few days after this momentous dictum, the managing editor accepted a suggestion from his chief to retire from the management of the "Evening Globe." His successor came into the office unhampered by any knowledge of the members of the staff.