The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-06

Ruth boxed out Of the window and
sbivered From below rose the roar and
din Of the holiday crowd, the jarring
note OF a myriad Of horns punctuated by
the sharper tone Of the watchman's rat-
ties that this year were dividing favor
with the horns as an audible expression
Of New Years JOY.
II would be TWO hours yet before old
Trinity's chimes would ring out the old
year and give welcome 10 the new. There
were few. if any. VINO would hear the
bells when they did ring. because Of the
din, yet this WAS made the rallying point
Of the crowd and It would be long after
Z o'clock before it dispersed. They
swarmed down the side streets for a
couple Of blocks around. To get home
she would have to force her way through
the crowd
Carefully she counted the small change
in her purse and closed it with a sigh.
II would never do 10 waste car fare for
the short ride. She had fingered at the
Office 10 clean up her work I'm pTepara-
ton for New Years. II would be no
happy New Year for her. for the trial
balances she had so neatly copied showed
that no profit had been made, and as
soon as the receiver could be brought in
her work would be done. To spend ;
cents TO escape the crowd would be an
eXtrava gance.
As she tidied up her desk and laid the
typewritten sheets on the desk in the
bookkeeper's cage, she thought Of the
year before. when she and JEFF had come
down to hear the chimes. They were
to have been married in the spring but
Jen had been offered a position in Cali
fornia and had gone out promising to
send home for her. Then his letters
suddenly stopped with one announcing
that he had married half-breed woman.
with "a gold mine to replace physical at
fractions.
Il would be very different tonight with
no one 10 force a way through the crowd
for her She buttOned her shabby coat
tightly about her and made her way
downstairs Some Of the cleaners shouted
out Happy New Year after her and
she called back. but her voice was tired
and listless. There was none Of the holi-
day spirit in her heart.
Once past the revolving doors she was
caught up IN the crowd and carried along
10 the human tide At the corner they
struck cross current of humanity that
forced her into a niche between two huge
pillars. Here she was discovered by a
crowd Of roilickers who, with half
drunken good humor. insisted that she
join their party.
She shrank back into the shadow. bat
her tormenJors would not be baked Of
their prey, and pressed forward. One
Of them laid his hand upon her arm and
with a friEhtful CRY she sought TO wrench
herself free. a burst Of rude laughter
that greeted her effort was stopped short
as q braWny arm reached over and
caught the buiIy's collar. There was a
quick exchange of blows and then with a
last shout they We're swallowed up in the
crowd. Ruth looked up 10 thank her
protector, and encountered jefferson Der
ran's gaze.
I've found YOU" he cried exultingly.
II knew that should. had present.
meut that If I came down here 1 should
find you"
Il was detained at the Office" she ex-
planned. Il was going home"
Alone" he cried Indignantly. why
didn't your husband come for your
MY husband?' she laughed Where
did you get that Information
First hand, ! suppose" he said AT
least ] had letter from You in which
YOU explained that you were tired of
waiting and had married a Bronson Deer
ing"
Il never even heard of such a person, "
she denied.
Here it IS" he said. as he reached
into his pocket and drew out wallet.
He placed a letter in her hand. The
folds were scanned by friction, but in
the light from the interior Of the build
ing she could make out its contents
THAT looks like my handwriting" she