Passaic City record., 1900-06-09

u
forth to wake the landlord.
notwithstanding his rent-collecting
habit, the landlord seemed to share
the janitor's views on the subject of
sleep. He hadn't duplicate key, he
informed her, after at last he had
been awakened and appeared at an
upper window. He seemed to Mollle
to gloat over the fact. He intimated
that his business was renting apart
ments, not running other peoples
domestic affairs.
"But can't you suggest something?'
Mollie cried, desperately. 1--WE must
get in, you know"
He suggested the drug clerk on the
corner, who had big bunch of keys,
might be able to open the door, and
then he shut the window.
The drug clerk was asleep, too, and
hard to arouse, but at last opened the
door wide. Upon perceiving young
woman, however, he shut it again
quickly that his disheveled condition
might not be too apparent, leaving,
however, crack wide enough for con-
versational purposes.
"Give me your prescription" he
said, extending hand through the
aperture. "I'll turn up the light as
soon as I get in the back room and
you can come in and sit down."
It was harder than she thought it
would be to explain her errand.
Mollle's tongue seemed to cleave to
the roof of her mouth. She expert
enced difficulty in breathing.
"I-it-it isn'ta prescription" she
gasped.
so" said the clerk.
1t was all he said, but it sounded
like more to Mollie. She knew it
meant more.
"I-that is, we-my mother and L,
you know-are in great trouble"
"Of course, understand" said the
drug clerk. instant sympathy in his
tone.
"What does he underestimate
thought Mollie wildly.
Don't you know your physician's s
telephone number?" he went on. "I'll
call him up right away"
'sIt isn't illness. 1t really isn't any
thing in your line Of business. We are
just locked out"
Mollie blurted it out at last. She
heaved little sigh of relief and hur-
ried on.
"Our landlord said you had big
bunch Of keys and were very clever
| 7oI,
hoped you'd help US, SO I ventured to
wake you. 1t really is a serious mat
ter, or I wouldn't have dreamed of dis
turbing you"
There was tremble in her voice
that convinced the drug clerk. [
was the same tremble that won th'
landlord. Moreover, she was young
and he was young. And he did hap
pen to possess good temper.
"I ought not to leave the store.
he said. "Trouble for NE if ge
caught. Is it near?"
'Just around the corner" Molli,
hastened to assure him.
"Wait minute, then, until I ge
dressed, and I'll come with you"
1t seemed long time before b
emerged, iingling his bunch Of keys
but he really made a hasty toilet
Together they repaired to Mollie'
fiat, and the clerk tried his best t
unlock the door, but failed. The
Mollie suggested the freight elevator
"You know there is sliding doc
in our kitchen where we take the gro
ceries and things off the elevator
Mary never locks it. I have to d
that every night the last thing. S
it is sure to be open. And it is quit
large door, I'm sure L
Then she turned to the drug cler
deprecatingly.
"I'm afraid I'm heavy and the rope
are stiff, But do you suppose 70
could pull me up on the elevator?"
The ianitor's wife's shawl ha
slipped off by this time, and Molli
looked so pretty that it would hav
taken far more seasoned youth tha
the drug clerk to withstand her, e'
pecially when she plead.
"I'm sure ] can," he answered va
iantly. "Its good plan
, But Mrs. Carton refused to see
it anything but her daughters doom
, "You'll be killed." she sobbes
. "And then what will your father say:
, Mollie and the clerk descended
= the basement, which, of course, ws
' dark, but fortunately the drug Gle,
had match. They found the ell
I yator after short search. 1t WASH
|. large elevator. but Mollie squeeze