The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-02-06
Illustrating What Cruel Jests Fate
viii Sometimes Play-Hunt for
the Hand That Fed the
Pigeons.

Every day as he sat at his desk he
noticed the slender white hand that
stole out OF the window across the al
leyway to throw crumbs to the
pigeons
II was an inconsequential act. that
Of throwing crumbs to the pigeons but
it appealed to the young bookkeeper.
Any girl that would bring bread to the
oftce-or perhaps It was part OF her
meager MONDAY lunch-just to feed
the pigeons that lowered about her
window sill, must be a girl of amiable
disposition. the sort one could tell
ones troubles to with the assurance OF
finding a ready sympathy. 1t made
him think OF the picture on the back
of plush album at home showing a
woman standing at the back steps OF
farmhouse throwing crumbs to the
English sparrows. The album had also
contained many family portraits. and
The recollection heightened the senti.
nent that the bookkeeper felt when
he saw the slender hand across the
court
He found himself wondering about
he appearance of the owner OF the
hand. She was not pretty, perhaps
hut he was certain that she wore
| clinging. becoming gowns. and a
sweet girlish expression. no matter
| how trying might be the days work
in the office; and that she had a com
| plexion as soft and smooth as the
goods in a high-pricea dress suit
Day after day he regretted that the
windows were at such an angle thai
| he could see only the slender, soft
white hand. Just a glimpse of the
face. with its indubitable expression O.
! tenderness. would have frightened
each day like the tight OF the sunrise
o'er a distant mountain peak.
The bookseeper wondered. too. II
the young woman Of the slender white
hand would not find Joy and gladnesv
n knowing Of the sentiment she had
stirred in the bosom of an entire
stranger by her simple act OF kind
ness in feeding the birds each day
The other afternoon the bookkeeper
made up his mind to make the &C
quaintance Of the young creature.
1t was not difficult matter to cal.
culate where the young woman's win,
dow would be. She would be on the
floor corresponding to that on which
he worked in the other building. BY
entering one or two office suites on
that floor and looking across the court
he got his bearings and soon found
himself in the rooms where she must
be employed.
An ONCE boy with thick, round
glasses sat at a small table Just out.
side the door-HER door.
Il want to see the-1 wish to see
the people in that ROOM" said the
bookkeeper. pointing % the door with
his thumb.
We'll. gwan in." the ONCE boy told
him.
He looked about him. The sole oc.
cupant Of the room was an underted
anemic. sour-faced-looking man OF
perhaps 35 years. with watery blue
eyes and a scrambled. ready tied neck
tie. He had long. thin wrists. in con.
sequence OF taking little exercise
which lack Of exercise had made him
dyspeptic and given him an irritable
Grabbed disposition.
I who is It that feeds tho rdgeons
there 1T the window every noon!''
/ asked the visitor
/ u DO" replied the dyspeptfc. 81
cant eat much myself. 50 / try to give
the pigeons = good time. Got any
obJections?"
Tho bookkeeper said he lad none
whatever and made q hurried exit
"wonder what that guys name va.
anyhow?" muttered the lyspeptic &c
himself after his caller had sscopeA