The Clio messenger., 1915-10-01

many opportunities to meet good
women in my business. Here was ].
thirty years old, and I'd never met
good woman socially; never talked to
one intimately.
! never even had had mother!
Naturally you understand that my
definition of that word good" has
changed considerable since my kid
days.
But do you wonder I was moved?
Do you wonder stared at the straight
little back and the tiny gloved hand
that rested on the guard-rail with
bit of hunger in my eyes? II you do
you're not human, that's all.
At Twenty-Third street there was
crowd to get on and I saw gang of
kids, college boys they looked, out for
lark.
sized up that empty half of the
seat again, then those fool kids.
went hot and cold for minute, but
gritted my teeth and squared my
shoulders and went toward it.
She glanced up as I sat down and
scornful look came to her eyes.
"There's gang of fresh college
kids coming on her, MISS" said as
fast as I could. "The man who got
off isn't the only one of his kind in
New York, worse luck. But while
I'm here they won't annoy you. Don't
look my way If you don't want to-"
Well, the college kids raised merry
hob all the way up to Columbia, but
they were mighty careful to keep both
OF us out Of their joshing. kept my
eyes resolutely away from the girl,
but could feel the change in her at
titude as we bowled along the smooth
asphalt.
She was evidently taking the trip
for the same reason was, for when
we rounded at Grants tomb she
stayed in her seat. The collector came
up for our return fare, and as / put
my hand in my pocket for the dime I
heard little gasp beside me.
Out of the corner of my eyes saw
the scared look on her face as her
hands fumbled for her purse. could
feel her feet move as she tried to To-
cate it on the floor.
said simply, and put out her hand,
manlike.
That was our meeting, telling our
names like pair Of kids over a back
fence, with kidlike straightforward
ness, and none of the fool pettiness
of pretension that usually comes be
tween men and women.
The ride downtown was one of the
greatest feats Of rapid transit ever
accomplished, think. We must have
gone at least three hundred miles an
hour all the way, for it didn't seem to
take more than a minute or so to get
down to her hotel.
Alice-that's what my mind called
her from the time / repeated it over
and over when she first told me her
name-was only staying in New York
ten days.
She and her father lived in place
called Little Hazel, down in Virginia
somewhere. The father had come
north to complete a business deal OF
some kind, and they were going to see
the sights of the big city before they
went back They'd been in town two
days.
OF course got off at the hotel with
her, and in the alley she introduced
me to her father. When his eyes
looked into mine loved him. Yes,
The collector stopped beside our
seat and handed him a quarter, nod.
ding. She heard the two clicks of the
pistol-like thing, and when he went
down again turned to face her.
They've never been able to get
collectors that won't think things"
informed her.
The straight line Of her red lips re-
laxed as she realized that I'd taken
the only way to save her embarrass-
ment before the fare-collector
Impulsively her little hand touched
my sleeve for a moment. II beg your
pardon, and thank you." she mur
INJURED.
And she smiled Lord, what a smile
that was! It was like sunshine-like
oh, it was her smile!
"I've been a perfect little cat" she
went on contrively. "Three times
you've saved me annoyance" - the
smile on her lips became wry-
though losing my purse would have
been even more than an annoyance,
but for you. 1t must be dreadful
long walk from here to the Waldorf"
'T'd rather think Of the distance to
the moon," laughed. Then, serious
ly: "But are you sure the purse isn't
on the floor?"
eyes. Pm afraid 1t slipped from
my lap and over the low side whe1r--
when" She stopped, but ! under
stood. She meant when that booze
bitten dog had been crowding her.
"My names Haviland." I blurted,
not knowing from experience the
proper pretty thing to say.
She smiled at me again, seeming to