Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-18
The. Daily Story
Room to Let

lived In the same neiRhborhood and pat
ronized the same bookstalls. often he
had let his eyes rest upon her as she
stood looking over the current magazines,
and on one rare occasion he had followed
hef into the elevated train and iourneyed
as far as 34th street She had left the
train there no doubt to shop. The re-
mainder of the daily trip TO Rector street
had seemed sorry AFFAIR to Vance.
He was not sure that the girl had so
much as noticed anything attractive
about him. IL Is true that they had ex-
changed scrutinizing glance as II 20
sum up the general characteristics OF
each other. There had been nothing in
the expression of either to excite the
wrath OF Mother Grundy, and Vance
came TO the conclusion that he was only
one OF the many male creatures who had
entered her line OF vision.
Vance had long ago made certain that
she was not a business girl in the strict
sense OF the word. Otherwise he would
nave mad the Joy of riding each morning
In the elevated with her. Vance would
have seen to It that he caught the we'll
timed train.
FOR an habitually level headed man
vance had done a rather senseless thing
IN railing In love with a girl whom he
had not the power to become acquainted
WIN: AT least that power had not made
user user manitest nor had kindly fate
come along to help him in his love AZ
fair. ''S iO'e
Vance realized that a true hero OF nc-
tion would have tripped on the elevated
stairs and fallen all the way down so
that the heroine would have rushed 10 his
side, taken his bruised head in her arms
and held II there until the ambulance ar
rived. Vance, however had no desire to
break his head. His heart was sum
| hn
physical being he wanted to keen whole
IN case he would one day meet the object
OF his affection and present himself sound
OF body as well as mind before her. He
was not conceited, yet he had no desire
to ruin his face.
Kindly fate did not enter the affair
until vance had been gazing in silent
admiration for nearly three months at
the girls alluring beauty.
One bright morning In early Nav
Vance noticed that as the girl stood IN
the bookstall she had made the purcha az
| OF a sign, on which was printed in bold
| letters Room to Let"
For the first time since catching sight
of her Vance followed her stealthiIy
| home. His chance to become acquainted
with her had undoubtedly come. II he
lost the opportunity thus flung before
! MIN ne was coward and a failure in
love affairs. He had somehow imagined
the girl to be above the station of letting
| rooms, but Vance would have loved her
the same had she been a cash girl, a
waitress or an heiress. If he could get a
room in the house in which she lived
everything would be easy
When he had made sure of the number
of the more or less shabby dwelling In
which she lived, Vance went back to the
elevated station and down to business
During the day. however. he was beset
by fearful worry lest any one. seeing that
| sign in the window, would enter and
snatch the coveted room from beneath
his very eyes He felt convinced that
| every man in New York city would make
a dash for that room.
However, his fears were groundless.
When he returned from the Office and
made his way toward the address of the
girl he saw the sign in the window Of a
room that seemed to be three flights up.
II see where 1 lose a few pounds II
l have to climb those stairs twice a
day or more" he ruminated; but it will
| be worth 1t until ! have to go out and
search for a fiat for two"
He mounted the brown-stone steps lead
ing TO the front door and was admitted
| by a slatternly woman. Vance hoped
| II was not the wonder girls parent.
You have a room to LETT" he inquired
politely
The woman was neither polite nor
| gracious, out lOlu tuSNe .WdS SiiS -
the top floor. He could go up and see
II IL ne wanted to. With that she shuf-
| fed off to the basement and left Vance
to find his way up those three flights OF
stairs.
once there he succeeded in gaining his
| breath, then stood gazing at the closed
| doors of four rooms.
How in thunder do / know when
room 1t is?" he questioned there In the
almost pitch darkness Of boarding
house hall.
He felt that his path to love was NOT
strewn with roses so far, but he smiled
as he realized that he was under the
! Identical roof that sheltered the wonder
girl
After a seconds thought he reasoned
out the room that had the sign In It and
knocked on the door.
He drew a sharp breath when the girl
herself opened 1t. For moment she
too, was nervously silent.
"This ROOM" blurted Vance suddenly
'is to let-isn't it?'
The girl found voice and command oi
the situation first and opened the dooI
for him to enter. Vance did so and saw
| a cozy room that was apparently the
den Of a writer.
my landlady is most disagreeable,
the girl told Vance. and there was g
sparkle of mirth in her eyes. II have
contracted for this room for year and