The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-18
CHAPTER III.
REBEccA PoLAsKrs STORY.


MIR. Mitchell groped his way ginserly
down into the increasing gloom OF the
stairway. Al the third landing he passed
some one whose sex he vaguely guessed
by the fumes OF whisky which sssailed
his nostrils. At length he reached the
bottom and stood in the lower hallway
looking toward the Eight at the street
door. which made the narrow passage
strikingly resemble a tunnel Al the nrs'
door TO the left he stopped and knocked
receiving, as upon his first effort. no re-
snonse Therefore he passed on and
rapped upon the door nearest the street
and once more the bearded head or the
proprietor protruded just far enough 10
inailire what was wanted, whlle tht
whirring OF the sewing machines beninn
him made his squeaky voice scarceN
audible. n
~ wish 10 speak with Rebecca Po-
laski" said Mr.. Mitchell.
shes busy" was the curt reply. ana
the man tried 10 close the door, but was
forestalled by Mr.. Mitchell. who thrust MS
foot between, remarking nrmly'
But | tell you | must see her
"oh. veil. dot makes a ff'rence'' lie
came out into the hall and closed the
door behind him why Is dot you must
ReDecCat NnAl 10 YOU NdhN N'N N''
IL wish 10 speak TO her about mat
ter OF importance ! Will not detain her
more than ten minutes
Ten minutes, Holy Abraham how
do YOU suppose she can fool away so
much time? She's got her Twin TO make,
my friendt. She couldn't AFFORD 10 stop
work for ten minutes. We are not mil
lionaires down here.
How much could she earn In ten MIN
utes?" asked Mr. Mitchell
This disconnected the old Jew, and he
hesitated before replying. but presently,
with cunning leer and rubbing ms
hands together after the manner OF his
tribe. he drawled OUT
"As 10 dot my friendt dots her piz-
ness. und it's not my pizness to gif away
oder people's pizness. But she could
make enough 10 puy loaf OF pread, my
tear. und loaf of pread II a good deal In
desc hard times !"
"A loaf of bread, eh? Let me see" said
Mr. Mitchell. making quick calculation.
"A loaf OF bread is cents, and cents
for ten minutes is % cents an hour, or
about 81 a day. Is that what she earns
What man you are at figgers! said
the Jew slyly. You ought to be pawn
broker But you're wrong. my tear. |
didn't say ffe cent loaf. She might puy
q dree cent loaf amt it,"
VERY we'll Then she does not earn
more than 20 cents an hour. Tell her To
come out and talk TO me. and will pay
her 70 cents for her lost hour
MIR. Mitchell though that rest or even
an hour might be ioyfully acceptable to
the poor sweatshop slave and would be
cheaply purchased. But the greedy ears
OF the Jew were douoly attentive now
that money was offered. With a depre-
eating gesture Of his most expressive
hands. he whined;
impossible. my tear An hour whole
hour. for 50 cents, You under value de
worth of de girls time. Fifty cents for
a whole hour. Impossible. impossible
But you have just admitted that her
time Is not worth as much as ID cents
an hour"
You're no pizness man. my friendt.
You're too rich to understand de leetla
details of trade. Dhrty cents an hour
might be de Wholesale price OF Repecca' $
time, but for one hour--dot's retail don't
you see?''
mo. I don't see Explain yourself"
"Vid pleasure. | hires de girl by de
month. so | get her time cheaper dan you
can get II II you only want one hour.
Its very simple"
He smiled blandly. as though making
he most ordinary statement, but Mr..