The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-27

W " ne asked Mona HaFtieN- VINO Win
W Mary Burnett had been making
tour Of the sordid streets after
dark in his watchful care.
"0f course / am not satisfied - she cried i'm
petuously. Isn't it possible TO do anything to
change all this?"
How would you change to" returned Carson
rather bitterly. Il have given three years and
half of nv fortune 20 a study Of civic conditions
and l beginning to think that ] going
backward instead Of forward You have got
to change conditions like this from the inside
out-not from the outside in. You have got to
deal with the individual rather than with the
mass You have got" He broke OFF his
ments with little cry and swinging about,
raised his voice in hail 10 a tall, well set-up
young man. who had just rounded the opposite
corner.
The other stared in the direction of the call,
his attitude showing amazement as he recognized
Carson. Then with swinging stride he crossed
the street.
what in the name Of Heaven brings you
here?" he demanded.
"I want you to meet two young friends Of
mime said Carson, smiling at the others dubi
Gus expression, Miss Burnett and Miss Hartley
allow me to present my good friend, Rodney
Grant Of The Star Mr. Grant is one of the most
fearless and capable newspaper reporters / have
ever knownard l have had experience with
good many
FORFEIT it laughed Grant shaking hands
with the two girls, but stili unable to cover his
surprise, and studying them shrewdly. The young
women had dressed for the occasion in rough
suits and hats. which might have fooled casual
passer-by, bat which only accentuated their re-
fnement to a close observer.
Miss Hartley and Miss Burnett much in
terested in practical sociology" explained Car
son. land have been studying the sums at night
under my guidance and protection, If you could
persuade them TO talk, old man. you would have
some thrilling stories for The Star of their
periences. Won't you join us?'
Delighted" said Grant, "if you don't mind
waiting until ] call the Office
The girls waited while the two men went to
Telephone
For few moments the two girls surveyed
the night scene before them, their attention di-
grected mainly toward the gaudy restaurant
across the street. 1t Mona who first
the hesitating young woman, with the white,
pinched face. who had paused before the restaur-
ant. and stood peering fearfulIy in through the
window.
The young woman before the restaurant drew
out coin from frayed purse in her hand, made
. movement though to pass through the door
way of the cafe. and then drew back with shud-
der. With the coin still clutched in her hand,
she passed quickly down the street, entered drug
store and exchanged the coin for phial Of some
thing Mona and Mary following and watching
her. The girl entered small park and was rails
ing the phial to her lips when Mona caught and
held her hand The unmistakeable odor of carboic
acid foated up into Monas face.
The young woman the bench struggled
desperately. but the next instant Mona had
wrenched the phial away and dashed it onto the
grouni.
me what it is all about, maybe ! can help Nou"
Help me :" echoed the young with
bitter little laugh You nice one to talk
about helping me when you took the only way
out of 1t all away from me! Oh, why did YOU
DO it? Why didn't you let take the chance
when had it? Now she held ont her empty
purse, and broke into an hysterical laugh,
Mona dropped onto the bench at her side.
at is always blacklist just before dawn I
know that it is easy enough TO tell you that-and
that you probably won't believe it, But if You
persuade yourself to tell me your story, I
hat golvyf,
of help to you, / will bny another bottle Of acid
Tor you without word -
"You really mean 1t? For moment the
young woman sat STUDYING the faces of the two
girls, half revealed in the uncertain rays of the
park lights. I'm chance il :" she decided abruptly
II can't be worse off than l am That Is one
consolation"
She plunged into her story nervously.
"My is Winnie Andrews Oh, ! am
good girl Maybe. II would be better for me If I
wasn't. l have been foolish, bad. l
foolish enough TO think that had voice, that |
could sinE-and I more foolish when ! be
iieved who told 7 was right, that !
would some day be second Melba! My home
was in Ohio. There is no need to tell you the
name of the town. One day / in
paper the advertisement Of a concern. calling it
self The Twentieth Century Vocal Academy of
New York City II seemed to offer just the
courses of instruction which I thought | needed
and persuaded my father to draw his savings
from the bank to pay my expenses. With the
money / came to New York and met the head
of the music school, who gave the name
OF Professor Alonzo Herman. He tested my
voice, at least pretended 10 dc so, and said
that there Doubt OF my success as an
opera singer if | took his course Of instruction
81 stayed at the school for several months
and then my father came to me. Professor
Herman talked enthusiastically about my flu
ture, that decided it would be safe to mort
gage home for enough money To finish my
schooling The Professor introduced II man
calling himself money-lender, who advanced
o small sum property, taking mortgage
as security. Several months more passed / was
becoming vaguely uneasy as Professor Herrman's
instruction showed results, bat it not
until ] received word that my father i'll that
! became really alarmed. ! went TO Professor
! Herman and asked him II he could not
me some kind Of a position where ! could
money with my voice, enough money to take care
Of my father, but he only laughed in my face, and
called me an easy mark. guess he that he
had gotten about all the money possible ont of
us, and that the time had come TO disillusion me
The next week they foreclosed the mortgage on
our home, and the shock killed my father! Since
then l have been trying desperately TO get work.
any kind of work. OF course, | have lost all my
wonderful dreams about my voice. 1 have been