The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-16
The Cross-C s-Continental Journey Really a Ride Cross-Town

When Marias mother, the East Side shoemakers over her head Ruefully the witnesses who had been listening Marias stories gazed that threadbare gray shawl When the crosscontnen journey resolved itself into ride on a Fourteenth street crosstown car, with transfer up Madison avenue the wise men and of Broadway could have wept in sheer chagrn.
 But she knew Spanish" they protested So she did. She learned it from little red pocket dictionary she Spanish easy if you know Italian. It is like it. explained Maria, with her mischevous laugh
 q plenty of money. I work for occupation, not for mere salary said Maria when she visited the offices of theatrical managers. One after another engaged her pose naughty beauty. "She will be stunning in the pictures-at last have found rival of Anita Stewart said the screen magnates to their
 The protector of musical comedy engaged her fol a production
 in a yellow satin frock and with many diamonds, was dance the tango it is danced its native so the pampas of Argentina.
 Then came the news that bowled over Broad way, that left gasping the street that is proud of it's sepossession that boasts that it can never De sur walk, of the stories of romance that held mingled flavor of the old and new, was arrested! A common place officer to her lodgings broke in upon tale of anight ball at the hacienda of millionaire cousin of in Argentina, millionaire who aspired for her hand, but whom she repulsed because she loved him not. The rude, ordinary policeman answered her rich toned Come in, and laying hand upon her graceful olive shoulder, said, Come on!'
 What for?" Ruth Downes lowered above him offended queen, resentng the afront of barbarian
 Its emissary of your mothers come to take you home" suggested fellow boarder
 Not on your life! I'm pinching her because want them clothes and jewery she took from the at Mo- PAS West Forty yfourth street," said the rude mon detective. "She Was That Queenlike She Had Me Going" Said the Detective.
 "Ill have you dismissed from the force, you dread fu person! Take your fingers off my gown. Your very touch will soil t!" The detective afterward said She was that queenke she had me going I almost begged her pardon and said there must be some mistake"
 He might we'll have done for when she into court she denied indignantly the theft that the magistrate discharged her. Miss "Downes," her eyes flashing left the courtroom, moved from the boarding house where she had been subjected such unwarrantable afront and resumed her reign the novelty of Broadway.
 She in the smart Broadway restaurants in the company of admiring friends of them actors, some managers some angels" of amusement enterprises Always they treated her with the utmost respect Always they enchanted by her stories of life Brazilian coffee plantation and the jour. neyings of rich planters and their families Fran cisco and to Paris True. she mace remarkable statements about those cities but her admiring and trustfu audiences always ascribed these snguarties to her lack of knowledge of the English language They merely smiled at her fascinating broken speech, always accompanied by her dazzling smile.
 Then again an interruption. Once more was Ruth Downes arrested This because dress suit case con. have stolen was found in her room.
 Some placed it there while was out never saw before" she said her utter disdan of those common people, who brought the charge shown in her cir and speech and her scornful black eyes.