The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-31

Obtaining no answer to his profuse ex-
pressions = apology he struck
match and found that he was alone.
He continued his course down the
dirty, carpetless. stairs, past two desc /
late-loolzing landings, dimly lit by |
sickly wall-lamps, and passed out into
the November fog.
He was glad it was foggy. for under
its kindly shelter he could better dis
pose Of a parcel unobserved. Its des-
tination was the pawnshop The
pawnshop in question nestled affec-
tionately up to flaring saloon.
Gilroy united his parcel and dis
closed .dressing-case The pawn
broker took out the articles one by
one and examined the hall-marks.
What do you want for it?' he IN
quIred, with no show Of interest
twenty-five dollars" answered Gil
roy promptly.
The pawnbroker burst into harsh
laugh. Il will give you ten dollars" he
said.
Gilroy took the ten dollars.
A misty rain was falling when he
found himself once more in the street.
He turned up his coat-collar, buried
his hands in his pockets. and strobe
angrily along the slippery pavement,
past the flaring shops, past third-rate
music hall--then into dismal street
and through covered passage into q
still more dismal square which was
the young mans present abode.
Gilroy mounted the endless stairs
two at a time, not stopping till he
gained his own door. Once inside, he
lit his lamp and turned eyes Of dis
gust on his wretched apartment. His
bed. all unmade, stood in one corner
under a window. An oIl-stove standing
In the fireplace was still ornamented
with a frying-pan in which he had pre-
pared his breakfast The remains OF
a meal Uttered table.
A church clock struck the hour Of
nine. Gilroy compared his watch. and
then hurriedly cleared his table Of
crockery and eatables-then he opened
a bag Of MMS. and emptied 1t on te
the table, got his ink. penis and blot
ter from the dressing table, and sal
down to write, mechanically filling
pipe as he did so. He had scarcely pu
pen to paper when curious raspini
sound fell on his ear. It seemed K
come from the next room 1t kept OF
! 50 long that 1t irrltated him, and h
rose and opened his door and peepeI
out
2 A stream Of light shot across tn
passage, and on the opposite wall wa
the shadow Of slim girl doing some
z thing to door. 1t suddenly struc'
3 him that 1t might be the girl on who's
dress he had trodden, and. he believed
torn 1t. He was fmpulsive by nature
SO he stepped out into the passag
! and looked full at the shadows sui
stance. 1t was a red-haired girl in
grey, close-atting gown, and she wa
trying to do something to the loc
, with screwdriver. On another In
pulse he addressed her
rs you lock wrong?" he inquiries
5 let me help you."
r. The girl darted a frightened glanC
. at him; thea. seeming satisfed-fC
Marcus Gilroy had boyIsh, sran
: face-she said THANK you--there
!. something wrong-lt won't catch!"
A moment more and the young ma
= was kneeling al the door. examinin
n the lock, while the girl held the ca
die.
{. what a pleasant F60fn you have
= Gilroy said, when lie had hxed Il
lock.
4 yes" said the girl. hut lts cor
fort sometimes makes me wf6tehe
d For, oh; there are some terribly POI
people in this place 1t turns me sit
= sometimes to look into the rooms o
posite. Yet I look when can't slet
= II see poor wretches creeping up Il
o STAIRS, to huddle into horrible room
to pass the night. They come at a
hours Of the night-little chIldre
too-poof httIe childrenI There is
! window at every landSng. ana as Il
weary wretcses creep up. up. a meagi
K light shines a f86ment from these vi
k odws; and the fooms- are l
a blinds"
The girl ceased Suddenly. conss
GUS blush overspreadsag Her fair, ov
2 face. She remembered that she vi
talking to a man and 4 stfsHg6F.
Gilroy found no wordsahe looked
I the pure young face with that impa
| stoned light Of sorrow and ssmpatl
| upon it and was as one dunab
4 Another Of his impulses cams
| him. You have typewriterg"
| said tentatively.
/ "Yes, earn my living by It.
I "Will you type play for me viii,
I have written?"
why certainly"
He was once more at work on Il
lock.
Thank you. VIII bring it tome
= row. Poor playl suppose it viii
: rejected. like all the rest.
do you depend on your pen2"
He looked up and laughed bItterl
/ 4 have never earned a penny In n
= | 49,. ~ hn cold