The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-10-18

"Just two weeks next Saturday
miss"
Then you're not working in thi.
house?"
ooh, ne, miss My uncle rooms her,
and I'm just stayin' here till / get {
place. I've got little room at tn,
top; but my uncle's got the ballroom
next to this" proudly.
HELEN CONFIDENT
Helen had heard the doorbell jan
gle a moment before, and now voice
called from below: Nora lady
to see your
VIII you excuse me a minute
miss?" and she hurried down.
Even without seeing her reference
was just the type she wanted--a
good, clean, wholesome Irish girl. But
what If this woman downstairs should
engage her first?
Just then a pleasant faced old man
| came timidly to thesdoor.
Pardon me, ma'am. but I'm Nora s
uncle. 1 heard her talking to you.
and I'm very anxious that she should
get a good place.
Yes, that's right" smiled Helen,
encourag ingly. for she was glad to
learn something of Nora from this
uncle. She just told me that she's
been in this country only two weeks
Yes, ma'am. but she's been in the
service in Ireland. Nora is mighty
good girl. She takes interest in her
work and everybody likes her. Do
you live here in the city, ma ann"
Helen, feeling that she would have
better chance of getting Nora II
she could win the confidence of her
uncle, told him of their apartment
and just what she expected of girl.
Yes, ma'am. that's just the kind of
a place I'd like for Nora. I'll just go
down and speak to her-shell be
right up again"
Helen could hear plainly the voices
at the foot of the stirs. and she
could not help but listen
And If you get through your work
early some evenings I've no objection
to your going out. If you're fast you
can always get through by half past
eight" the woman's voice was per-
suasive
I Yes. miss, but l didn't think !
wanted to go to the country. You
see, I'd like to stay near uncle IL |
can
PERSUADING HER
But you can come in to see your
uncle every other Sunday We have
excellent train service; it takes only
I 40 minutes TO come in. Now you bet
ter make up your mind to go out with
me this afternoon"
1 AS Helen strained to catch Nora
1 reply, she realized that she was lis
/ tening. Her cheeks flushed as she
went over to the window beyond the
sound of their voices
In a few minutes the uncle en-
tered again with an Apologize I'm
sorry, ma'am. to keep you waiting,
| but there's a lady downstairs who
wants Nora to go home with her this
afternoon. She seems to be a very
nice lady, but I just told Nora I'd
rather she would go with you. When
a man gets to be my age he can
judge something of peoples faces
and l think you'd be good to anybody
that worked for YOU
Il try to be- answered Helen, who
could not resist the childlike sim
plicity of this old man.
IF you don't mind. I'll just show
you a picture of Nora's mother" and
he brought from the hall room an old
fashioned photograph.
1t was quaint picture of an old
lady in her best black gown. The
plain. honest face was Enthusiastically
like Nora's.
This was taken in Ireland? as
Helen noticed the photographers
stamp
Yes. ma am; she was never out OF
Ireland. She was my only sister"
And you've been rooming here fol
some time7" asked Helen. politely. fol
want of something to say
"Oh, yes, ma'am; I've been roomine
with Mrs. Mccall for over six years
I'm a plumber by trade
WHAT WARREN SAID
Nora herself now appeared with ar
awkward apology for having kept
Helen waiting. She said quite frankly
she was not going with tho other
lady because she did not want to &c
to the country.
Half an hour later Helen left the
house with the promise of both Nora
and her uncle that she would come
tomorrow morning at o'clock.
There was drug store en- thu
corner. and Helen rushed in to the
telephone booth and joyfully called
UP Warren.
Dear, I've got a girl-and I think
she's going to be really good! She.
green, Of course. but she's clean ant
willing and looks like she'll learr
very fast. She's coming in tn,
morning
Well. don't get excited till yon'v,
got her on the job. Chances ar.
somebodyll offer her more none,
and she won't turn m. wa. We
ren's comforting comment.
1t is not generally known thu