The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-05
BY LINDSAY DENLSON

she elbows
"Al right" she said. "But I'm making 1901 u
myself don't exactly understand. myself, why II
hits me so hard I told you just little about WhaV
I'd been up against Well, it worse than that
That was Just a starter. And after the 7ery nrsL
didn't care any more. didn't. Something broke
and all the care dropped away from me- You've 90.
your troubles of where to eat and sleep and dIlhA,
she said to Cowles. "And you've got heart that's
pretty near to breaking-and maybe will" she said
to Roberts but for me- I've had all tnose
troubles for years and haven't cared. Because
haven't any heart" Her eyes began to shine and her
eyelashes became wet suddenly. "At least thought
I didn't until today.
Il live about twenty blocks uptown. You know
what these New York fats are. And in the fiat
under me there's some respectable married people
with baby. little girl about five. And she's been
sick And I guess the father hasn't had job in
long time Anyway, the other day saw him taking
a china clock out under his coat-it looked like
wedding present-and guess people don't hook their
wedding presents until pretty near the last. And
the floors are thin you can hear everything that
goes on down there. And the baby-anyway, the
little girl began asking two weeks ago about Christ
tree. And yesterday they told her that Santa
Claus was getting snobbish nowadays and wasn't in
terested in poor people-or poor peoples little girls
not even when they were sick. And she cried all
day. She crying when I came out last night
She was still crying when I got home this morning.
Shes cried all day today. And I'm broke I've only
got ten dollars between me and the river And my
rents two weeks overdue and I've got to pay that
before quit because the landlords been dead white
to me. And I've never cared before for four years,
butt care now-I care-I can't help it. / do
do"
She dropped her hands to the table and her head
on them. She sobbed; they were long, dry, heart
breaking sobs.
Don't cry, Miss CargilL" urged Cowles. patting
her shoulder clumsily. Don't cry-Sade!" She
jerked away from under his hand and cried on.
Miss Cargill," said Roberts, leaning over toward
her and speaking very softly, you have been very
kind to both of US viii you let US be kind to you
Please stop crying. Please! And then try to tell
me just how much money you need"
She lifted her head and gIared at him.
What good will money do that poor baby when
she wakes up tomorrow morning and finds" She
gritted her teeth and reached for her and rusty
gloves and then for the long untouched glass.
"Wait!" cried Cowles in tone that made them ali
start His voice fairly rang. wait, wait wat!" he
repeated, pulling out his watch and looking at it,
They were both staring at him curiously
Its Christmas Eve" he said, THE stores are
open until midnight! It's only a little after ten
o'clock Come for a cab and Eighth Avenue.
Here's where we knock the eye out of one set of
troubles!"
The fat little proprietor of the Eighth Avenue Five
somnambulance into new life when two young men
and a very fluffy (eyen though bit shabby young
woman leaped out of cab to his counters. He
bounced around and scolded and exhored his clerks
into state of thorough irritation But their work
sick wrath gave way to curiosity and then hilarty
the three customers went laughing. quarreling
and consulting up and down the dsheveIed counters
The fat proprietor went down into the cellar and
up with armful of pasteboard packing cases
in which two clerks especially detailed laid away
each toy it singled out. There were dolls
and tin railroad trains and whirligg things and rat
ties and stuffed rabbits and wOolly dogs that
squeaked, and more dolls and building blocks and
flying machines and NOahs arks and little stoves
and dolls furniture and dolls-to say nothing
of candlehoders and svered angels and shiny balls
"Timei Cali the game minute!" cried COwles.
Lets count up. How much have bought?"
The fat proprietor, exuding greasy appreciation
made figures on a pad. Fifteen dollars and thirty
six cents" And, with burst of generosity added:
'I'Il throw off the six cents"
Roberts laughed but COwles serious
"Bobs" he said I'm afraid we've gone far enough.
Half of fifteen is about far as I really ought to
go"
But where" insisted Miss Cargill, gently should
ering between them, do I come in?"
She thrust a five-dOllar bill into Roberts hand.
no" said both Of them in breath She flushed,