The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-03-27

CHICAGO, March 27.--I OPEN
ed door ON which the name
"Miss Bartelme" was painted, and
entered n little room smelling o.
strong varnish and new paint. Ii
was a bare Office, with not thing
i'm it to suggest place where
those who entered might leave all
hope behind.
Behind the cheap desk sat lit
tie woman in gray, whose brown
hair had only threads of silver
here and there. Her face was
rather care-worn, but in her eyes,
as she lifted them to me, was SYM
patty as wide as want.
There Is no bailiff In Judge
Bartelme's court and there is no
bar at which the girl prisoner
must stand. Neither can you see
through the window, "the bridge
of signs" nor, thank God! row
of darkened cells.
There Is just the desk behind
which sits a woman with a face
at times stern and at times pitt
full, a woman sometimes Judge"
and sometimes just mother"
On her left is young woman
who takes down the proceedings,
and on her right is young wom-
an CLERK who keeps her in touch
with the points regarding each
girls case. There is not a man
in the room-for this is the first
"woman's only" courtroom in all
America!
had hardly noticed all these
things when a door from the hall
opened and behind a woman pro-
baton officer there came a frail,
hunted-looking girl of fifteen or
SO. She held in her arms a bun
dle-O, so tightly! With her
was a strong-faced, capable
looking older woman. The off,
Ger in charge said:
eve wish this case dismissed.
The man has been ordered to pay
certain sum of money each
month"
81 will take care of my daugh-
ter" added the older woman.
Miss Bartelme turned her eyes
toward the pale girl with a smile
so winning that the girl leaned
forward and laid the bundle or
the desk before the judge.
Don't you want to see my
baby?" and there was a note oil
pride as well as love in her voice
"Of course, / do" answered
Miss Barte1me, and she picked
up the little red mite and held II
| for a moment. The girl looked
into her face half fearfully, hall
wistfully and dren a long sigh oil
relief as "the judge" became
"just woman" and bent and kiss.
ed the tiny, rose-leaf fingers.
81 know you will" said Miss
Bartelme, and the door closed
| behind them.
1t was opened a moment later
to allow q party of well-dressec
women, accompanied by a very
pretty girl, to enter.
what can you tell me abou
this case?' asked Miss Bartelm,
of a refined-looking woman who's,
face was framed in gray hair.
II only know" she answered
as the tears ran down her cheeks
that Katie has been with me fol
some months. She was kindness
itself, eager to learn, and hay,
tried to teach her everything
about the house. She hasn't beer
a girl that has been out very
much in the evening and though
it was all right when the grocer,
boy asked her to go to picture
show. I know that girls mus
have amusement.
81 was utterly surprised wher
she was arrested. It didnsl
seem possible to me that Katit
could be that kind of a girl.
had always thought that all ths
other sins went parallel with thi.
one in a woman. and I have nevel
found Katie in a lie hav,
grown to love her and am hearr
1 broken
The girl had stood unieiI,
through this declaration.
rhan Iitdun Vaftalftaa aaiI g.