The Washington herald., 1907-09-24
DUCK BRIGGS SLOWNESS.
BY LULU JOHNSTON.

Sally loitered along looking into the
shop windows All the hot day she had
bent over the clacking machine until
eyes and back and head alike ached from
the noise and strain. The other girls had
hurried from the shop when the gong
had struck. Some OF them had engage
ments for trolley rides for the evening,
and We're in a hurry to be dressed and
of. Others made haste 20 reach home
for supper. Sally had neither of these
reasons for haste. Her thin. white face
did not attract the few men she knew
they never invited her anywhere, and
the streets were al least cooler than the
stuffy little room that she called home.
She knew that presently she must
make her coffee and fry her single chop
over the tiny oil stove that filled the
room with the reeking Odor OF oil. but
by walking slowly she delayed that time
as long as possible,
She gave q little gasp as she came be
fore the installment bazaar windows. In
stead of the rolls of wall paper and
carpets. the ''nobby" parlor sets and
iron bedsteads, the four Dig windows Of
the store We're gotten up 70 represent the
four rooms Of a fat. a card in each
window stating the cost of the equipment
10 be SO down and s. a month for an
inspected time.
Sally passed from the plush elegance
Of the parlor to the simplicity of the
bedroom and the coy dining-room with
a real sideboard. but it was against the
glass :nclosing the kitchen that she fiat
tened her pudgy nose the longest.
The domestic instinct was strong within
her, and this array Of cleaning pots and
pans, the glitter Of the cheap china and
the plated knives and forks fascinated
her. II she only had a kitchen like that
instead OF the one-burner oil stove on
the soap box at the foot OF her narrow
cot She drew her breath sharply and
eXhaled it in long sigh
Nice. amt it, Sally looked UP in
alarm, but there was nothing IN the ap-
pearance- OF the man AZ her side 20 cause
alarm. His twinkling eyes were frank
and honest and not a line of his rudy
fTeckled face was sinister. That he was
no ''masher' could be seen at a glance,
and Sally smiled an assent 10 his ques-
ton.
4 bet a girl who knew how to cook
could get fine dinners in a kitchen Ike
that" he saba shade Of usefulness in
his hearty voice. If I knew one, by
jinks. I'd buy that"
HUH" Sally's voice was scOTnful. She
could understand why none Of the men AZ
the shop asked her out 90 trolley rides
and things but for this great. strong Eel
low TO admit his inability 10 find a sweet
heart was absurd.
1T 0in't so easy" declared the other
hOtly. Il amt much with girls They
Ike fellows better what can dance and
say fool things. I amt never learned
either"
Then you ought 10 begin now" shifted
Sally. Us she moved away The man
made as though he would follow, but the
broad shoulders huuched together de-
spOndently. and ne returned TO his inspec-
tion of the kitchen.
But now he could also see the mistress
OF the apartment. a slender wisp of a
girl; the sort Of woman a man wants TO
take in HIS arms and Cuddle. To him
Sally's wan face was beautiful, her thin
ness elegance. Buck Briggs had met his
fate.
The next evening Sally, coming slowly
down the street found him in front Of
the window again. and passed on with
only the faintest glance of longing at the
shining kitchen. If he had any idea that
she remembered him ne should see thar he
was mistaken Buck looked disappointed
but he followed on TO the dreary pile that
Sally called her home.
She did not see him. as. with tagging
feet she assembled the high stoOp and
climbed the five flights that led TO her
attic room. but Buck crossed quickly to
the opposite side OF the street and rang
the bell, for his eyes had caught the
sign announcing that furnished rooms
were TO be had, and that night he slept
under the same roof.
He was on the steps the following
night when Sally came along. pretending
a tremendous interest in the scene before
him He nodded as the girl came up the
steps. and pulled of his cloth cap.
Say, dyou want 10 ride out 70 the
park after you eat your supper" he
asked, bashfully. I'm llvin here now"
he added. as though that constituted a
proper introduction
For moment Sally hesitated. with the
feminine instinct to be hardly won, but
the afternoon had been excessively hot.
ana Twice she had dropped over the ma
chine. The foreman had been kept busy
with smelling salts and water for the
girls had suffered terribly
With an easy gesture Buck thrust his
hand In his pocket and ratified three
niekels and a dime against the quarter
and half dollar. but it was not this so
much as the thought of her room that
decided Sally. With a nod and I'll be
down soon" she hurried up the steep
fights.
She munched the bread and smoked
sausage she had brought home with her
while she hurried about her dressing
There was a clean waist she was saving
for Sunday, and a broad crimson ribbon
that brought q touch of color to her face.
The rest OF the transformation was
worked I'm her face through the thought
that she was to have an escort.
Buck blinked as she came through the
grim doorway. His startled, You're all
right, sis was uncouth enough; but il
was the first compliment Sally had ever
received. and she smiled radiantly upon
her cavalier
The ride to the park was a trip to