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Tales of the City Room

gayest scenes in gay New York, could afterwards make her way home alone.

She did not come to the office at all the next day. It was well that she did not, for the larger part of the day was given to the discussion and mental digestion of "Little Van Dyke's story." For the first time the members of the staff did not trouble themselves to say "Miss" Van Dyke, which they had been so careful to do before. The quiet little woman and her story were the talk of the office, and the comments upon both made Matthews set his teeth. Henderson epitomized the general feeling by his one remark at the end of a spirited debate as to how much she understood of what she had written.

"Anyhow," he said, with somewhat feeling sarcasm, "the angel was certainly off duty, temporarily;" and during the yell of laughter that followed, Matthews was conscious of a lust for Henderson's blood that alarmed him by its intensity. Later in the day, he overheard further remarks suggesting the general view of Miss Van Dyke's story.

"It's a corker," said the managing editor,

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