The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-23

| knew if he didn't use me wouldn't
be kept on
Don't talk about it any more un.
/ til you've had your dinner" soothed
Helen. You'll feel better then"
at means beginning all over" des-
perateiy, going from one studio to
| another. trying to get work. And IN
the Pictures-it's harder now than
ever"
But you've got some money
saved?" anxiously.
How could l save with all my
clothes to get? They don't furnish
anything for the modern plays And
you have to have good clothes or you
don't get the parts. That's why
went back to a rooming house, TO try
to save-I felt this was coming"
You're not eating a thing" plead
ed Helen. rs that too rare"
ooh, don't ask me to eat!" her
hand at her throat. at makes ME sick
to think of starting out again to look
for work. It's too hard! It's too
HARDw
But you're a good stenographer.
You can always fall back on that"
Yes" bitterly, with every em-
ployment agency flooded with girls
willing to work for almost nothing.
Go down to the typewriter offices and
see the crowd sitting there all day
waiting for a siN-dollar-a-week job.
I'd rather go out as housemaid-
Id at least get twenty-five dollars
and decent food"
But you must try to eat some
thing" as Laura held out her glass
for more sherry. "You shouldn't
drink that on an empty stomach"
. "Oh, it won't hurt me-" Then GRIM
", 'I'll take good big dose OF chic
raj when l get home"
Laura, you don't take chloral
Not often, but I've got to sleep
now-I can't stay awake and worry
all night. And in that wrctched lit
tie room Oh, you don't knowl"
Stay here tonight-you can sleep
in nv dressing-room"
mo, it'll be just that much harder
TO go back, in the morning"
Then I'm going home with you,
impulsively. We'll ride down on
the top Of the bus, the air'll make
you sleepy. I'll tuck you in and wait
until you get drowsy-so you'll not
need chloral tonight"
oh, l shouldn't let you go-you're
never out so late alone"
But Helen was determined. She
insisted on starting right after din
ner so they would have plenty OF
time. 1t was hot, sultry night. and
the bus tops were crowded.
When they left the bus, they
walked through several blocks OF
dreary clearinghouse district. On
every stoop sat tired, warm-looking
group, driven out of their stuffy
rooms by the sitting heat.
They paused before house a little
shabbier than the rest. Two women
and a man in shirtsleeves moved
aside to let them pass.
Laura's room was the second story
back. As she lit the gas, Helen
looked around with shuddering de-
preston. Scared wall paper, a mar
row iron bed, bureau with handle
less drawers, a washstand, and two
chairs. :,
-Four dollars week." announced
Laura briefly. There's place across
the street where Lean get dinner for
forty cents"
What do YOU do for breakfast!
Twenty-Five cents at the same
place, but now that I'm out of work
I'll have crackers and milk in my
ROOM"
For a moment the hopeless depres-
sion OF il all overwhelmed Helen. !
Then she forced a brisk, cheerful:
"Well, we won't talk any more to-
night. You're to get in bed. and I'm
to read to you"
While Laura undressed. Helen
looked across the eluttered back yard
to the dimiy lit windows that gave
rlimpses Of other dismal rooms |