Ruth left with a lighter heart than she had carried since she had lost her place at the bank.
That afternoon Mr. Wing was transacting some business at the Central State Bank. "Stover, you had a stenographer here by the name of Ruth Babcock?"
"Yes, she was my former stenographer."
"Is she competent?"
"Yes. She's a good stenographer so far as her ability is concerned."
"Why did she quit you?"
"I discharged her."
"What's wrong with her?"
"Ruth is all right so far as doing the work is concerned, but she would get out and run around with a disreputable young fellow. I gave her a chance to quit going with him and retain her job, but she refused to stay away from him. While I would like to have helped her I could not afford to keep a girl in the bank who was keeping questionable company, especially when she absolutely refused to promise to quit him."
"Well, I'm glad you told me that. I do not want a girl whose reputation is bad or who is conducting herself in a way that it is likely to become bad."