The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-03
The Finding
of Adelia
Copyright. by J. q. Lippincott Cos
BY ALBERT BlGELow PAINE


and that we had but brief time In
which to readjust matters. Fortunate
ly. Sunday was at hand. and securing
first editions and an early train-the
latter by a scratch set out for New
York to pick up any desirable domes-
tim worm that might not already be
caught, and that would agree not to
turn under the pink-heeled tyranny Of
/ childhood.
On the way in ! read feverishly
any columns that seemed promising
and arranged a sequence OF investi-
cations.
rode ten blocks and climbed four
| flights of very gloomy, smelly stairs
| into Sweden. | had been hopeful OF
-, Sweden. | had heard that Swedish
| girls were good girls. and even when
| a square-built, muscular maiden came
out into the hall. closing the door
firmly behind her. was only vaguely
alarmed. Through the odorous dark
| babbled to her OF green fields and
wooed her with promises of several
dollars per week and Sunday out. She
listened until was quite empty,
| hen
You Law in country"
We'll, yes. 1t is called country. 1t is
really part of the city, you know. with
trains every few minutes-nearer. In
fact, than many points of Harlem.
We"
Il tank not go to country"
But what's the matter with the
country" / asked.
She reflected on the matter before
replying.
II tank get sack dere"
Sick? Why. the country's the place
to get well in. How do you get
sick?"
This required still more reflection
She had to think up something-some
thing good and hard that would close
the interview.
II tank l have palms," she an
, nounced, at last. and there was note
in her accent that caused me to edge
bit closer to the head of the
, stairs.
, "Ah. pains. And-eh, would you
) would you mind telling me where you
| have these pains? | have some med.
= zeal knowledge-f-"
a Il tank have pains in my lags.
a tank | know l have my pains. tank
!, know what do. tank l not go to
. country"
q But | was halfway down the tor
flight by this time. acquiring speed
!, as | descended into the mystery OF
O blackness below.
Q Maid of Sweden. when we part
o Give me. please. a running start.
@ / murmured as | touched the bottom
l. and escaped into the soiled misery 81
Il the iangling street. That these be
r. nighted creatures should prefer the
" wretched, soulless round and wranglt
s. of their present existence to the clear
d bed and outlook | offered them wa.
r. not easy to understand. But / wa.
} in no mood to philosophlze. / mad,
I. my way to West Forty-third stree
Is for an expedition into the Congo coun
y Try.
d Pickaninnies with twisted bobbets 0
ii hair infested the entrance to tn,
s. kraals, and round black eyes shon,
70 and lured me along dark passages ant
r up winding stairs. Ring Rev. Med
ders' bell" was the instruction on on
. advertisement, and | was PRESENT..
Ie ushered into the Medders parlor. The
10 the lady / had called to see entered
b. and l gasped. She was of the gold
II spectacle, chocolate variety, an
n stylish no name. | could not a
n once state my errand for admiring he
d clothes. When | did so she regarde
10 me with compassion. but with no sig
Is IF favor. She spoke with a drawl
ar "oh. no. sab. l couldn't go to Il
r. country. sah!"
W "Ah. l see. You prefer the cit
% life"
r. Yes. sah-always wuk in. tow
IN 'eeptin' when goes to the country
co boahd, sab"
of Vacation. suppose?"
Of Yes. sab. When it's wahm. sab,
goes to the seashoah then. sah.'
You wouldn't-eh-care to boar
with us awhile now, suppcse?"
-. "0h. no. sab. Too cold, sab. MUG
- too cold this time o. yeah. sah."
My wish was to tell her that thel
was one place where 1t was war
enough In all seasons, and that ST
might 60 there. She volunteered pre-
:. entity to introduce me to some frient
- belowstairs who might be willing
consider my needs.
:, There was a sound of revelry as v
:, drew near the dim doorway below.
-. ceased at our knock. and a nome
A. later the door opened to such an q
80 sortment of eolored society as ii h,
-. been never my privilege to enter. \
expedition had reached darkest Afri
at step. When she of the gold spa
s tacles announced my mission tn
~ crowded about TO listen and to
!. gard euriously the stranger from
>''' far cline. Only one of them b
any definite knowledge of our place
the map. She was a jolly, fat &
soul to whom my heart warmed