The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-07-21
Observation-Disclosures
MAGIC OF NINA KILLER
BY MAX STEINER.

4
Huggins was more surprised at the
apparition which appeared in her shah.
by sitting room or whether Nina Hitler,
personifying the .apparition. was more
surprised at the prevailing slovenli.
! ness of the place. Certain it was that
i the dingy room which served as an
Office for Mrs. Higgins fifth-class
lodging house had never been graced
by so neat aud smart and altogether.
charming q person as Miss Hitler. Ger
tain it also was that Nina never had
dreamed there were SO many unutter.
able kinds OF dirt as she saw about
her.
/ Mrs. Higgins was inclined at first
to be a bit belligerent, but Nina's per.
feet frankness and gentleness dis.
armed her. AS fof Nina, her lips trem.
bled Just for the fraction of moment
as she contrasted the cheerless place
with the neat and comfortable country
home she had left.
do you have furnished rooms to
rent?" she inquired.
Il d." replied Mrs. Higgins shortly.
MAY l see one?" persisted Nina.
what for?" rejoined Mrs. Higgins.
81 am looking for a room." replied
the girl.
Mrs. Higgins gasped in surprise.
There's plenty vacant, the Lord
knows" she said, "but they amt
hardly your kind"
Il am not very particular so long
as the place is respectable and the
rent is not high" said the girl.
Respectable" snorted Mrs. Hug
gins; Il never ran no place that want
respectable"
I'm sure Of that the girl fastened
to say. IL only meant that was why
l came here"
well, it's cheap enough" went on
the landlady. Goodness knows, it has
to be. There don't seem to be no
money any more. have to take what
folks can afford to pay"
Then she looked shyly at the girl
and said with rough kindness: IL
really think you might find a place
you would like better. It's only poor
folks that put up here"
81 am very poor" replied Nina sin.
ply. Then, noting Mrs. Higgins keen
glances at her neat and tasty clothes.
and more especially at her gloves and
rather stylish hat, she smiled and
added: Il am from the country. My
parents died very recently and left
me alone, and there was not much left
after the bills we're paid"
"The city Is poor place to come, y
replied Mrs. Higgins grimly. but not
unkindly. Goodness knows there's
plenty here now tryin' to keep soul
and body together. II you've got any
friends in the country you'd Better go
back and get any kind of work to
do to keep an honest roof over your
head. There's an army Of 'em here
walkin' the streets, lookin' for work
and it's a bad business for a young
girl and q purity one like you. a-gettin'
discouraged and hungry and lonesome
and all that"
The girl blushed and smiled brave.
confident little smile.
II had a good mother and good
father" she said with quiet dignity.
"and am sure l will do nothing to
disgrace them. have no doubt at all
but I will find work to do ana that
will get on famously."
The upshot of it all was that Nina
became established in a dingy room
ON the second floor with two dingy
windows. There was dingy carpet
on the floor and meager quantity
Of dingy furniture. There was also a
neglected fireplace in the corner. 1t
was all so hopeless and sQualid that
it required all Ninas courage to face It.
While waiting for her trunk the new
conner went out and returned with an
armful Of packages which filled the
person Of Mrs. Higgins with burning
curiosity. A boy followed her with a
good-sized box Mysterious sounds
came from the room Of the new ledger.
Presently coal man carried several
sacks of coal to the room. This was
the straw that broke the 'landlady's
back, so to speak. She simply had to
go up and see what was going on.
II curiosity filled her before she
opened the door establishment pre-
vailed when she gazed at the trans.
formed apartment. The windows were