Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-11-11
ANITA FINDS A WAY
BY DOROTHY BLAcKMoRE.


But my fathers business has been
absolutely ruined by the war;" pro-
tested Anita Morgan. i must help
In some way or other"
You-helpi" laughed her ehum,
Helen Bennett. ITS SO funny"
They were nearing the theater for
which Helen had tickets, and Helen.
beginning to realize That her friend
was in earnest. could find no reply.
Il can't even make doughnuts for a
woman's exchange. I'm not a good
mender; I'm not a stenographer.
have no profession, no work Of any
kind to turn to, and yet / am deter
mined TO do something to help with
the family expenses, IL it's only add
Ing q few dollars q week have
brains and common sense and know
can find something"
I'm afraid It will be hard, Nita,' %
said Helen, serious for the first
time. She was beginning TO realize
that she, too. would be helpless
when 1t came TO earning money.
AS they sat in the theater Anita
watched the ushers running up and
down the aisles busily seating the
guests In the theater. They were
earning their living-those girls. That
was not skilled work-even she, Anita
Morgan, could do that. She was &C
customed TO late hours: she was
quick and active and she had a good
appearance.
The following day she went TO the
management of a theater and found
employment at once as an usher. She
did not speak OF her work to any
one. but she saw many af her friends
In the theater. At the end of q fort
night not person had recognized her
in her bonnet and with her curls and
quaint costume. In fact. II seemed to
her as IL the ushers might be SO
many wooden dolls for all the atten-
tion paid them by the audience. And
for this Anita was very thankful.
She became a mystery among her
former acquaintance. And Anita
rather enjoyed being a mystery.
She gave them no satisfaction-not
even heien, ner cnum.
At the theater she had many odd
and amusing experiences. but the
most interesting people to her were
the newspaper men and women who
freQuented the theater. both in front
ard behind the footlights, searching
for stories. for news. for plots and
situations they could turn into space
for which they received dollars.
Anita had begun to have a broad
sympathy with anyone who was try
ing to earn honest dollars. In her
former mode OF life she had given
wage earners and wage-earning little
thought.
Perhaps because OF her keen inter
est and sympathy. she made many
friends. She was pleasant, cheerful,
earnest and apprcachable And about
metropolitan theater everyone en-
ployed is not approachable, she had
been told more than once, when she
had been of service In securing an
interview with a star or with folks
on and OF the stage.
III l get this interview with Nine
l-urachez.' young newspaper man
told her one afternoon, and land II,
won't you break your rule and come
to lunch with me. just so that I can
tell you how much appreciate your
tips?"
Anita shook her head. smiling.
"No-fd like to, but l mustn't be-
GIN" she said.
You'd not be beginning anything.
would your"
Anita did not answer II was be-
tween the acts at a matinee perform
ance and she was not busy.
Would your" the young man per
sisted. "Think-is it fair. the atti-
tude you've taken toward me? You
won't tell me who you are, where you
live, anything about you. You won't
let me call on you: you won't come
out with me. What am IL do?" he
asked
Anita was beginning to blush. for
she liked the young newspaper man
better than she had ever adEnitted to
herself
I'm an usher in the Sphere thea
tor. and you may see. me at any per-
torrance" she said. laughingly.
"Consolatien-isnt it?" Roger Nor
row asked. Il don't believe I'll try
TO get that interview. IL you won't
accept a favor from me I'm hanged
IL Ill accept any from you"
Anita looked st him in surprise.
And your career-your pride in your
ability to secure difficult interviews
for your paper?" she asked.
The man turned away. II don't
care anything about my career What
good is it, IL in its pursuit you meet
bully girl. a girl you-well See
here. I'm going to tell YOU all about
II here and now, II you won't prom
Use TO come to lunch with me to-
morrow. Shall I?'' he asked. facing
her and searching her face.
Anita locked at him for a moment
and saw that he was terribly in earn
est. Il will-but you may not tell
re anything until you have come to
my house TO meet my neither and
father which you may do any after
noon but Wednesday and Saturday"
she said
And you are"
I'm tell~you tomorrow at lunch"
she interrupted. "Sh-the curtains
going up"
1t is-for a fact, said Roger. tax
ing her hand for a moment Till
tomorrow-then?" he said.
And Anita let him see the gladness
in her eyes at the prospect.
Copyright. 1915 by the Mcclure Nswapa-
per Syndicate.)