The Washington herald., 1915-10-24

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whiskey dollar would not be forthcoming He
might play knisht-enant at my expense. but
he would indulge insno wassaa afterward. com
memoratins my weakness and gulhbilitys In a
kind Of chilly anger put on my coat and hat
Tnpp. submissive. crinsins. vainly ehdeavor-
ing to please. conducted me via, the street-cars
to the human pawn-shop of Mother McGinnis
| paid the fares 1t seemed that the collodon-
scented Don Quixote and the smallest minted
Coin were strangers. ..-
Triipp pulled the bell at the door of the
mouldly redbrid clearinghouse. At its faint
tinkle he paled. and crouched as rabbit makes
ready to spring away at the sound of hunting
dog. guessed what life he had led. terror
haunted by the coming footsteps of landladies
Give me one of the dollars quickl" he
said.
The door opened six inches. Mother Nc
lGinnis stood there with white eyes-they were
white. l say-and yellow face. holding to-
gether at her throat with one hand dingy
pink flannel dressing-sack. Trip thrust the
dollar through the space without word. and it
bought us entry.
~. She's in the parlor." said the McGinnis,
turning the back of her sack upon us.
In the dinr parlor girl sat at the cracked
marble comfortable weeping comfortably and
eating gum-drops. She was aawless beauty.
Crying had only made her brilliant eyes bright
er. When she crunched gum-drop you thought
only of the poetry of motion and envied the
senseless CONNECTION. Eve at the age of FIVE
minutes must have been ringer for Miss Ada
Lowery at nineteen or twenty. was intro
duced, and gum-drop suffered neglect while
she conveyed to me naive interest, such as a
puppy dog "a prize WINERY might 'bestow
upon crawling beetle or frog.
Trip took his stand by the table. with the
fingers of one hand spread upon it. as an at
tomey or a master of ceremonies might have
stood. But he looked the master of nothing.
His faded coat was buttoned high. as if it
sought to be charitable to deficiencies of tie
and linen. thought of Scotch terrier at the
sight of his shify eyes in the glade between
his tangled hair and beard. For one ignoble
moment felt ashamed of having been intro
duced as his friend in the presence of so much
beauty in distress. But evidently Trip meant
to conduct the ceremonies. whatever they
might be. | thought detected in his actions
upon me as material for a newspaper story. in
lingering hope of extracting from me his
whiskey dollar.
MY friend q shuddered). Mr.. Chalmers"
said Trip. will tell you. Miss Lowery. the
same that did. He's reporter. and he can
hand out the talk better than cam That's
why | brought him with me-" 20 Trip. wasn't
it the silYer-tongued orator you wanted2) Hes
wise to lot of things. and he'll tell you nv
what's best'to do.
8. 'Why-er-Miss Lowery." began. secretly
enraged at Trips awkward opening. Il am
at your service. of course. but-er-as |
haven't been apprized of the circumstances of
the case, Ier-"
Oh" said Miss Lowery. beaming for mo-
ment, it amt as bad as that-there amt any
circumstances. It's the first time I've ever
been in New York except once when was FIVE
years old, and | had no idea it was such big
town. And | met Mr.-Mr. Snip on the street
and asked him about friend of mine. and he
brought me here and asked me to wait"
Il advise you. Miss Lowery." said Trip.
TO tell Mr.. Chalmers ALL He's friend of
mine" Il was getting used to it by this time).
and he II give you the right tip"
why. certainly" said Miss Ada. chewing
gum-drop toward me. There amt anything
to tell except that-well, eyerythine's fixed for