Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-08-27

straps over the black socks.
We've struck the real thing this
time." with a chuckle. wonder II
that's bomb" as another newcomer
deposited box on the mantel.
But 1t 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"
"Oh. don't think I'll go after all"
murmured the dark-eyed woman.
"Whatre you going to dor
Go back to my room and NOPE"
Ticking the ashes from her ciga-
rette.
Don't be fool" lighting his pipe
"Where're 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 Jimmie's! Have a 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 1t by her plate.
reached for her hat and jacket. and
hurried out
$50 Washington square-what kind
of place was 1t? wondered Helen. To
what dingy. dreary room was this wo-
man returning?
It was late now, and the crowd was
gradually thinning. "Mollie' herself
came out from the pantry. rolled down
her sleeves, took OF 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. II they'd only
come earlier"
mo I'll pay for my own dinner. l
graft on cigarettes-but not on food.
insisted a girl as a man went up to
Mollie with two checks.
I'll have to sign for mine tonight"
announced the man with the sandals
as Mollie drew from a deep pocket q
bag of change.
wonder If l dare tip herr" NUT
tered Warren.
But when Mollie handed him his
change. 1t was with friendly Good
night" and an air that plainly implied
mo tips"
Outside it was snowing-wet. sting
ing flakes. Helen shivered and held
her mum to her face as they started
down the ice-coated steps.
Wasn't 1t Interestingly" eagerly
taking his arm: But not at all what
I expected. I always thought an.
archists-"
"Oh, 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 op-
posite us. Wasn't she weird? Yet"
musingly. "in 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 your"
"why no." wonderingly: what do
you mean?
| Dope"
"Oh!" with a shudder. tightening
her hold on his arm.
They were 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.
3S4. 1872, 3S0-the shabbiest Of all
that shabby row. The lower windows
were 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. It looked unutterably dreary.
| Was that her room? Was she up
there now, trying to fight on the crav.
ing for the drug that was wrecking
her?
For a fieeting second Helen had q
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 good-fellowship. the reck
less improvidence. and the sordidness
| of Bohemianism. And now she
pressed closer to Warren with throb
Of thankfulness that It was q life OF
which neither of them was a part
Meter Reading Made Easy.
Meter inspectors who stalk into