The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-10-22
The Evening Story
BOOMERS

t%Copyright. 1918, by w. werner.)
w hen do . think You could pay
me" Mrs. Hanson asked dubiously.
twenty years Of running a rooming
house that had sunk from second
class to fourth had made her cautious.
denly the sirl-she was little more,
despite the s-year-old boy ut her
side, who called her mother, threw
off rretense. oh. I don't know. The
agency said today that they might
place me next week or the week
after. But it's the off scason for the
legitimate: and didn't make much
little laugh. IF it wasn't for Petey
here" h broke Off drearily. ITS
begging. guess. to ask you to keep
me. Goodness only knows when I
can pay You"
Mrs. Hanson pushed back a wisp Of
gray hair that hung over the side OF
her face and pondered. Estelle Maybe
delicate fac and big dark blue eyes.
She already owed Mrs. Hanson for
two weeks. ~ Mrs. Hanson herself
was behind OH her W rent. And.
besides. rent. gas. grocery and meat
bills pressed heavily upon the old.
tired oman who had neither rcla-
tivcs nor friends. She sighed. If the
iS'ht NSutu StdiU cutpINs lue SudTllN
for practically it was ~that-would
nave been easier. Eut Jerry Crane.
All old ledger. had sent a. card to say
that he would be In the city for two
weeks inc Mrs. Hanson would please
save him Il room. Jerry was good
pay. He came III about three times
Il YEAR and paid in advance. usually
wanted So 10 stay. Mrs. Hanson tried
her hest I" he hard hearted and gave
in. Jerry would have to find another
Jlace, She couldn't turn these two
out and still sleep comfortably.
oh. hut you are good" cried Es-
telle. dabbinE a lace frill of her taw-
dry kimona at her wet eyes. We
won't forget. will We. Fetey? And
when u ship ONE in Vel make
skipped back to her room to fix up"
for her daily trip to the theatrical
agencies hat might have something
for her.
Mrs. Hanson looked after her slim.
1.-THE form. then walked stiffly--he-
cause of rheumatism-down the mar
row and gloomy stairway that led to
the privacy of an Untitled and ugly
kitchen she looked at the future. She
old and Very tired--tired Of work,
of roomers, of life. Husband and only
child. a boy. had been dead many
years. The roomins house that had
given her a comfortable Twins for =
long time was playing ont. The fur
niture was old and she had no money
for new. At siXty-tive scrubhing.
cleaning and sweeping arc not so easy
as they used to be. And the rheuma.
tis,n that had been merely a dun
ache was nov Il sharp pain. Also.
of coming occasionally, 1t was
with her all the time. h reused
presently. The bell of the third floor
was ringing. That would be MISS
Colt for clean towels.
of course when people paid they
were entitled to service. But it did
seem that Miss Colt used a terrible
lot of towels. And laundry: charges
were so high. Old Mrs. Hanson sighed
she limped UP. But Miss Colt
didn't wan clean towels. She was a
thin calculated wonlan who did fancy
embroidery for a livelihood. and had
nerves." She wanted to know irate-
if children were allowed to prance
up and down the halls. making such
a racket that it deafened roomers: LII
a corner of the hall Petey was stand
ing. His small face r%eddcned guilty..
4 piece of string. a broom between the
small legs and n small stick in one
betrayed a horseback jaunt.
Mrs. Hanson sighed again. For