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

way proclaimed the Cnedp Ao0A'A--S
house as loudly as did the sign'
FURNISHED Rooms for Rent" in the
window
The door was opened by a strange
looking creatures tall. thin. wild
eyed woman, with yellow. shriveled
skin and frowsy black hair
7 called TO see the young woman
who advertised for homework" fall
tered Helen.
L am the young woman" glazing
at Helen defantly. Il advertised"
-oh, II see," murmured Helen,
longing to turn and run down the
steps, for there was something weird
and uncanny about this woman.
Her matted black hair was only a
wig. which did not hide the closely
shaved gray hair around her ears
She had closed the door and stood
with her clawlike hand on the knob,
and for a moment Helen felt thrill
of fear as she found herself alone
with her in the darkened hall.
II hope you amt like those two
gentlemen who were just here" she
began excitedly. They asked me to
go upstairs to get my references, and
when came back they were gone'
No good will ever come to anybody"
menacingly, who treats a hard
working girl like that
Had she been drinking or was she
under the influence of some drug?
Helen was almost afraid of her.
SELF-PRAIsE
Now what kind of a girl did you
want, a'am?" she demanded shrilly.
Just a young girl-quite young
girl. for general homework" an
swered Helen nervously, edging
toward the door.
Well, there isn't any kind of house
work that I can't do. I'm lool5in' for
a nice, quiet place, where somebody
Will appreciate hard workin' girl
kept house for Mrs. Eldrid ge-maybe
you've heard of the Eldridges of
Brooklyn? Well, ma'am, you could
have wiped your handkerchief over
her kitchen floor and you wouldn't
have found any dirt"
We'll. there are several other girls
1 want to see before engage any
one" murmured Helen, thinking only
of how she could get away. TN let
you know il T."
you'll let me know" wildly.
That's what they all say. and 1 never
hear from EN-. I put in an ad last
month; a dozen people were here to
see me, and they all went off sayin'
III let you know Why can't you
decide now? I'm ready TO go back
with you. if you want me-"
But II really wanted a younger
girl" Helen felt that she was brutal
in saying this, but she had to get
away.
"Oh, a younger girl. is it? They all
say that, too. It's the young girls
they want 1 advertised myself as a
young woman-not a young girl. I'm
not young-and I'm not old. But 1
can do your work a lot better than
any of those giddy young girls" Her
wild eyes fairly glared.
Through the glass in the door Helen
saw a postman coming up the steps.
He rang the jangling bell. the woman
opened the door to take the mail and
in flash Helen had slipped out.
so you want a young girl, eh?" she
called shrilly after her. We'll. I hope
you get one-a giddy. rattlebrain
thing. No good comes to people who
won't give an honest girl a chance to
earn her Twin You're just like the
rest" and she turned back into the
house and slammed the door.
Helen few down the steps and al
most ran around the corner to the
next block She wanted to get as far
away from that house as she could.
She felt 1t would be days before she
could blot out the memory of those
wild black eyes and elawlike hands.
THE NEXT
The next advertisement she had
marked was Of a Young Irish girl,
lately landed" and the address was
in West Twenty eighth street
Helen's heart sank when she saw
that this. too, was rooming house,
but IT was plainly better class
house. The steps. the entrance and
the windows had the appearance OF
being well kept.
However, when she rang the bell
Helen was careful not to enter the
yestibule. She would not chance q
repetition of that last experience.
But this time the door was opened
Nv a clean. wholesome looking Irish
girl. she wore blue gingham dress
very short, ruffied white apron ane
a neat white collar.
some one from this place adver.
tised for housework." said Helen
.oh, yes; it was me, miss Won
you come upstairs, miss?'
Irnhesitatingly, Helen followed TIL
girl up to the large front room OF
the second floor. It was typica
Furnished room Evidently 1t wa
not rented, for the dresser and mantle
were bare and a half opened close
showed empty shelves and books.
The girl stood at the foot of thu
bed. smiling awkwardly. while Heller
took the cheap rocker by the window
you've had some experience a
general housework?" asked Heller