The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-08-06

VINO was THIS weird, dark-eyed WON
an? What did she do? In spite of
her unhealthy pallor and her shabbi-
ness, she was Curiously attractive.
Now that's what call fetching
get-up,' grinned Warren as a man
came in with SLOUGH hat, baggy cor
dur0y trousers, and sandaled feet
Sandals" Helen stared at the tan
straps over the black socks.
We've struck the real thing this
time" with chuckle wonder IL
that's bomb" as another newcomer
deposited box on the mantel.
But it contained nothing more
alarming than some announcements
Of Feminist Ball which were dis
tributed with jovial comments
AS several were now leaving, the
man with the Vandyke beard rose and
hospitaoly announced:
"A jamboree at Jimmie's tonight!
Everybody come that cam"
oh don't think I'll go after all"
murmured the dark-eyed woman.
"What're you going to do?"
Go back to my room and nope
Ticking the ashes from her ciga-
rette.
Don't be fool" lighting his pipe.
"Where're you living now"
Same place - $50 Washington
square It's rotten-but the rooms
only four per. Man overhead walked
the floor all last night"
That was pleasant You come on
to Jimmies, Have drink first"
NO, thanks I'm not drinking. So
long. Tell Jimmie my moods not
hilarious enough for his party"
Taking quarter from her hungry
looking purse. she laid it by her plate,
reached for her hat and jacket, and
hurried out.
$50 Washington sQuare-what kind
of place was it? wondered Helen. To
what dingy, dreary room was this wo-
man returning?
1t was late now, and the crowd was
gradually thinning, "Mollie' herself
came out from the pantry, rolled down
her sleeves, took off her apron, and
sat at one of the tables to chat. She
was tall and angular, with short, bushy
hoir ord an fptoroStirp faro
Good crowd tonight, Mollie?"
Fair. Forty-eight. If they'd only
come earlier"
"No. I'll pay for my own dinner, 1
graft on cigarettes-but not on food"
insisted a girl as a man went up to
Mollie with two checks
'Ill have to sign for mine tonight"
announced the man with the sandals
as Molie drew from deep pocket a
bag of change.
Wonder if | dare tip herr" NUT
tered Warren.
But when Mollie handed him his
change, it was with friendly Good
night and an air that plainly implied
no tips"
Outside it was snowing-wet, sting
ing flakes. Helen shivered and held
her muff to her face as they started
down the ice-coated steps.
Wasn't it interesting?" eagerly
taking his arm: "But not at all what
l expected l always thought an
archists-"
"Oh, they're not the bomb-chucking
kind" Warren paused to turn up his
collar Just an impracticable bunch,
trying to make over the world. Did
you hear that chap spouting about the
war and universal anarchy"
mo, was watching the woman OPP
posite us. Wasn't she weird? Yet"
musingly. "in way she was fascinat-
ing, too. There's Washington square
just ahead. Let's walk through and
see what $50 is like"
"Some studio Joint. Know what's
the matter with her-don't you?"
why no." wonderingly; what do
you mean?"
dope"
oh" with a shudder, tightening
her hold on his arm.
They were on the south side of the
square now, and through the swirl
ing snow Helen tried to read the
numbers over the dimly lit doorways.
3S4 3S2, 3S0-the shabbiest of al
that shabby row The lower windows
were dark, but there was a faint light
on the third floor. The blind was up
and Helen could see the dim, I'M
shaded gas jet and patch of wall
paper It looked unutterably dreary.
Was that her room? Was she up
there now. trying to fight off the craV-
ing for the drug that was wrecking
her?
For fleeing second Helen had a
wild impulse to dash up to that room
to tell that woman that she wanted
to help her Then, as Warren impa'
tiently drew her on, she lowered her
face in her muff and hurried along the
slippery pavement without looking
back.
The whole evening had been for
Helen an illuminating glimpse into
tho ooroloco oood- fellowship tho rpck-