"
Abbott opened his note book. But the dictation hardly had begun when
the telephone rang and Enoch was summoned to the White House. It was
noon when he left the President. Washington lay as if scorching under
a burning glass. The dusty leaves drooped on the trees. Even the
carefully cherished White House lawn seemed to have forgotten the
recent rains. Enoch dismissed his carriage and crossed slowly to
Pennsylvania Avenue. It had occurred to him suddenly that it had been
many weeks since he had taken the noon hour outside of his office. He
had found that luncheon engagements broke seriously into his day's
work. He strolled slowly along the avenue, watching the sweltering
noon crowds unseeingly, entirely unconscious of the fact that many
people turned to look at him. He paused before a Johnstown Lunch sign,
wondering whimsically what Jonas would say if it were reported that the
boss had eaten here. And as he paused, the incessantly swinging door
emitted Miss Diana Allen.
Enoch's pause became a full stop. "How do you do, Miss Allen?" he said.
Diana flushed a little. "How do you do, Mr. Secretary! Were you
looking for a cheap lunch?"
"Jonas provides the cheapest lunch known to Washington," said Enoch.
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