Then Bob swung around with a jerk and recognized Tully Ross. There was a momentary flare of anger in Bob’s face.
“Next time you come in, make a little noise,” he snapped. “I thought a ghost was creeping up on me.”
“I’m not much of a ghost,” retorted Tully, taking off his topcoat and shaking it vigorously to get the water off. “I didn’t know you would be working tonight.”
“Couldn’t get through this afternoon,” replied Bob, “and so much material has been coming in lately I was afraid that if I let it go another day I’d be swamped.”
“Next time that happens let me know and I’ll give you a hand,” volunteered Tully as he sat down at his own desk, which was two down from Bob.
Bob nearly laughed aloud for the thought of Tully volunteering to help anyone else was almost fantastic. Each clerk had a special type of filing and each was not supposed to exchange work with the other. In this way there was little chance for the others to know what documents were going through for permanent filing.
“Thanks, Tully, that’s nice of you,” said Bob, “but I don’t know what the chief would say.”
“He’d never need to know,” said Tully swinging around in his chair.
“But if he did find out that we were helping each other, we’d both be out of a job and I can’t afford to take that kind of a risk.”
“Neither can I right now,” conceded Tully, “but I hope to get into something better soon. This doesn’t pay enough for a fellow with my brains and ability.”