Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-24
faced man without replying to his 10.
cose remarks on the heat.

ldCCSt man WAInOut LCRiy ihe W Liz "
cose remarks on the heat.
Becker came up and, leaning against
the counter and pairing his nails, said:
$50 you want to get off for dinner
and an evening down at Coney, sup
pose. Eth, Jude?"
Judith felt her throat grow dry. mo.
Mr.. Becker she said.
The proprietor tapped his knife on
the desk in front of her. Look here,
Jude l want to tell you plainly that
you're too glum lately. l wish you'd
get that graveyard look off your face.
OF course it's all right for you not to
run around with the married men, but
look at all the swell fellows you've
turned down. Grant Lauderdale and
Dick Tracy are good enough for any
girl. Now, don't be clam any longer,
for, on the level, / can't stand for so
much falling off in looks. 1t looks as
if l didn't feed YOU"
That night, alone in her little room.
Judith reviewed the situation. She felt
as If one year in New York had cost
her her youth and all her happiness.
With her father dead and her little
fortune swept away, she had to keep
the wolf from the door. Poverty snap
ped at her heels like hungry cur
whenever her strength faltered, and
she felt as If she could scarcely go ON
so. "Oh, Gordon. Gordon she cried
in agony until. falling asleep from
sheer exhaustion, she dreamed, and in
her dreams Gordon Russell came to
her, held her in his arms and kissed
her.
When she awakened 1t was later than
usual. She dressed in fear and trem-
bling and FASTENED to the restaurant,
determined to retrieve herself with the
| proprietor.
All day she nerved herself and sue
ceeded bravely until. in the last dull
| half hour before supper, Grant Lauder
dale came in with another man. Ju-
dith's head swan. Why was he there!
| Would he see her? Presently they
| came toward the desk. Judith'S eyes
were fastened ON one face. He did not
look at her, being accOsted by another
| man Grant Lauderdale, for the first
time. laid the exact change for the
check on the desk before her, and the
two men passed out. Neither had look
| ed at her.
When she became conscious In the
little cage Becker and two of the girls
were looking at her curiously. They
| were tanning her and holding smelling
| 30 har hn nd
wildly Becker pressed an envelope in
to her hand.
you'd better not come back tomOr-
row. he said.
Judith heard the wolf "Am l dis
charged?' she asked.
swell, no, not exactly. But we won't
need so many girls for awhile, and
you'd better take rest"
1t was an hour before she was able
to go; then, refusing offers of COM
pany, she started out alone. Every
thing was blank. She walked along
unseeing. Then suddenly trucks, cars
and automobiles confused her. She
stood still, started forward, 5swerved
4 and fell
Again she dreamed, the same Deaut-
full, impossible dream. and Gordon was
holding her hand and saying: 1T has
been so long, darling. If l only had
known! All this time / have been
looking for you. l got no word, knew
nothing, heard nothing, until an hour
after / left the restaurant this after
noon, and Grant Lauderdale mentioned
your name, and / went back to look
for YOU"
Judith sat up and looked around.
where am ~ she asked.
I'm the hospital, dear, but you won't
have to stay here long"
Gordon! Gordon. Oh, am dream
ing again!"
Sweetheart, this is no dream. l
have found you at lastv'