The Alaska citizen., 1913-12-29
By o. Henry, in San Francisco Star

tf+'fh ''iiiIl tNfn twenty seven names.
There is prayer, music and lemonade
in our chapel the third Sunday of
every month"
Elsie hurried away after thanking
Miss Ticklchaum for her timely warn
ing and advice. After all. it seem
ID that She must try to find Mr..
otter.
Near Fourteenth street Elsie saw
a rlqCard tackled on the side of a
doorway that read: Fifty girls. neat
sewers. wanted Immediately on the
ntrical costumes. Good pay"
Sic was about to enter. when a
solemn man, dressed all in black,
hid his hand on her arm.
My dear girl" he said. II entreat
YOU not to enter that dressing room
If the devil"
"Gootness me- exclaimed Elsie.
with some Impotence. The devil
seems to have eineh on all the bus
mess in New York. What's wrong
about the placer
ut is here" said the solemn man.
that the rcgalia of Satan--in other
words. the costumes worn on the
stage-are manufactured. The stage
is the road to ruin and destruction
Would you imperil your soul by lend
ins tie work of your hands to its
support? DO You know, my dear girl.
what the theatre leads to? DO you
know where the actors and actresses
go after the curtain of the playhouse
has fallen upon them for the last
time?"
sure" said Elsie. Into vaude-
Vile. lfut do you think it would be
wicked for me to make a little money
to live on by sewing? must get
something 10 do pretty soon"
The flesh-pots of Egypt" exclaim-
FL tire reverend gentleman. uplifting
his hands. Il bcseech you. my child
to turn away from this place of mi
guilty.
Put what will do for a lvins?"
asked Elsie. Il don't care to sew for
this musical comedy, if it's as rank
AS you say it is: but I've got to have
job"
The Lord Will provide" said the
solemn man. There Is free Bible
class every Sunday afternoon in the
basement of the cigar store next to
the church. Peace be with you. Fare
we'll"
Elsie went on her way She was
soon in the downtown district where
factories abound. on the large briel;
building was a gilt sign 'Posey &
Trimmer, Artificial Flowers" Below
il WAS hung newly stretched can
vas bearing the words Five hundred
girls wanted to learn trade. Good
wages from the start. Apply one
li=ht up
Elsie started toward the door. near
Which We're gathered in groups some
twenty or thirty girls. one big girl
with black straw hat down over her
eyes stepped in front of her.
Say. you'se." said the girl "are
you'se goin' in there after a job?"
yes" said Elsie; Il must have
work"
Now don't do it," said the girl.
I'm chairman of our scab Commit
tee. There's 400 of us girls locked
out just because we demanded 80
cents a week raise in wages. and ice
water, and for the foreman to shave
off his mustache. You're too nice
looking girl to be scab. Wouldn't
you please help us along by trying to
find a job somewhere else. or would
i'm
sic.
She walked aimlessly eastward on
Broadway. and there her heart leaped
to see the sign. Fox Otter"
stretching entirely across the front of
= tall building.
She hurried into the store and sent
N 70 Mr. otter by clerk her name
and the letter he had written her
father. She was shown directly into
his private office.
Mr. otter arose from his desk as
Elsie entered and took both hands
with a hearty smile of welcome, He
was a slightly corpulent man of near
ly middle age. well dressed. radiating.
well. well. and this is Beatty's
little daughter, Your father was one
of our most efficient and valued en-
ployees. He left nothing Well, well.
I hope We have not forgotten his
faithful services. l am sure there
is vacancy now among our models,
Oh. it is easy work-nothing easier"
Mr.. otter struck a bell. A Miss
Hawkins" came in.
Miss Hawkins" said Mr.. Otter,
bring for Miss Beatty to try on one
of those Russian sable coats and
lets see-one of those latest model
black tulle hats with white tips"
'luia ho Full
mirror with pink cheeks and quick
breath. Her eyes shone like faint
stars. She was beautiful.
Alas, She WAS beautiful
wish I could stop this story here.
Confound it. Confound it, l will.
No: it's got to run 1t out. l didn't
make it up. I'm just repeating it.
I'd like to throw bouquets at the
wise cop. and the lady who rescues
Girls from Jobs, and the sky pilot
who objects to costumes for stage
people tthere are others). and all the
thousands of good people who are
At work protecting young people from
the pitfalls of a great city; and then
wind up by pointing out how they
were the means of Elsie reaching her
fathers benefactor and her kind
friend and rescuer from poverty. This
would make a fine Elsie story of
the OLD SORT. I'd like to do this:
but there's just a word or two to
follow.
While Elsie was admirng herself
in the mirror. Mr.. otter went to the
telephone booth and called up some
number. Don't ask me what it was.
Oscar" said he. II want you to