Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-05-02

stuffy little rooms overlooking an air
shaft on one side and somebody's
back yard on the other. But I'm start
Ing awfully early In the season. and
that ought to give me better choice"
For week Rowena had been nat
hunting. climbing endless fights Of
stairs and interviewing seemingly
endless line of real estate agents and
janitors. Each morning she set out
blithely, and each evening she came
back fatigued and disheartened. THE
price we want to pay and the kind OF,
an apartment we would like don't seem
to flt together" she walled, recounting
her adventures to Molly and Grace at
nightfall. And this particular day prov
ed no exception to the rule. By IL
o'clock in the morning she had tramp
ed miles and found nothing suitable.
ais this the Edgemeref" she weartly
inquired Of an elevator boy in an
apartment building whose marble en-
trance and artistic green walls were
like ray of hope to her detected spir-
its.
"Yes'm," said he of the trim suit
and brass buttons.
"Id like to look at one on the third
floor" said Rowena, smiling on him.
Rowena's smile was one of her chief
charms 1t lighted up her piquant face
| and showed a dimple lurking In her
cheek. 1t would captivate any one
from king to an elevator boy.
The third floor of the Bdgemere
proved desirable from every point Of
view Rowena was delighted. And
| all for $50 MONTH" she breathed.
The boy gaped at her. Fifty dol
larsr he scoffed. why, these here
apartments rents for a hundred and
fiftyw
"One hundred and fifty! You're GER
tainly mistaken. The paper said"-
She opened her pocketbook, found the
clipping and showed 1t to him. He
shook his head.
"Misprint lady" he answered. "They
amt no such price"
"Sure, that's just what I've been
telling this gentleman" said neat
looking scrubwoman, suddenly appear
ing in the doorway. Behind her tow
cred fair haired young fellow, broad
of shoulder and firm of chin. He stared
at Rowena for an instant.
"Why, Miss Holden" he cried, with
a boyish laugh OF pleasure, "are you
on the trail tooT'
~ should think you'd know 1t at first
glance" said Rowena tragically. MY
sisters tell me that my face has taken
on the expression of the New York fiat
unmistakable."
Dwight Curtis laughed again.
az wonder if your trials are as great
as mine. I'm clubbing together with
two other fellows, and trying to fill the
wants of each and all is turning me
gray. Moreover l feel I'm getting the
ricketts, from sprlntng up so many
flights of stairs"
1.-THE building we're IN how Is going
to be torn down, so we have to move
and It's my turn to search" explained
Rowena And oh, Mr.. Curtis, have
you seen any reasonable apartments
with light, airy rooms In pleasant
neIghborhOod not too far from the cal
liner
81 have not" Dwight answered grave
ly, though J repeat those phrases even
In my sleep / tell you what-why
can't we hunt together? 1t will be d
lot more sociable, and two heads are
better than one you know. Besides
down at the beach this summer that
Hawkins man mOnopoliZed so much of
your time that it's only fair for me TO
have my innings now. Shall we go to
Seventy street nextT
do you realize" said Rowena a week
later as they sat on bench on River
side drive, that time Is flying and
we've found nothing absolutely moth
ing-so farf'
"But we've had a lot of fun" Dwight
replied, smiling reminiscently as he
thought of sundry strolls they had TAX
en- in the park, sundry luncheons tete-
a-tete In the little casino, sundry car
rides to perfectly irrelevant places, and
all with the ostensible excuse of fiat
hunting.
Z This Is good enough for me-" be
went on, with look first at Rowena
and then at the river, where myriads
Of water craft piled up and down
Steam launches puffed portentously,
saiIboats cleaned In the sunlight, and
an excursion steamer churned past, all
flag flying and band playing Justify
on deck. The rows of stone houses
facing the drive were closed and silent,
the lower windows boarded up, while
the half shut blinds Of the upper ones