The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

| dresses! well Her Soing-HWay
scribe Miss Wenzel? There is one OF
her in every small town. Let me
think business of hand on BROW
Well, she always paid eight dollars
| for her corsets when most girls in a
| similar position got theirs for SO cents
in the basement. Nature had been
kind to her. The hair that had been
muddy brown in Minnie's schoolgirl
| days it had touched with magic red
gold wand. Birdie Callahan always
said that Minnie was working only to
wear out her old clothes.
After the introduction Miss Wenzel
followed 10 Haley into the lobby. She
took no pains to lower her voice.
well l must say, Mr.. Haley, you've
got fine nerve! If my gentleman
friend was to hear of my working with
an ex-con I wouldn't be surprised ii
| he'd break off the engagement.
| should think you'd have some respect
for the feelings of lady with name
to keep up, and engaged to swell fell
low like Mr.. Schwartz,
Say, listen, m GIRL" replied 10 Ha.
ley. THE law don't cover all the
tricks. But if stuffing an order was a
criminal offense I'll bet your swell
travelling man would be doing life
term"
Ted worked that day with his teeth
set so that his jaws ached next morn.
| ing. Minnie Wenzel spoke to him only
| when necessary and then in terms of
dollars and cents. When dinner time
came she Invested herself of the black
sateen sleeveless, wriggled from the
| shoulders down la Patricia O'Brien,
produced chamois skin, and disap.
peared in the direction of the wash
room. Ted waited until the dining.
room was almost deserted. Then he
went in to dinner alone. Someone in
white wearing an absurd little pocket
handkerchief of an apron led him to
a seat in far corner of the big room
Ted did not lift his eyes higher than
the snowy square of the apron. The
Apron drew out a chair, showed it I'M
der Ted's knees in the way Aprons
have, and thrust a printed menu at
him.
Roast beef, medium" said Ted,
without looking up.
BLESS your heart, yuh amt changed
bit. / remember how yuh used to
jaw when it was too we'll DONE" said
the Apron, fondly.
Ted's heart came UP with a Jerk.
$50 yuh will cut yer old friends, is
it," grinned Birdie Callahan. IF this
wasn't a public dining-room maybe
yuh'd shake hands with a poor but
proud workin' girrul. Yer as good
lookin' divil as ever, Mister Ted"
Ted's hand shot out and grasped
hers. Birdie! l could weep on your
apron! l never was so glad to see
anyone in my life. Just to look at you
makes me homesick What in Sam
Hill are you doing here2"
"Waitin'. After yer ma died, seemed
like ! didn't care t. work fer no pri-
Wit family, so l came back here on nv
old Job. I'll bet Pm the homeliest
head waitress in captivity"
Ted's nervous fingers we're plating
the tablecloth. His VOICE sank to a
whisper. Birdie, tell the Gods truth.
Did those three years cause her
death?"
'Niver!" lied Birdie. 81 vas with
her to the end. 1t started with a cold
on tn chest. Have some French fried
with yer beef, Mr.. Teddy. They're
illigent today"
Birdie glided off to the kitchen. Au.
thoTs are fond of the word glide"
But you can take it literally this time.
Birdie had a face that looked like
a huge mistake, but she walked like
a panther, and they're said to be the
last cry as gliders. She walked with
her chin up and her hips firm. That
comes from juggling trays. You have
to walk like that to keep your nose
out Of the soup. After a while the
walk becomes habit. Any seasoned
dining-room girl could give lessons in
walking to the Delsarte teacher of an
Eastern finishing school.
From the day that Birdie Callahan
served Ted with roast beef medium
and the elegant French fried she ap-
pointed herself monitor over his food
and clothes and morals. wish / could
find words to describe his bitter lone.
Illness. He did not seek companion
ship. The men. although not directly
avoiding him, seemed somehow to
have pressing business whenever they
happened in his vicinity. The women