The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-11
ANITA FINDS A way
BY DOROTHY BLAckMoRE.

But my fathers business has been |
absolutely ruined by the war. pro- |
tested Anita Morgan. Il must help |
in some way or other
"You-help!" laughed her chum,
Helen Bennett. It's 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
woman's exchange. I'm not q good
member; 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, if it's only add
ing q few dollars q week. I have
brains and common sense and I 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 it 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 ac-
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 of her friends
in the theater. At the end of a fort
night not person had recognized her
in her bonnet and with her curls and
quaint costume. In fact, it seemed to
her as if the ushers might be so
many wooden dolls for all the atten-
ton paid them by the audience. And
for this Anita was very thankful.
She became mystery among her
former acquaintances. And Anita
rather enjoyed being mystery.
She gave them no satisfaction-not
even Helen, her chum.
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
and 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
J 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 approachable. And about
a metropolitan theater everyone em
ployed is not approachable, she had
I 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
3 Lurachez, a young newspaper mar
3 told her one afternoon, and land 1t
won't you break your rule and come
> to lunch with me, just 80 that I car
t tell you how much I appreciate your
! tips?"
Anita shook her head, smiling
Mold like to, but l mustn't be
GIN she said.
You'd not be beginning anything
j would your"
Anita did not answer. It was be
tween the acts at matinee perform
{ ance and she was not busy.
Would you?" the young man per
' sisted Thinks It fair, the att
tude you've taken toward me? You
won't tell me who you are, where yot
live, anything about you. You won,
y let me call on you; you won't come
I out with me. What am to do?" hi
3 asked
D Anita was beginning to blush, fol
!, she liked the young newspaper mar
/ better than she had ever admitted Il
1 herself
I'm an usher in the Sphere thea
tor, and you may see. me at any per
Torrance" she said, laughingly.
"Corsolation-isnt it?" Roger Nor
row asked. Il don't believe Ill tr.
:. to get that interview. II you won
= accept a favor from me I'm hanged
!. If I'll accept any from you
:, Anita looked at him in surprise
" And your career-your pride in you
a ability to secure difficult interviews
, for your paper?" she asked.
. The man turned away. II dom
r care anything about my career. VIVA
n good is it. if in it's pursuit you NEE
a bully girl, girl you-well. SEE
a here, I'm going to tell you all abou
! it here and now, if you went prom
4 Use to come to lunch with me TO
! morrow. Shall r. he asked, facing
4 her and searching her face
L Anita looked at him for a moment
( and saw that he was terribly in earn
a est. Il will-but you may not tel
l. me anything until you have come t.
my house to meet my mother anc
father which you may do any after
noon but Wednesday and Saturday,
t she said.
II And you are"
e TN tell you tomorrow at lunch,
o she interrupted. "Sh-the curtain'i