Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-04-30

| street,.
Gould that be it-down there
where those lights are?"
mo, it was dingy little place.
Come on, let's try the next block"
They turned into another narrow
dimly-lit street which ended abruptly
a little further on. 1t was these un-
expected turnings and blind passages
that, for Helen, made the London
streets SO full Of charm.
Warren paused before a low door
way, over which hung quaint
wrought-iron lantern and swinging
sign Higgins Wine Room. Est. 1749."
| Here we are; here's the place" as
he pushed open the door.
Inside the walls were lined with
huge wine casks, and the air was pun
gent with the odor Of wine-soaked
wood. There were a few bare tables,
a sawdusted floor, long bar and
some sporting prints, yellowed with
| age.
"How about this? Real thing. eh?
Now what do you want-port?"
Ports too sweet" objected Helen.
mot the kind you get here. Oporto
Port, 1873" reading the label on one
of the casks. "That1l about do for
u.s."
The barmaid drew the port, and
gave them a couple of watercress sand
wiches from under a glass dome.
How about that for color?" War
rem held up his glass. THAT dry
enough?" slipping it. Couldn't get
that port at home at any price"
toly L., lnto Nf
the bar. with its shining glasses and
polished brass. 1t was the first time
she had ever been in a barroom. al
though in London they are frequented
by women of all classes.
On the end of the one of the casks
was tackled a conspicuous war poster:
YOUR KING AND COUNTRY NEED
YOU-A CALL TO ARMS.
An addition of 100000 men to his
majesty's regular army is immediate
ly necessary in the present grave ma
tional emergency.
Lord Kitchener is confident that this
appeal will be at once responded to
by all those who have the safety of
our empire at heart.
Full information can be obtained at
Huy pOSI OtuCc III thc hlHbuohi.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
Although Helen had seen this
same bulletin posted everywhere, it
seemed curiously out of place in the
quiet, peaceful seclusion of this quaint
old tavern, with its atmosphere of
Dickens London.
Would you think she'd wear SO
many bracelets?" whispered Helen.
watching the barmaid draw a mug of
foaming ale.
"Oh, they all wear string of brace
let's, and they're strong on hair puffs.
But they're all right-a barmaid over
here is just as much respected as
stenographer or a clerk"
"Yet the men all talk to her." for
two men were lounging over the bar
in leisurely conversation.
Sure, she talks to the customers
that's part of her job. But no
Englishman ever gets fresh with a
barmaid. She wouldn't stand for it."
"Oh, Warren, look! What
beauty" as huge maltese jumped
down from the bar and stalked ma
jestically across the sawdusted floor.
With a coaxing. Kitty. kitty.
kitty" Helen held out bit of sand
wich. The cat shifted at it, then
leaped suddenly into her lap.
"oh, you dear, you dear!" strok-
ing the sleek fur. I've got Pussy
heavy as you"
Put it down! You don't want that
dirty cat in your lap"
She's not dirty! You're a beauti-
full clean pussy cat, aren't you?"
The cat purred loudly and dug her
claws through Helen's skirt as
further expression of content.
Pardon me. sir, may l see this?"
| The man at the next table reached
for the paper Warren had laid aside.
There was an unmistakable Ameri-
can twang to his accent when a lit
tie later he returned the paper with
a sociable. well, you can't get much
news out of these English papers.
They've got the press pretty well bot
tied up"
"Yes. they're not giving out any
more than they can help"
Been on the continent?"
NO" Warren reached for match,
"just here in London"
You're fortunate. A month ago l
was in Berlin-took me five days to
get here. Wouldn't go through those
five days again for good deal"
Must have been pretty strenuous
trip"
Strenuous! saw three poor devils
dragged out and shot. Two of them
| died game hut the other big straD-
ping fellow, too-well, it wasn't a
pretty sight"
Helen listened breathlessly while he