Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-22
TALE or THE CITY
STREETS.

This is the story of girl who want
ed TO cut deep swath and, not having
the wherewith to provide the clothes,
she resorted to thievery.
Annie was clerk in a Rock Island
store where dress goods and other ar
ticles of women's apparel are sold.
She was receiving a salary equal to
the most valuable clerk in the estab-
lishment. She was efficient and prompt
in her duties and had gained an ex
tensive friendship among the patrons
of the store.
Annie lived with her folks. They
had a modest home that they rented
in a nice neighborhood. Annie was
reared in this house, but when she be
gan to attend dancing parties and re-
ceive the attentions of young men she
complained of what she termed the
unattractivcness of her home. There
were neither electric lights, steam heat
nor front stOop large enough on
which 70 string hammock; and there
were no flowers or dropping trees that
she saw in the front yards of the homes
of her girl friends.
Annie began 10 observe, too, that
her dresses were not made of such fine
materials as were those of her friends.
She had to have more clothes and bet
ter ones. she decided. But her salary
would not stand it. She had only re-
Gently been given an advance in pay
at the store. and she knew that she
would not be allowed any more. When
she had contributed her mite towards
paying the rent and providing the home
with necessities she had little or moth
ing left for wearing apparel
She had been making her own dress
cs in her spare time at home, but she
found that her friends had dressmak-
crs. So. if she expected to Keep pace
with the styles. she would have to cm-
ploy the mOdisteS that the other girls
did.
Annie had a beau. He called on her
at her home but he did not comment
on the simplicity of the furnishings or
surroundings. He rather admired An
ME for the manner in which she was
helping her folks. who were growing
old. Annie never felt herself when he
was at the house. and was constantly
making apologies for this and that.
But the folks had about determined to
locate in another neighbOrhood. where
they could secure a modern house. she
told her beau. OF course. he was pleas
ed, and congratulated her. The court
ship developed love affair and an en-
Eagement.
Now Annie could show her friends
A few. A house with an upper deck
and all the cOnveniences and environ
ments that Annie Craved was rented
in another part of the city. Annie or
deTed new furnishings and a piano,
and was to pay for them on the install
ment plan
After becoming ensCOnced in her new
home she returned to the clothes prop
osition 1t would be an easy matter
for her TO pick out sufficient material
at the store to supply her wants. She
would simply take what she wanted
when there was no one looking, and
forget to make out credit slip. as re
Iquirei of employees in the large stores.
The first bolt was taken without being
missed. Then some more was carried
home by Annie. She appropriated
what Iaces were necessary to supply
1.-THE several dresses that she was having
made at her dresSmaker's. Then a
pair of gloves made up the combina-
ton.
Annie did not attempt to conceal the
fact that she had plenty of new clothes
from the other girls at the store On
1.-THE contrary. she called their atten-
ton TO the agony she was putting on.
and she was TIE envy of all her less
fortunate sisters. She was so happy.
Her drudgery would soon end. she hav-
ing accepted one of the incest young
linen in her set. All the girls knew of
her good fortune. and were proud that