The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-07


This is no hospital"
Nell's nervous tigers clutched a fresh
package of envelopes. and the pounding
Of her machine added it's noise to that
of the others. She could not afford to
go home. The pittance that came to
her each saturday was little enough
without indulging the luxury of an
afternoon off
Jimmy Nelson, coming into the room
to consult with Miss Petit about an
order, looked with kindly sympathy al
the tired girl When he had had charge
of the room, he had been more gentle.
She had, told him something of her
story in the noon intervals. when he
had insisted upon standins treat to hot
coffee to argument the scanty sand
witch that usually constituted her
lunch. Ceffe cost five cents a day.
and the errand girl who made the
trips to the lunchroom must be tip
ped In addition. The Rotary Address
ing Company paid only from three to
five dollars a week. and coffee was
luxury to those who did not live
at home.
There had been time when Jimmy
had dreamed of a little flat wherein
Nell should be mistress. That was
just after he had been promoted to the
office and had had his salary raised
to fifteen dollars a week, He had
lacked the courage to make his pro-
posal in person and had written her
note.
IT shall consider silence polite mega
tive" he had added
Once Jimmy had aspired to the stage,
and he had obtained the phrase from
the advertisements in the dramatic
pa ners that he studied with religious
care. 1t had struck him as being
phrase of singular elegance. She need
not refuse him. She could just ignore
the note. He was sorry after ward
that he had not asked ,for an answer,
1t would have been something to
keep. As 1t was. she was as pleasant
as even to him, treating him with the
same old friendliness and giving no hint
of her reason for the refusal of his
offer.
He longed to repeat 1t. He wanted
to be able to take her out of the place,
from under the very nose of Miss Petit.
yet he lacked the courage to speak
and he contented himself with coming
into the room as often as his business
with the forewoman gave him an
excuse. OF course. 1t would never do
for the office force to chum with the
girls from the operating room during
the noon hour. and in the evening
1t was Jimmy's duty to see that all
were out before he locked up.
So Nell struggled on. Just so many
thousand envelopes must be completed
to constitute minimum days work.
A record was made each evening. and
the advancement or reduction of SAL
airy depended upon that She hal
barely managed to complete the task
when the gong struck and the girls
began to cover their machines and put
their tables in order. Nell staggered
slightly as she took the last of her
work to the timekeeper, who entered
her record in the book. Miss petit
eyed her sharply as she went back to
her machine.
UNLESS you are feeling better you
hda better not come tomorrow" she
said GROSSLY. Il can put on another
girl who will make faster use of the
machine"
II will be all right in the morning."
Nell answered Hiss Petit could not
gnow that the girl had had no break
fast There had been medicine to buy,
and until pay day came again she
would have to walk to her home and
make dry bread serve for food.
She was slow in preparing for the
street, and even Miss Petit had gone
when she stepped into the elevator. The
street was dark and lonesome, Most Of
the places had closed at five. and there
were few persons moving along the
narrow strip of sidewalk as she step
ped out.
On the corner a little knot of people
had gathered about some object of in?
terest. and she peered couriously over
the shoulder of the office boy in front
of her. The next moment she was
pushing the man aside.
Miss Petit had slipped upon the
greasy sidewalk, and lay moaning and
half unconscious with pain. The girls
had all gone on and a bootblack was
N ma n ~ oh M
the attention of a policeman could be
attracted.
Nell pushed him away and took the
woman's head into her lap, disposing
her that the wrenched ankle was
more comfortable. Then she turned to
the lad who had stuck to her side,
determined to at least share the interest
with the newcomer.
TT is my forewoman. she said. run
up to the Rotary Addressing Company
and ask Mr.. Nelson to come quick"
THE lads statement that a lady was
almost killed and was asking for him
brought Jimmy on the run. White
faced he tore his way through the
increasing crowd of curious people to
come to a dead stop when he perceiv-
ed the situation.
TITS only Miss Petit" he growled in
mingled relief and disappointment. 1T
thought it was you"
I'VE must get her home. Jimmy"
pleaded Nell. She says she won't go
in an ambulance. Please call a cab"
The ambulance is plenty good for
her" he growled. though to them the
ambulance was but shade less dis
graceful than the patrol wagon
Didn't she talk to you like you were
a dog this afternoon"
Get a cab for me-" pleaded Nell, and
Jimmy turned away.
1t was not far to Miss Petite boad-
ing place. and Nell hustled about
making the tiny hall room more COM
Portable Jimmy stuck doggedly, too,
waiting to take Nell home. Miss Petit
sank bacl1on the bed with sigh.
THAT will do very WELL" she said
family. The doctor will bandage my
ankle. and then the girl Will put me
to bed. You were very good to me.
my dear"
ITS all right" said Nell. coldly, as
she turned to go. but Miss Petit caught
her nand
wait a minute" she said Il want
to tell you something. Jimmy here,
give me a letter to hand you some
weeks ago. l wasn't going to have
any flirting in my room. so / didn't
give it to you. Jimmy is a good boy,
my dear and here 1t is"
She sank back upon the pillow as
Jimmy sprang forward In his excite
ment he had forgotten Miss Petit and
his wrath against she. Now he only
realized that Nell had not received his
letter.
And silence amt a polite negative?"
he asked. Nell smiled. Jimmy had