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was tall--as tall as he--and quite beautiful. And Nancy Morgan possessed a regal presence that was an intregal part of her beaut It was this magnificent presence of hers, Jack Langley knew, cou- pled with an outstanding competence that had sped her so rapidly from assistant buyer to head of the department and which, it was rumored, was to give her a vice-presidency for a Christmas pres- ent. A distant person, yet a warm one, she was his superior and they worked well together. He had been, for some years, the co- ordinator of all corset and lingerie stock.

"How's everything downstairs, Jack? Are we going to be in good shape for the holidays?"

"Fine shape. I haven't failed you yet, have I?"

"No", she laughed.

"If everyone was as dependable as you--"

her voice lagged speculatively.

"Things kind of rough up here, Nancy?"

"Aren't they always at this time of year!" She put her

face in her hands in a quickly symbolic motion of weariness. "And there just isn't enough help. It's more than just a problem this year". She picked up a pencil and began to tap it against her teeth in a nervous fashion that was quite unlike her. "That's why I called you up here".

They had been friends for years, but, curiously, no more than that. Jack felt a need for her, a distinct man to woman att- raction, yet there was more unexpressed. He might have described it as the affection of best girl friends had he ever allowed him- self to think about it. "If there's anything I can do", he said. "We have our holiday rush in stock before it over starts up here so I'm more or less free".

an

"I know", She looked at him with a long appraising stare. He had seen it before. It was, in fact, that very stare which had in the past forestalled on his part any confession of emotion and advanceto more confident companionship--or more. It was effective thing on her part, she used her eyes like a sword. "You're very good in undies", she said. "You know more about fashions than most women, more than any of the clerks, and some of them have been here quite awhile, almost more than I do. I sometimes think you should have been a girl".