Evening star., 1914-12-06

him as he started slowly toward the Times Building;
but he paid heed to the jots and bumps that the
night crowds of the White Light district hold in
store for the dreamer. The lights had thrown their
gauntlet him. and he had accepted their challenge
What there in Nev York that, properly adrertised
1uoud bring the greatest good 10 the greatest number?
As he reached the base of the towering triangle of
steel and stone that stands beacon for those pilgrims
whose Mecca is Broadway and 42d street, he paused
uncertainty Crowds swirled round him, and he felt
the pulse of the city throbbng faster and faster the
glow of its night fever increased The human moths
seeking the light-aye, and finding it! He
seeking light; but not that which blzed all sides of
him. The subway offered convenient escape from the
glare that was beginning to blind him, and he turned
it gratefully.
Ten minutes later he stepped from a southbound local
at Astor Place. Emerging from the kiosk he turned
west and walked briskly toward Washington Square
The sky cold but clear and though it was early
in March, little breeze was stirring.
thrill swept through Bruce he approached the
square 1t was there, of the wooden benches
behind the statue of Garibald that he had fought
his first battle in the metropolis andhs heart throbbed
bit faster-it there he had met the girl who
derstood.
Lights burned in half dozen of the studios on the
north he stepped from the shadow of the University
Building, and he gazed at of them longingly Then,
bracng himself he turned away and walked toward the
statue. Huddled figures the benches that benevo-
lent city provides for the overflow from its municipal
lodging houses crouched closer he passed, and
and then the crackle of newspaper beneath ragged
coat warned him that the night cold.
1t from chill that he shivered, however as
he dropped upon the bench just beyond the bronze
coattais of Garibaldi 1t because his whole being
quivering with the excitement of the fray come
the fight for the intangible something that he knew he
make and win before he could turn his back upon
the city where the dollar sign accepted the standard
of
He quietly for moment gazing at the base of the
statue Then, turning slowly he let his eyes seek
and fasten upon of the softly lighted windows Just
beyond the arch.
am here again, little girl" he whispered fighting
the old fght,-ony it's for something better this time
and you-you up there fighting your fight And
we're going to win out, both of us!'
ALMOST as he breathed the words slim figure CAME
to the window which his gaze fixed and,
pressing the curtains apart stood facing the southern
end of the square 1t remained there for perhaps full
minute silhouetted against the light and Bruce knew
that the girl who understood making her nightly
appeal for help and encouragement to the twnkling
electric cross the tower of the Judson Memorial
He watched her until she melted behind the curtains
Then he too turned his the radiant emblem that
gowed cheerily the black tenements of Third
street. But his thoughts strange and jumbled.
"Why don't you always mean the same to me?' he
challenged. "Why is it that at times YOUR lust an
electric like those that advertise the theatersonly
smaller and weaker?"
He paused if he expected the to flash reply
to him. And it did, with CHEEKY twinkle that sent a
hot flush his forehead The flush deepened as he re-
called the words that had been addressed him once
during chance meeting in that square with Sam Viii
son. headquarters the Stars lobster trick"
@When it's night and a story breaks down in
the old Greenwich district, always through here
cause know that III get good luck wink from that
little cross there. Rain hail, snow it's the
job. And it's always there with the glad twinkle It's
not just cross, Bruce: its hunan-its friend!-
Sam was right. 1t wasn't just 1t wasnt-he
winced-twasnt just electric sign. The latter burned
only for the spendcrs, and died with the one o'clock