What should she do with the manuscript? Would it be safe in her own hands when she walked down the long corridor she must traverse before she reached the reception lobby and the battery of elevators?
Janet didn’t feel she wanted to risk that, yet she knew it would be unsafe in the drawer of Jim’s desk.
Suddenly her gaze fell upon the telephone and she smiled a little foolishly. She picked up the instrument and waited for the operator in the main office to answer.
There was no response.
Janet jiggled the hook several times, but still there was no answer. She did not know that the particular branch exchange on that floor which served the publicity department did not have an operator on duty after midnight.
Janet’s spirits drooped when she failed to get a response through the telephone and once more she looked about the room for some place to hide the manuscript.
Suddenly she hit upon a plan of action. Seizing the manuscript she hastened over near the outside window, reached down and pulled up the heavy carpet which covered the floor. Working swiftly she placed the manuscript under the carpet, spreading the sheets out so there would be no noticeable bulge in the floor covering.
That done Janet returned to the desk, picked up a handful of blank copy paper, folded it quickly, and stuffed it into a large envelope. Taking up a pen she scrawled these words on the envelope: “Jim Hill—Here is the manuscript you wanted. Hope it is something that will fit into your program. Janet Hardy.”
Janet didn’t even stop to blot the wet ink, dropping the envelope into the drawer, and closing and locking the receptacle.
She felt better after that. At least she felt she had done her best to save the manuscript. Now the problem was to get up enough courage to attempt the walk down the long, darkened corridor.