Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-10-05

she envied the little girl the attention she excited.
Once twice in the halls enthusiastic young ladies
had stopped to chubby. demure Little Mary.
hut she had timdly buried her face in her mothers
dress. The little girl would, she felt ha e
been equal to the occasion. She watched h con-
stantly and begged her mother to shear her own
locks until they should hang in frzzled curs about
her ears the strangers did
One day her excitement knew no bounds when
Mrs. MacLean and this marvellous child stopped
before their table and asked her mother to buy a
ticket for card party whose proceeds would go
to charity Ethel Gardner purchased the tick with
alacrity, out demurred at playing. explaining that
she could not leave Mary. As she spoke she lifted
her long lashes so like the childs, and gazed up
ward into the adys face, which with all its shallow
ness wore look of habitual good nature Her
natural kindness made her quick to read the
longing for human companionship written on Ethels
upturned face.
Let the little thing play with boobies She
indicated her offspring. 'Doodles is little
older and will take care of her won't you. cherie?'
Sure" said Doodes shrilly, and so the friendship
had its beginning.
The afternoon of the card party Doodles appeared
promptly and relieved The mother Of Little Marys
presence. With misgiYings Ethel stopped to KISS
the eager little face in farewell, for Mrs. MacLean
had assured her that Doodes never left the hotel
without permission and that reason they lived
at the Winchester because it was so homelike
and safe for children Ethels only feeling was one
Of citation that happy afternoon lay before them
both. Indeed, the afternoon for Little Mary was
one long series of heretofore unmagined delights.
Il commenced with their entry into the elevator
always idle at this hour.
"Jm," said Doodes shrly, 'let us in and give MS
good ride
The boy a good-naturad mulatto, obliSingly sent
them several times from roof TO basement lie
stopped at length in spite of boobies protestations
ut the Office floor.
II amt aoin to 90 up an down no mo- he said
decidedly. Little Mary obedieny troted out, but
boobies beat him Justify the back.
aren't You mean" she shricked. What are you
here for anyway, but 10 the guests of this
hotcl?"
Helpless with laughter, Jim bent his broad baci!
from the blows. Come heah Jesse, come heah!'
he cried a bclboy lettering in the empty Office
At the first oicns Of the belboys Interference.
boobies spranf at him. Dry up and blow away!"
she cried stamping her tiny foot. The bellboy in
his turn laughed uproarously. She's the cutest
kid in this hotel" he said, audibly. Come here.
boobies, I've moro cigarette pictures for you
He handed out gay assortment OF nsn'Iy , clnu
actresses. Put when they turned Jim grinned from
behind the closed grating. mo. you can't ride no
mo- he said firmly.
Doodles, apparently bafFed. seized Little Marys
hand and ran down the hail. followed by the de.
OF sight she whispered rapid instructions TO her
companion. Il guess that will fix him all right
she said aloud.
long flights of stairs whore they paused to ring the
elevator bell, watching the cars swift ascent WIN
mufled piggles. When Jim mechanically opened the
door they sprang in, dancing like Indians Evcn
Little Mary, in the excitement of the moment Joined
Doodles in pounding lin on his broad back. When zen
stepped out in triumph, to the admiration OF the
row. of belboys who leaned from their pench 70
For the next half hour the game continued from
floor to hoor the children ran, ringing The ben that
Jim dared not ignore. His anger. when the ele-
identity chill
dren his savage muterngs as he sent tho car
downward without admitting them, prolonged the
became frequent did they weary of the sport aban
donng the corridors for the storeroom 10 play
among the trunks.
Here they climbed TO perous heights and played
hotel in close imitation OF the life about them
porter who had left the door open by mistake ZAP, ap
out. lie was ford. angry fellow, and his words
were coarse and harsh. The children Ned before
him to the upper regions, where the euchre party
was being served with refreshments.
boobies with Little Mary trotting at her side,
pceped in the door; she bcckoncd waiter to draw
near. Look here Benny can't you snitch us some
thng?' she leased. Little Mary envied her her i'm
mense acquaintance among the motel employees'
Heretofore she had the COlored boys in tho
mass; under boobies instructions she began to know
III" oncs TO wheedle. the ones TO avoid Benny,
laugh, soon afterwards dropped in passing. small
bundle. He wnked at boobies AS he did SO and
boobies winked back. With her little charge she
now ran from the room Of chattering ladies and
dived under stairway. where an empty desk and
typewriter screened them from the public gaze
Lets play it's a grape albor.' whispered Little
Mary but Doodles' knowledge did nos embrace ar
bors. We're hold-up men" she said, under the
subway" They opened the paper napkin to find n
bunch of raisins and dozen assorted cakes,
"Sh!' said the older child suddenly, as they gig
gled and munched the sweets. Here comes the
stenographer What do you know about her hair?'
The stenographer, young girl elaboraely coited,
with a bow OF such dimensions under her chin that
she looked Little Mary thought. Ike the mother of
the kittens who lost their mttens now approached
and unconscious of the chdrens proximity, seated
peflp ha hind 4 ha tnhla 9t, IA IN
Joined BY a SLOWLY dressed man, That's the dram
nnr who came last week" whispered DoodleS, and
Little Mary wondered innoc@nlly why he did not
wear brass buttons ami beat his instrument
conversation now ensued between the man and the
rir that kept boobies straining her ears TO heaH.
"SE, Sh!" she hushed Little Marys prattle
This is just rich; be still
Little Mary. growing tired Of the dark, twill toe
and sGurmed Suddenly they both saw the nsn