The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-08

/ preached the conductor. a neat young
Irishman with q pleasant smile.
DO you know any respectable place
/ where 1 could get room for a day or
two? I'm not acquainted in the city.
He glanced at her curiOusly. want
to be downtown"
Il don't care, eff it's all right; I'd
ruther not go to a hotel"
You see that buiiding?" lie indicat-
cd tbree-story edifice they were fast
approaching. My sister has the third
fiat She's got room to let. Tell her
Tim O'Hara sent you
He rang the bell and helped her to
alight
The steep stairs that led to the flat
over the grocery were a veritable Rubi-
con to Myrtle Rowe as, with a long,
backward look at the street where the
station lowered, she turned away and
began their ascent.
As she waited in the dark hall for
response TO her knock, for one startled
minute she meditated flight; but upon
the opening OF the door Mrs. OHara's
appearance treasured her. and her
friendly interest drew forth Myrtle's full
confidence.
Sure I'll take you in. Yen get work
all right. Ye can see all over the city"
and she indicated the jagged sky line
Of a growing town.
The next week was a severe test to
Myrtle's endurance, as she went to
stores, laUndries, mills and restaurants
in search Of work. returning at night
footsOre and hopeless, sensiuvely
shrinking from Mrs. O'Hara's gOod-na-
tured What luck today?"
Her money shrank rapidly in spite of
the meager food she allowed herself.
Only few odd coins ratified in her purse
one night as she stood fOrlOrnly watch
ing the hOmewaTd surge Of people, gay
" boarding the cars on a corner.
Their steadily increasing volume re-
minded her that she, too, must find
something TO eat before returning 70
the shelter of her room at Mrs
O'Hara's. After some hesitation she
mounted the steps Of a sandwich wag-
on, and reused an unkempt looking man
from the old chair where he sat with
his head buried in his hands.
Alarmed at his appearance. she would
have hastily withdrawn, but a second
look into his face showed its gaunt
lines to be those Of suffering rather
than OF dissipation
He served her to the slender fare she
allowed herself to order, then watched
with anxiety her efforts to swallow the
poor coffee and the heavy sandwich he /
had put before her. What's the mat /
ter with it?' he asked finally. 4 wish /
you'd tell me. I used to have the most I
popular sandwich wagon in town, but /
ny trades all dropped away" His lips
witched cOnvulsively. My wife died;
hats the secret Of it, and my luck
urncd that very day. I'm up against /
t. sure enough. I got to quit" He
brew out his hands in imaginary re-
inquishment Of the situation, and then
Iropped istlessly into his seat by the
IoOr.
For the first time in days the light
anne back to Myrtle Rowe's eyes, the
imple played in her cheek. DO you
10 the cookin' p"
q try to; amt it right?"
1t could be a great deal better" And
hen they laughed together.
She looked at him a moment before
skiing. You couldn't afford to hire me.
ould your I'm good cook and I'm out
f work"
Il couldn't garintee you a cent" He
1oked at her admiringly. MY, but IL
'ould be great to have you. You would
OF ike to go into partnership, would
GU I've got enough provisions for a
EEK, and the ground rent amt due for
vo- Who knows but we might make it
%"
Partners! That would be fine. Is
here a chance of a livin?"
If We can get back the trade there's
fine chance. I've got a little kitchen
the basement across the street. You
ould do the cOOkin' and I'd do the
7llin'. It's an all-night joint, you
now"
He drew his chair nearer and began an 1
Tplanation of the work. the outlay, the
nance OF return. Suddenly he stopped
l on don't even know my name: it's
Ill Cushler, and any Of the grocers can
III you I'm all right" His ewes rested