The Yale expositor., 1915-08-05

knot low on her neck.
Helen watched her, fascinated IL
was a glimpse into a different world
Who was this weird, dark-eyed wom-
an? What did she do? In spite OF
her unhealthy pallor and her shabbi-
ness, she was curiousIy attractive.
'Now that's what l call a fetching
get-up," grinned Warren as a man
came in with SLOUGH hat, baggy cor
duroy trousers, and sandaled feet.
"Sandals!" Helen stared at the tan
straps over the black socks.
We've struck the real thing this
time" with a chuckle. wonder II
that's a 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
Hospitality announced:
"A jamboree at Jimmie's tonight!
Everybody come that CAM"
ooh. don't think III go after ALL
murmured the dark-eyed woman.
"Whatre 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.
"Wherere 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"
mo, thanks. I'm not drinking. So
long. Tell Jimmie my moods not
hilarious enough for his party
Taking a 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?
Il 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
hair, and an interesting face.
Good crowd tonight, Mollie?"
Fair. Forty-eight. If they'd only
come earlier"
'No. I'll pay for my own dinner.
ofcr ktnc hrtf
insisted a girl as a man went up 70
Mollie with two checks.
"Pll have to sign for mine tonight"
announced the man with the sandals
as Mollie drew from a deep pocket a
bag of change.
Wonder if 1 dare tip herr" NUT
tered Warren.
But when Mollie handed him his
change, it was with a friendly Good
night" and an air that plainly implied
mo 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
expected. always thought an
archists-"
ooh, 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, Gin a 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 we're 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.
1884, $50, 3S0-the shabbiest of al
that shabby row The lower windows
we're dark, but there was faint light
on the third floor The blind was up
and Helen could see the dim, un-
shaded gas Jet and a patch Of wall
paper. II 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 a fieeting 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 nun and hurried along the
slippery pavement without looking
back.
The whole evening had been for
Helen an Illuminating glimpse into
the careless goodfellowship, the reck-
less improvidence. and the sordidness
OF Bohemianism. And now she
/ a.