The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-10
ANITA FINDS A way
BY DOROTHY BLAckMoRE.

absolutely ruined by the war; pro-
tested Anita Morgan. Il must help
In some way or other"
"You-help!" laughed her chum,
Helen Bennett. IT'S so funny"
They were nearing the theater for
which Helen had tickets, and Helen,
beginning to realize that her friend
was in earnest, could find no reply.
Il can't even make doughnuts for a
woman's exchange. I'm not q good
mender; I'm not a stenographer. l
have no profession. no work Of any
kind to turn to. and yet l am deter
mined to do something to help with
the family expenses. If It's only add
ing Q few dollars q week. have
brains and common sense and know
I can ind something"
I'm afraid It will be hard. Nita."
said Helen, serious for the FIRST
time. She was beginning to. realize
that she. too, would be helpless
when It came to earning money.
As they sat in the theater Anita
watched the ushers running up and
down the aisles busily seating the
guests in the theater. They were
earning their living-those girls. That
was not skilled work-even she, Anita
Morgan. could do that. She was &C.
customed to late hours; she was
quick and active and she had a good
appearance.
The following day she went to the
employment at once as an usher She
did not speak of her work to any
one, but she saw many of her friends
in the theater. At the end of fort
night not a person had recognized her
in her bonnet and with her curls and
quaint costume. In fact, 1t seemed to
her as if the ushers might be so
many wooden dolls for all the atten-
ton paid them by the audience. And
for this Anita was very thankful.
She became mystery among her
former acquaintances. And Anita
rather enjoyed being a mystery.
She gave them no satisfaction-not
even Helen, her chum.
At the theater she had many odd
and amusing experiences, but the
most interesting people to her were
the newspaper men and women who
frequented the theater, both in front
and behind the footights, searching
for stories, for news, for plots and
situations they could turn into space
for which they received dollars.
Anita had begun to have a broad
sympathy with anyone who was try
ing to earn honest dollars. In her
former mode of life she had given
wage earners and wage-earning little
thought.
Perhaps because of her keen inter
est and sympathy, she made many
friends. She was pleasant, cheerful.
earnest and approachable And about
a metropolitan theater everyone en-
ployed is not approachable, she had
been told more than once, when she
had been of service in securing an
interview with a star or with folks
on and of the stage.
III l get this interview with Nine.
Lurachez. young newspaper man
told her one afternoon, land land It,
won't you break your rule and come
to lunch with me. Just so that can
tell you how much ] appreciate your
tips?"
Anita shook her head, smiling.
"No-Td like to, but ! mustn't be-
gin" she said.
You'd not be beginning anything,
would you?"
Anita did not answer It was be-
tween the acts. at matinee perform
ance and she was not busy.
Would you?" the young man per.
sisted. Thinks 1t fair, the atti-
tude you've taken toward me? You
won't tell me who you are. where you
live. anything about you. You won't
let me call on you; you won't come
out with me- What am I to do?" he
asked
Anita was beginning to blush, for
she liked the young newspaper man
better than she had ever admitted to
herself
I'm an usher in the Sphere thea
tor, and you may see. me at any per
Torrance" she said. laughingly.
"CoEsolation-isn't it," Roger Nor
row asked. Il don't believe I'll try
to get that interview. II you won't
accept favor from me I'm hanged
If I'll accept any from you"
Anita looked at him in surprise.
And your career-your pride in your
ability to secure difficult interviews
for your paper?" she asked
The man turned away. Il don't
care anything about my career What
good is it, If in it's pursuit you meet
a bully girl, girl you-well See
here, I'm going to tell you all about
it here and now, If you won't prom
Use to come to lunch with me to-
morrow. Shall ~" he asked. facing
her and searching her face.
Anita looked at him for moment
and saw that he was terribly In earn
est. Il will-but you may not tell
me anything until you have come to
my house to meet my mother and
father which you may do any after
noon but Wednesday and Saturday"
she said
And you are"
I'M tell you tomorrow at lunch"
she interrupted. "Sh-the curtains
going up"
1T is-for a fact" said Roger, TAX
ing her hand for a moment. It'll