El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-03
CHAPTER XXI.

AL
lronvripbt. 1914, by Star Company
-hNNy HEDDEN hummed a gay
X little tune to herself as she
Il dressed on the second morning Of
her new business life. Since she had
been left alone in the world the rising
hour had always seemed to her the
most bitter and dIstastetul OF the
whole day. In the evening she could
hone for the blissful extinction of wor-
~ in sIumber. In the morning, only
the rebuffs and trials of another day
stared her in the face.
It was all changed now, she told
herself. as she arranged her hair be-
fore her mirror and surveyed the eff
feet critically. Instead of a day of
servile anxiety in madame Ridettis
establishment, aunted by the alarm
ing appreciation that her money was
almost gone, she was now able to o.
forward to a day Of easy, pleasant
work for which she was drawing, in
salary and tips, a sum beyond any she
would have dared to expect. It all
seemed too good to be true. Her first
a thing of the past and she was no
longer afraid.
Her employer was busy with razor
and lather brush when she arrived at
her post, but he looked up from his
work long enough to bid her a smiling
good morning." and Fanny, after an
swering his salutation brightly, busted
herself with setting her manicure ia
bic in order. These preparations were
observed carefully by the little Italian
bootblack from a point of vantage in
his own chair. When they were con-
Guided and Fanny had seated herself
behind her table he grinned at her in
wide approval. Today she did not
shrink from this grin as she mad done
yesterday, but smiled in return. Taking
this ng 2 guTfiCTnnt aVcnEn fOr an
preaching her, the boy jumped down
from his seat and went over to her.
You like to see de paper?" he
queried, politely.
Thank you" Fanny replied, accept
ing the proffered news sheet. Il have
not seen it yet this morning.
She scanned the headlines industri-
ously, but he did not seem inclined to
return to his chair.
MY name" he announced presently,
"Ees Angelo-Angelo Gregori. How
you like it here?'
She Gets Light on Predecessor.
VERY much" Fanny told him. Then,
as he showed no signs of retiring, she
added, Have you been here long?"
"Oh, s-u-r-e!" he exclaimed. Les
see! One, two, tree ear seence I come
from Eetaly. I been here two year.
Eets a nice plass. You get lots tips,
1 bet me. Las woman work here she
got lots, too"
'She got married, didn't she?" Fanny
ske idly. The boys talk amused her
and she was glad to have something to
employ her mind while she waited for
a customer.
Married. No" he scoffed. shes
nave fuss about n of customers get
tin fresh. Boss he fire her soon's he
got annudder girl to He should
worry! You moOch better lookin'. I
tink I weel like you. Mees Hedden."
After expressing this frank opinion
he returned Fn HE ahnfE int --Lsnh
he climbed, ape-like, then sat down and
continued to grin.
But he had left Fanny with the I'M
easy. suspicious sensation-that h
her new pOsitiOn-creeping over her
again But she did not have much
time to wonder why Crandall had not
told her the real reason for her prede-
cessor's discharge. The man whom Hail
had been shaving came to her table at
this moment. 3
"A manicure. little one!" he demand
ed, sitting down heavily and stretch
ing out his hands.
The color rUshed to Fanny's cheeks,
but she had determined yesterday that
she would play the game without
flinching. reminding herself of this
resolve. she ignored the mans often
slYe manner Of gazing at her, stifled
as well as she could the disgust that
swept over her at the alcoholic reek
of his breath, and set to work upon
ms already over polished nails.
S you are the new little ~queenI'
he muttered thickly after awhile.
Yes" answered Fanny, shortly. In
stlnct told her that the best thing for
her to do was to go on with her work
and finish as soon as possible. In her
nearI she was afraid, with the queer,
childish terror that she had always
had for drunken men, yet her hands
were steady and her face and mannes
unperturbed.
What pretty It'll hands" comment
ca the husky voice. tLOOk funny long
side my big, hard working ones"
"Don't!' Fanny ordered sharply.
stiII?"
Is DisgUsted With His Coarse Remarks
he addressed several other remarks
TO her while she was working on his
nails. His voice was so low that no
body else in the room could hear what
ne was saying, but the little bootblack,
Watching carefully. saw that TIE girls
with tears.
At last the ordeal was over and the