RANSVESTIA

A final touch of spray to my chesnut wig and I picked up my purse and opened the door for the first time as Peggy Stuart. The elevator floated me down to the street level and I pushed open the door of the apartment building and was on the street.

Men turned their heads to look at me as I walked to the corner to get the bus, but nobody spoke to me. I'm sure that the bus driver thought he saw everything as I got onto the bus. A tall handsome well dressed man got up to give me his seat. I thanked him and after my neighbor got off he sat down next to me and started some small talk. I was suc- cessful.

I arrived at the law firm door and pushed it open. The receptionist was a little taller than I was. She was a blonde and when I said I was Peggy Stuart she called my chum on the phone. I sat down and waited for a few minutes. The office looked the same as ever. The door behind the receptionist opened and John's secretary came out.

"Will you step in here to talk with Mr. Norris, Miss Stuart." She looked me over carefully as though I were a rival as I passed into the private office. John was there. He got up as I entered and addressed me."

"Bill has often spoken of you Miss Stuart, and frankly I can see the reason why." His secretary stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. "Connie, will take you over to the Secretarial pool in a few minutes, but first I'd like to have a cup of coffee with you."

Connie prepared the coffee. "Sugar or cream," she asked.

"Both, please."

"Where is Bill?" John asked.

He has gone to California to see about a job out there." I said.

"I've told him that he should be working here with me," the young lawyer said, "but I guess he wants to get away from all his old friends. You know he hasn't been the same since his parents were killed.”

"Yes, I know only too well," I replied. "He even called off our wed- ding last week just before I returned from abroad and said that he wanted to be alone and think things out. He'll be in touch with me later, I hope."

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