The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-04-25
."Ill report you," they yelled, 'for
Insulting a lady," -

men behind their little trinket counter
and fed to the balcony overlooking the
| main street of the Chinese quarter.
1t was horribly low She shuddered
| at the thought of where she was and
| under what. protection as she gazed
down from the lantern hung balcony
into the street crowded with Chinese
| in their native dress-their pig faces,
| long cues and long nailed fingers hold
| ing paper bags filled with vegetables.
"Eloiser'
She Jumped at the sound of her
name and a mans step on the balcony
and pressed back against the wall of
the house, staring with wild eyes at
the man before her.
"What are you doing here?''- he de-
manded. "Why, you have never been
out like this! What does it mean?"
| She gathered her forces suddenly for
retaliation.
."What if I haven't?' she said, some
what breathlessly. "I am old enough
to do as | choose-and-it is not in the
least your affair what dor
She pushed past him into the incense
laden interior to have the conductor
present her with a package of joss
sticks and slip of paper covered with
| Chinese characters.
"a fortune" he said CALAMITY. "Ask
your Chinese laundryman to read it
| for you"
81 haven't a Chinese laundryman,"
she exclaimed passionately, "and
never will have one!'
She ran almost blindly down the
stairs and into the street, trusting to
her instinct for locality to guide her to
the nearest subway station. The ORR
entails fell back in wild astonishment
| at sight of her fleeing figure, and few
! fat old fellows said unintelligible
things to her which caused roar of
laughter.
| Her cheeks were burning, her breath
was coming in gasps, as she came into
the little square marking the one time
wickedest place in New York. All at
once she felt that she was being fol-
lowed Quick, light footballs were
coming behind her, were keeping pace
with hers, and terror clutched her
heart A few drunken men sprawled
on the park benches. To return was
impossible. She could never find the
''rubberneck" party. There was moth
ing to do but keep on as best she
could.
She emerged from the park ready to
drop with exhaustion and was obliged
to slow down to get her breath. To
| her relief she found the steps had
stopped, and no one was in sight. She
went on and on through the better
streets of the wholesale district and at
last saw the twinkling lights of sur
| face cars ahead. She reached for her
purse. 1t was gone!
She stopped stock still on a corner,
| frozen with horror. Alone at IL O'Clock
at night on a deserted street, with no
money and home miles away! The ills
Of her guarded, pampered life showed
uppernost in this dilemma A less ia
vored girl would have known what to
do. She stood there dazed, helpless,
till the sound Of rapidly approaching
footsteps startled her into action. She
sprang forward.
"Eloiser' A mans voice echoed her
name commandingly among the sky
scrapers.
She collapsed all in heap on the
curbstone.
"You-you-lovable girl" he said,
looking down at her limp person strug-
Cling for breath.
ooh, George" she painted, 81 didn't
know it was your
He sat down on the curb beside her.
81 thought you did" he said.
"And there wasn't any real danger"
she asked, wide eyed. 'fOh what a
simpletonv" =
"None at all except from the ogre
me-" he laughed shortly.
ooh, George, you are simply finer
"YOu didn't think so last week this
time," he said relentlessly.
"But you didn't insist" she pouted.
ga girl likes to be convinced"
ooh, you-you-I will say it-foolish
girl!' he said, with adoring eyes.