Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16

pearcd the electric sign of a small restaurant
He took the others arm. "Therc's a remedy
for that, anyhow" he said.
W/HEN the man had ordered as much as
w he could eat, which was decidedly
more than he should have eaten by all the
standards of Fletcher and Sinclair, Werner
got something of his story. He had lost his
position through some misunderstanding
with his chief clerk,-a quarrel, Werner
gathered and it had been tho old story of
being turned down everywhere. He had
finally given up the offices and had applied
for manual employment. Here he had sue
ceeded in getting job; but the work was
much too hard for his feeble strength, Slapped
by years indoors, and the end had come at
last when he had tainted on the job. He
had been i'll for several days, and then, when
he went out again, he had found even harder
conditions.
When the meal was served, and as the
hungry man devoured it. the strange interest
in this strange man, the general curiosity
world, overwhelmed Werner. Three hours
before he had been sourly observing the
world behind closed blinds. Now he was
minging with it, rubbing against its prob
lens, sitting at supper with one of its VIC
tins.
"There's Louise and the boy" he said.
"May | take some of this grub with
me-"
Werner came back to the present with a
pleasant sense of enjoyment. This in itself
was new to him. He had never enjoyed
things before. About everything he had
ever experienced was at bottom bore.
NO. he said slowly, listening to his own
voice as though it were something extrane
In,, m
take any of this. We will send them some
thing. Is it near hcre?'
"Four blocks, replied the other. He was
gazing into Werners face in wonder. His
benefactor was so patiently enjoying the ex
perience that it made, him feel almost as
though he were the one who was comforting
the favor.
Werner himself instructed the waiter as
to the preparation of the meal that was to be
taken from the restaurant. At this point
it may be safely stated, he forgot himself
he had not figured in his own thoughts for
many years, if during his whole life.
THE hungry man, fed, rejuvenated, re-
spirited, led the way from the restau-
rant Werner followed close behind him,
while waiter brought up the rear.
Their destination proved to be one of the
buildings used as domicle for the citys
workers. The way led up three flights of
stairs, through Railways gloomy in the dim
light of lonely jets. Though the night was
young, stiffness pervaded the house, as
though it held its finger on its lips. Werner
was impressed with the thought that SO
might dumb, depopulated ruins stand,
guarding their thousand secrets.
The man stopped in front of door at the
back of the fourth floor. He knocked light
ly, and then again, rapping more sharply.
For a moment there was no response; then
came the tired moaning of child sleeping
with troubled dreams. A quick step, and the
door was unlocked, and womans figure
stood in the dinl-lit opening.
When they had entered, and the object of
the visit of the stranger had been explained,
and when the woman had at last Weakened
the child and spread the meal upon the
table, Werner had an opportunity of OBJ
serving her, of taking stock of this family