The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-12-23

thing which shc had seen and not no
ted N tho time flashed bGorc her half
closed oycs. a simple aIgn. How had
she happenod 10 remember it,unleas in
an unconaoiona expectation OF such
need? ah3 racolected that In tho
window Of large department store
hung IN inconppicuous white placard
"fiirlH Wanted" THAT. she meditatcd.
mua mean work-musi necessarily
imply pay.
What II she should? She fairly
helA her breath with the excitement o.
tho mad echamc, Apply from flvc
10 SIX" She could see these words
also CHANGING nj title gold mounted
table she observed the hour, Half
past four
sbc Hprang erect. The touched the
bell. when no mnid appeared she
stood llke u girl Alexander ready for
new worlds 20 conaacr,
Telephone that want the automo-
bile" she directed "And give me the
simplest ard shabhiest dress | have"
The day had just broken when Miss
Dorothca Kinglakc stole down the wide
stair into the big. dark hall Occa-
alonally. In hunting country, she had
seen tho sun rise when arising her
self for a particularly early meet"
Sometimes on yacht she had OBJ
served tho FIRST pale glow in the east,
Never before hnd she known any
thing like the cold. grim winter morn.
ing She had long before established
an Independence which permitted her
90 take such nm unusual step, She
might bo supposed to be brcakfasting
In her room when abe did not appear
later her absence would be accepted
unqucstlonlngly.
She looked about furtIveiy. To
make her exit without notice by nn
early servant was desirable, Success
fully without observation, she slipped
through the door ana through the
porte.eochere The light was still
dim IN the ieaden sky, Snow had fall
len overnight and the ground was
gray with II. The deserted Avenue
she scarcely knew at this hour. In
decd. she scarcely seemed 70 recog-
nlxc the world into which she had
emerged, The distance was consider.
able TO the downtown district. and she
had determined to take car. Eight
o'clock was the hour at which she was
to be at the store. Ten minutes was
all she had In which to reach her des-
Obtaining the place on the proceed
Ing afternoon had hoen easier than
she anticipated. She had left the au-
tomobile at corner. and made her
way into a crowd OF waiting girls
Almost Immediately they were headed
Into hallway. A man came forward
Inspection was brief
Question were few AT the holiday
season an unusual number OF extra
helpers had to bo obtained unexpect-
edly,
"You'll do" said the official. with Al
glance at her. 1--WE can always make
use of a girl OF good appearance
whether she knows anything or not.
What's your manor"
Mamie Taylor" she answered. She
had thought carefully, and this name
had struck her as both unnoticeable
md characteristic.
Report tomorrow morning to the
She was reporting, She had stopped |
! car and entered. She stood sway
ng unsteadily In n mass of pale. sleepy |
syed men and women. No one needed
Ter, She had never felt so alone In
Ter life. At corner Of the block
'uppled by the great shop she got out.
She saw many hurrying In her direc-
ion. Following with persistent
lense Of unreality, she found herself
me OF q long line approaching desk
Mamie Taylor" snapped the man
Without looking up. $50
''Yes--yes, sir sine said timiiiy.
Number b2s. DO to the Toy Depart
nent."
Number seq! Was she convict to
70 catalogued? To the strangeness OF
he situation was added almost the
oss OF personality. Who was she?
Vas she herself, to be checked off In
his fashion like one of the wagons of
he establishment? Dazed, she moved
lslde.
"come Get move on" some one
commanded.
BY questions not always too clvilly
she at last reached the place
he sought In the basement, bril-
liant with sizzling arc-lights, the heat,
he hard refulgence and confusion
urther confounded her.
"The manager" she gasped.
I'm him." small, nervous person
eelared pompously.
"Eive hundred and twenty three,
'ou can begin to dust and condense
his stock at once"
Condenser" she murmured, gazing
ldlplessly after Ithe potentate, who
an.,od ~, ,,,a 4aeAtioallv