The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-06-08

She had brought Mary Alice a glass OF
icewater.
The Pronounced Blonde hesitatr.d.
eying Mary Alice speculatvely. You
got any money! she asked.
Mary Alice displayed her half-dojlar.
"All right. deArie," said the Beduti-
full Lady; and then. i'm a much louder
tone, she commanded: Brown the
grddles." mild form of physical ex-
ertion actuated the hot-plate prince.
Mary Alice, in a stiff-backed cnair that
was too high for her, ached and waited.
Here you co." said the Beautiful
Lady cheerfully. Hungry? You like
sirup? l brought you an extra pitcher
and two pats of butter. Want a glass
of milk?"
Il have to-pay for it, don't II"
asked Mary Alice, looking up.
well. you don't think We" began
the waitress; then she made a quick
shift, with an eye to deceit. Never
mind. It'll be all right"
Mary Alice. busy with her cakes and
sirup, did not see that the Beautiful
Lady fumbled in her apron pocket as
she approached the service counter.
1t was very gratifying to Mary Al
Ice Brown to find, when she had eaten
as much as she could hold-and this
was a very respectable quantity. con
sldering her years and growth-that
she had nothing at all to pay.
When she left the palace of tile and
smiled a wry good night at the plump
batter baron in the window she
thought she would go home; and she
was little cheered by the continued
possession OF her half-dollar and by
the kindness which utter strangers had
heaped upon her. Her bruises still
ached, but a full stomach was not
without soothing effects. The air in
City park seemed very sweet and cool;
the little girl wanted more of it.
Jaw board FIR Gleasondale. Roxford
Peppers Mill, Manterbury, Cassville
and Hillside Falls; aw board" A
gong changed.
Mary Alice looked up at the trolley
about to begin its suburban Journey
as audibly catalogued by the conduc-
TOR. That car would slide along
through an endless supply of AFFAIR
even cooler and fresher and sweeter
than this of City park And Mary
Alice had money. She could pay her
fare out and back. She opined that
the round trip would occupy half an
hour and cost her not ever ten or
twenty cents.
So she climbed aboard. The conduc-
tor repeated his list of suburban towns.
yanked briskly at the bell cord. and
the car slid, humping and teeterlng.
out of the zone of pale lights, and took
Its twisting way into ruraldom.
Mary Alice smelled the odors OF
meadow and grove as the car sped.
She closed her eyes, opened them,
closed them again. The car passed a
tiny station, where 1t stopped and let
on a dozen tired-looking country folk,
evidently glad to be at the end of a
day in the city. Mary Alice was inf
nitely soothed She kept closing her
eyes, opening them blissfully. and clos
Ing them again. 9he car rocked and
hummed; the breezes blew the child's
tangled black hair. She was no longer
in pain. She forgot to open her eyes.
The calm, sweet stars in a velvet
summer sky saw a little girl get off a
suburban street car at the end of the
line.
mo" said the conductor. 1--WE don't
make no return trip tin mornin'. We
leave her stand here all. night"
He reached up and turned switch:
Immediately the car was in darkness.
Where you goin'. kid?" asked the
man. did you think we'd be goi2'
back7"
IL thought so. Whatll I do?' she
asked plalntively. Her bruised body
ached. The ride out from the city had
been refreshing, but now fear Of the
great silence clutched her.
"You can't stay I'm this open car all
night" said the conductor. Hey! Jimi
Here's a little girl that thought we's
goln' back tonight. What we better
do with herr"
'I can't take her TO my house" 4"
doubted the mOtorman. "The beds Is
all full. Whyn't you try Sam Thomas ?
Look, they's a light I'm his house"
"COme along. sister" said the con-
ductor He spoke very kindly. At
home his own little girl was now snug
ly tucked into bed, and ne would steal
into the room and kiss her before he
turned In himself. It was always the
last thing TO do at night. no matter
how tired he felt "Come along. sis
ter"
Sam Thomas. in his stocking feet.
and carrying a kerosene lamp in his
hand, opened the door He gruuted
little when ne learned the nature OF
the petition.
But you know, Sam, me and Jlm's
both full MP. We got small houses and
big families. If 'twa'n't for that Pd
take her home In mlnute-may do Il
anyhow. if you don't want her"
tH 15fsisltisI siigI85i 5yhl51iI5i5Sfs
Whot sort Of future do you II
f think awaits Mary Alice at the "a
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