Page:The Strange Case of Miss Annie Spragg (1928).djvu/306

 said it if he had not thought her so charming with her plump face flushed and her eyes damp with tears. And then he thought of a solution.

"You can pay me back by going to work for me."

"But how can I work for you? There is nothing I can do."

Nevertheless at this shadow of hope she grew more quiet and took a handkerchief from her handbag and began to dry her eyes.

Mr. Winnery explained to her all about Miracles and other Natural Phenomena and the state of confusion in which the vast amount of notes, copyings and references continually found themselves. It would be her task to keep them in order, tied into little bundles and ticketed. It was not a difficult task, he pointed out, nor one that required training. All it needed was a clear head.

"But I haven't a clear head," echoed Miss Fosdick. "I always muddle everything."

"Well, well. In any case we must make a try. It will be a help to me and will provide money for you."

While he was speaking Mr. Winnery made a remarkable discovery. It was this—that during the period Miss Fosdick had apparently been drying her tears her flushed face had grown perceptibly paler. For a moment he thought with alarm that perhaps she meant to faint. And then suddenly he understood the phenomenon. Undoubtedly there was a powder puff concealed in the folds of the handkerchief. The discovery touched him. As a means of powdering the nose it was a fashion so much more refined than that used by women like, well,