The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
A CASE At z. & L.


I'm some respects she seems to catch on
quicker than the other girl; but she has
no one dependent on her and the additional
bnlf-dollar a week will be a help in the
Marty household"
Miss Edwards, the young woman who
was "right-hand man" in the superintend-
ents office, looked half regretful as she re-
sumed her accounts. After all, don't see
why ] should care" she thought; Sadie is
such odd young one She never seems
TO care whether you take interest in her
or not"
As the superintendent passed out of the
store he ran across No. 20. She had a silk
waist over her arm, and she had let fall a
block of white ribbon that coiled in stiff
sDirals under peoples feet She was scarlet
with confusion, and the floor walker was
scolding her carelessness. Tut, tut; acct
dents Will happen sometimes" said Mr.
Random as he passed. The girls eyes
flashed him a grateful glance. before she
had time to think that this was the super
iutendent himself speaking, and to shrink
back abashed.
Miss Edwards and the detective in H. &
i. store were chums. They ate their
lunch together and heated companion cups
of tea on a CHEEKY little brass continuance
I'm Miss Edwards room, a tiny room that
opened off of the superintendent office.
Both got comfortable salaries, both were
getting on towards middle age and both
took a wholesome, maternal interest in the
younger girls in the store. Miss Seligman
was continually brought face to face with
unlovely phases of human nature, but the
experience had not hardened her heart.
Sadie Martin puzzles me-" she was say
ing. I can't make her out This V-street
dancing school is a lovely chance for a girl
10 have real innocent amusement, but she
won't join. The cost is only % cents a
month and there will be a soiree every now
and then, when the pupils can invite their
friends One Of the teachers was here and
said that any girl whom knew to be I'M
able to pay was welcome to come for moth
ing. The ladies hope to get an influence
over the girls in that way, by letting them
see that it is not necessary to be long-faced
and sObcr-minded in order to be religious.
l considered that Sadie was able to pay"
hat excuse did Sadie give for not join
ing?'
said she did not care for dancing You
know that's a story. Dancing and music are
the only things L have ever found out that
she did care for. Don't you remember how
she danced that evening just before Christ
mas, when those new music-boxes were I'M
packed? You know they kept the stock
girls late after closing those nights, so as to
help fix the new goods. When l first told
the girls about this dancing school, Sadie s
lace flushed up and she looked interested
then she put on that queer way she has and
refused to join
while and let ner tea get cold.
i've got it," she said at length. THE
Childs a miser. It's a pity but m forced
to think so. See what broken shoes she
wears no matter whether it rains or sleets
or SHOWS. Then she sticks to that one little
Jersey jacket of hers until the wrists are all
we'd and elbows rubbed and
Yes; and 1 have shivered to see her go
ing in and out with only that half-cottOn
shawl for a covering all this bitter weather.
l told her about those SO coats that were
going for dollar and half, and even
offered to lend her a part of the money,
but she assured me that she was warm
enough"
She'll buy some things. though. When
! was going home last night, l saw her get
ting some cheap pink ribbon, and another
time she bought some common flowers. Per-
haps she plays with dolls STILL.
she gets So a week?'
Yes, and pays $1.25 for her board. Sarah
Rounds, who knows Mrs. Green, where she
lives, says that the rooms look fairly de-
cent and the Green children seem well fed
and clothed"
wei. it doesn't strike me that Sadie
socks either we'll fed or comfortable"
Does she belong to the penny fund.-"
Yes, and she always seems pleased at
pasting the gaY-colOred stamps in her book,
but she lost her book lately with $1.75 worth
of stamps unredeemed. She's a taking kind
of child, although you don't know why.
Two or three shoppers lately have told her
to keep the pennies when she was giving
them change, and heard one lady ask her
If she had a comfortable home. You can't
help feeling drawn towards her, although
] am afraid it's the truth that she is a
miser. She brings such skinny. lunches
though I've noticed that she always col
ors s7, up and refuses to join them"
emit who had door come in and dc overheard the
last remark. He greeted the detective
fifteen years. They valued her services. :
"Humph!" he calculated when they had
told him, pulling at his beard in way he
IRkeiv that 9Th this Ga" MRS 9Fe
whom she lives with, spirits away her
money, and doubtless she doesn't take as
children. l saw the girl just now on my
way out. She's scrawny little thing.
"One of the silk waist salesladies wants
TO see Mr.. Random announced q small
boy from the outer office.
Tell her to come in" and the superin-
tendent passed to his inner room
i don't think that l ought to have to
make 1t good. have proof positive that |
gave the money into the girls hands, and
ats unfair to hold me responsible blurted
out big blonde woman, before she had
fairly got into the rooms
What is wrong Mrs. Norden?" was
asked in calm tones. Who is blaming you?
Tell me-"
A few minutes later this busting woman
was dismissed from the office and the SUI
perintendent called the detective You
know just what to do" he said, but don t
scare the girl to death. Doubtless she s
honest enough"
Miss Seligman found the saleswoman lin
gering outside to descant on her story
"Of course l amt going to find the
money on her" she said. She's given it to
somebody TO keep by this time, or else
stuck ii away somewhere. What makes me
more suspicious is that she begged me not
TO make it known until after lunch. She s
scared to death about it. She said she
wanted to hunt everywhere first for the
money. and that if she could get word to
the woman she lives with, she might get
70 cents to give me right away. l let her
go home at lunch time, but l sent cash
boy along to make sure that one Cidn't play
us a trck She's back now, but without ally
money. I'm adj in a stew over it.
no came with you when you applied
Tor place mere? was one of the questions
asked of No. 20 by the superintendent a lit
tie later.
Nobody; but Mrs Green. where I live.
gave me a reference" the girl replied She
was pale. and the despairing apathy in her
face and figure appealed to the man of
business.
Tell he about this money" he said. in
somewhat gentler tone
Miss Norden gave me 81 and silk waist
to take TO the exchange desk. 1t was a
will cali check. Then somebody out of the
seWing-roOm gave me a block of ribbon to
take back to the ribbon counter"
DO you remember my speaking TO you
when you dropped the ribbon? Did you
have the money them?
yes: in-hiS rocket" pulling her Jacket