Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26
BY ANNE SHANNON MONROE

gr1llned and nodded.
But Judith had invested her half dollar needlessly
Several distinguished looking stepped off the plat
form and formed themselves into expectantv urba-l5
group. Presently ont small, thin, bald-headeG
red-faced with scant white side whiskers perspr
ing and hopping and seeming anything but happy 1t
hot and dusty and disagreeable, and he alone
showed 1rrltabhty. OF course he could be other
than the president of the road Judith edged up closely
and followed along after the group She caught stray
phrases: See them at once, Sect along north as
fast possible. "-"Cut the prelminaries- con
found it, there's time for reception.
The men stepped into motorcars, and she heard the
ORDER "To the Northwestern Building" The plot ar,-
parently included an escape the moment the meeting
should be She him if possible before the
meeting.
Judith signaled passing and entered the North
western Building ten minutes later; but they were
already the private office of PERCY the local
manageable got this from the elevator man. She ran
down the hall to Percey's ofice-and was abruptly
stopped in the small reception room by the boy who
was consplcuousy on the job of gate guarding No one,
especially no reporter, was to pass beyond that rail-
Then shall wait out here Judith declared, sitting
down the bench. The boy returned to his novel
The place arcially lighted, close and stufy as
well as hot The boy turned the thumbed pages of his
yellowback and yawned internationally. Judith's only
hope that he would go sleep; for his orders were
evidently explicit. All the important local officials,
few of whom she knew in session with the Eastern
men, and not get-at-abe.
The boys bell rang and he popped into the managers
office, directly opposite In the interval between the
opening and closing OF the door Judith heard the high
irascble of the president of the road who was
still feeling the heat The boy raced out again and dis
appeared down the long hall. 1t was Judith moment.
She tossed off hat and gloves, picked up notebook
and. intending TO slip into the office in the guise of
senographer who thought she had been called reached
the gate. 1t locked. She stopped and shook i
vigorously
he ink Of tul9S her and
hastily backed to her bench the boy reappeared
The chance gone: but there must come another.
The boy returned from delivering the ice water and
looked her suspiciousy He did at once resume
his reading Neither did he yawn for some moments
The exercise had walked him up. This discouragng
Judith settled patiently back to wait.
Time dragged on. The boy ate doughnut from 2
greasy bag. Judith wondered if he had another. He
had and ate it. mean thing Judith had healthy APP
petite and had been denied since very early break
fast. The boy resumed his reading Soon he began t.
nod. The voices inside made drowsy murmur. The
boy slored his head on the greasy bag
JUDITH ptoed 70 the gate and tried it second time.
She considered the low rall-She might vault it. The
boy stirred she backed to her bench There came the
sound OF chairs scraping hardwood floor; the
voices grew louder in final words. The boy snored
heavily-blessed heat! She heard brisk steps III the
managers otfce-they coming toward the door.
The out separating into twos and threes AMI
gong up or down the hail. taking earnestly together
Judith waited enSev. The Big Man came last OF all
He had removed his and hadn't his hat He was
talking in low tones the local manager. whom he had
by the i'll clawlike grip They went down the hall
apparently another office He return for his coat
Their backs We're TO her. The boy asleep. Judith
measured the low rail, quickly gathered up her
skirts leaped it. darted into the manager Office
and looked wildly about till her eyes lighted on the
rough gray tweed jacket She seized the garment AMI
hearing the boy. rolled If and tipped it into chair By
the nearest desk, then sat down upon it. The boy
thrust startled face into the doorway.