Judsonia weekly advance., 1915-08-04


 cloudy hair was coiled in a careless knot low on her neck.
 Helen watched her, fascinated. It was a glimpse into a different world. Who was this weird, dark-eyed wom- an? What did she do? In spite of her unhealthy pallor and her shabbi- ness, she was curiously attractive.
 ''Now that's what I call fetching get-up," grinned Warren as man came in with slouch hat, baggy cor duroy trousers, and sandaled feet.
 "Sandals!'' Helen stared at the tan straps over the black socks
 We've struck the real thing this time," with a chuckle. "Wonder il that's bomb,'' as another newcomer deposited a box on the mantel.
 But it 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 hospitaoly announced:
 "A jamboree at Jimmie's tonight! LFCly pOuJ CODiC JLdI SdA' , "Oh, don't think I'll go after all" murmured the dark-eyed woman
 ''Whatre you going to do?'
 "Go back to my room and nope" flicking the ashes from her ciga- rette.
 Don't be fool,' lighting his pipe. ''Wherere you living now?"
 l1sy r4Ny, 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'sl Have drink first"
 No, 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 it by her plate, reached for her hat and jacket, and hurried out
 3S0 Washington square-what kind of place was it? 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 off 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. If they'd only come earlier"
 "No I'll pay for my own dinner. graft on cigarettes-but not on food" insisted a girl as a man went up to Mollie with two checks. -~
 'Ill have to sign for mine tonight" announced the man with the sandals as Mollie drew from a deep pocket bag of change
 ''Wonder if I dare tip her?' nut tered Warren
 But when Mollie handed him his change, it 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 huff to her face as they started down the ice-coated steps.
 Wasn't it interesting?" 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?"
 No, I was watching the woman op- posite us. Wasn't she weird? Yet" musingly, "in way she was fascinat- ing, too. There's Washington square just ahead. Let's walk through and see what 380 is like'
 Some studio joint. Know what's the matter with her-don't you?'
 ''Why mo-" 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, 3S2, 3S0--the shabbiest of all that shabby row, The lower windows were dark, but there was a faint light on the third floor The blind was up and Helen could see the dim, un- shaded gas jet and patch of wall paper It looked unutterably dreary.
 Was that her room? Was she up there now, trying to fight off the crav- ing for the. drug that was wrecking her?
 For a f1eeting second Helen had 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 huff 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 sordidLess of Bohemianism. And now she pressed closer to Warren with th,cb