South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-09
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER

Warren compared the number on
the door with the one he had scrib-
bled on the back Of an envelope.
Doesn't look much like a restaur-
ant" glancing up at the old fash
toned. high-stooped brownstone house.
This must be it, insisted Helen.
They said there wasn't any sign. and
for Us TO ring the basement bell"
The basement door was opened byl
a pleasant-faced ycuug French wOm-
an, who, when Warren mentioned Mr..
Stevens. smiled cordially and led
them through the kitchen out into the
small, back yard restaurant.
The place had not been spoiled by
any cheap attempt at decoration.
There was a tree and few shrubs in
one corner of the high whitewashed
fence, and the rest OF the space was
given the tables. The starlight sky
and a few 1ickerng gas jets were the
only lights
Mr. and Mrs Stevens we're already
there and had kept for them two seats
at their table by the high board fence
Why. it's like a bit OF Paris" ex-
claimed Helen delightedly, like a
students cafe in the Latin quarter.
That's what we told YOU" said Mr.
Stevens 'The three French sisters
who run this had n restaurant over
there, and they've managed 10 trans
plant the atmosphere"
Was that one Of the sisters who
opened the door," asked Warren.
Yes. and this is the younger one, -
nodding to a pretty. dark-eXed girl
who was waiting on the tables
There's still another who does the
cooking"
And they do all the work OF this
piace2" asked Helen increduously.
\ Clean Place.
Yes. and have roOmers upstairs
But they have a man for the dish
washington must have seen him as
you came through the Kitchen
II noticed how clean everything
was. I've always been afraid Of these
cheap places. because / thought they
weren't clean"
We'll. it's all right here" asserted
Mr. Stevens. ladling out the soup from
"a huge bowl which the younger sister
had placed on their table.
That's part OF the atmosphere
too" Warren nodded 10 "a lanky
black cat walking along the top of the
fence.
"Oh. we went 10 the Black cat in
Paris" began Helen 1T was really
the queerest place; dark cellar
like
"Cut it," interrupted Warren
You're as bad as Mrs. Martin with
her everlasting When / was abroad
and While we were in Paris
DO ! talk very much about it,"
Helen appealed TO Mr. Stevens.
Not nearly enough" gallantly
What's the use Of going abroad If
you CAN'T"
Bore your friends with your
"reminiscences. finished Warren.
You see that woman who just
came in?" whispered Mrs. Stevens.
NO don't look now. She's on one of
the papers-the star. 1 think Look
how queerly she dresses"
'Oh. all literary women dress like
frumps"
can ] look now?" asked Helen.
giving a queer backward glance at the
rather frowsy, OVerdressed woman
who sat behind them.
You've heard of Anna Eldridge
Parker. haven't you? Well. that's her
at that long table-the one with the
black and white hat"
Anna Eldridge Parker" repeated
Helen blankly 1--WE heard the name
somewhere. What does she dO2'
Writes the sobby heart-to-heart
stuff for the wOman's page Of the
News"
Yes. I'm just finishing my book 1
was revising the last chapters today"
came woman's shrill voice from the
table just back of them.
Who's going to bring it out?" a
mans voice asked.
Il don't know vet" evasively.
Several publishers want it, but
haven't decided just where I'll place
it."
What whopper." grinned War
rem. Don't know her from Adam
but I'll wager if she gets a book pub
lished she'll pay FOR having il done"
Many OF them do" laughed Mr..
stevens. But they all pretend the
publishers are sitting up nights for
their books
Listen to this hot air. shrugged
Warren. for now they could hear. the
man telling OF his play
stage Dreams
"Frohman said he'd take il IL ia
rcwrite the third act, but 1 told him
wanted il produced as IL was OF not
at all BelasCO has NJ now. But these
managers don't know a good play.
There's COrkinC big scene in the last
act. which'-the voice was lost in
laughter from another table.
Who's the guy with the hair2'
asked Warren. "Iie looks the type.
Yes he's an illustrator. he's always
here answered Mr.. stevens That
man next 10 him is an editor ON some
trade paper. 4 let Of near-celebrities
sit at that table They put us there
one night. but AS we weren't writing
"a book or "a play-wc couldn't sCintil-
late 70 was good fun, though. hear
ing them discuss and settle the affairs
Of nations"
How can these two girls wait on
ali this crowd?" demanded Warren,
as the younger sister now took away
their soup plates and brought them
large platter OF beef tongue with
piQu4ut sauce.
ooh they're workers You get bet
ter service right here than YOU do in
any OF the big restaurants where you
nav four times rs much 80
From where Helen sat she could see
the rear OF the houses i'm the block
beyond They were evidently board
ing houses. and many OF the windows
were lit she had been watching a girl
in a third story window Xix her hair
and then put on her hat. now she
reached up 90 turn of the gas and the
window was dark. Helen wondered
where she was going. what her life
4E.r Of ,,-hsob