Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-23

promptly forgot her as an entity. but
always had a sub-consciousness that
she was very essential to his daily COM
fort
Since No. 10 had gone Murphy's dis
traction had become very great, her
loneliness very painful, her longing for
the old comrade and her times almost
intenser than could be borne.
On the night of the day when Pearl,
the Counter Woman, had been continu-
ously sympathetic after her fatal way.
Murphy leaned against her counter
during a period of pause in the rush
and clash and grind and in everything
but the smell of the Hash House. She
leaned against Pearls counter and
looked at the fat woman thoughtfully.
whats ut like to feel like you do?
said Murphy, without desiring an
answer.
"Oh,. can tell yer 1 sym"
Don't" said Murphy. BE warned
m don'tr
That night Murphy waited at the
hashery till Z o'clock, having cared for
Twelve Twentys apartments in the
afternoon during her off time. Pearl 5
operations as Counter Woman ranged
from till Z.
Them hours are enough to drive her
to drink Murphy thought with kind
of impersonal sympathy with Pearl,
and presently the two women departed
together Murphy accommodated her
fine, swinging stride to the sloppy
single foot of Pearls gait A sort of
hop-and- nd-go-fetch-it intermittence, with
one of Murphy's customary steps As
they moved away Murphy recalled tile
excellent accord, even of stride, that
had been between herself and No. 10.
and she caught her breath and made
reflex action in the region of her
corset with an imaginary price punch
Presently they entered the room
where Murphy and No 10 had so long
dwelt in unity, and straightway Muir
ply took from it's accustomed place
the whisky bottle and stood it on the
bureau before Pearl.
y y
of tone. Get goin'," and she sat upon
the gas stove.
Here's y-before-yesterday Muir
ply, N to tn day 1 catches mi" and
Pearl surrounded a couple of fingers
taken straight. AS Murphy watched
her speculatively, she remarked:
Il reckon you're absorbent cotton all
tn way down, Pearl"
'I be that" Pearl returned while
looking about. Il sympathize wit
yer
Don't" said Murphy land take a
drink" Pearl consented. "Now
reckon We can turn yourself loose?"
Murphy suggested.
"Ah! Ye don't know, Murphyi Ye
SIT on yer stove n pine fur Mag; n
sym" Murphys eye was upon her
and she paused; Murphy withdrew her
admonishing gaze and poured again by
way of Pearls encouragement. AS the
fat woman reached for the drink me-
chanically Murphy placed her hand
over the glass.
"Wait bit" she said. "Ye'll need
ut as ye get sadder," and Pearl nodded
her head.
Pearl" Murphy paused to think
over the name of the woman, and then
she began again. Pearl I'm sorry
for ye. What run over ye?"
"Ah, it was a long time ago. MUIR
ply, n 1 SYM
Never mind" Murphy interrupted.
81 reckon ye loved imp" she insinuat :
ed.
"That well could a died f'r i'm. He
was that elligent m hanson used
to lose me breath wit thinkin' of m"
''Ye couldn't do it now" Murphy
unused. What happened imp"
Il reckon it came of me lovin' i'm
too we'll; there's men as can't stand
it."
Murphy, contemplating Pearl judicial
ly.
II SYM
"I can stand it," Murphy interjected
with a movement intended to side
track the remark
II had all tn since-me bein' ten
years older m Hmm he had all
tn diligence. Ye'd of thought he'd ap-
preciate it,"
"Mebby,' Murphy said.
II loved IN like a mother, m was
ready to hand like a wife-'n' you'd of
thought he'd appreciated it," she de-
plored again.
'Mebby," said Murphy. tracing a
mental picture of the recreant's ele-
ganee and of PEARLS twin facility of
maternalism and wifehood. "Mebby!"
'Well-he didn't, m me day II
GOMEZ she paused long enough 10
lower the whisky, after which Murphy
rose and replaced the bottle in it's usual
place. Pearls eyes followed it.
Murphy haven't begun
I'm know it. I'll keep the time wit
me stop watch" Murphy assured her,
reposing herself upon the stove. HE
didn't appreciate It, and when you find
i'm. youll"-
knock tn head off M i'm, s'help
mel" and Pearls purple tone assumed