The Glasgow courier., 1916-04-21

uISt went " WOTh, tuCy were I'LL very
decent. especially to Mary. and every.
thing was fine. Then they-they seem
ed to change even to me. Finally
something the landlady said put me
wise to the fact that our characters
weren't worth twO-cent stamp in
Prindleville. didn't want Mary TO
know. so l kept quiet till the day
when the guy that always came for
lunch got fresh and tried to kiss her.
The landlady had just told me that
aer regular girls were objecting to
work with us, because of our bad char
acters. when the door Of the dining
room banged open and Mary, taking
her apron of as she went, ran past us
and up the stairs. The landlady called
her, but she never even looked around,
so started after her. Just as did so
a cheap. flashy guy who was a regular
boarder came out of the dining room,
looking sheepish and with one cheek
bright red and the other very pale. I've
seen q good smack make that kind of q
complexion before, so kind of waited
around to see what he would do"
did he leave the hotel?''
mo. He walked out into the office
and across to where James Pollock was
sitting and flung himself into a chair
beside him. He ripped out a good round
oath or two; then he said. Say, look
here. from what you told me, that Mary
Page is no better than she should be,
but crickey, she swung right onto my
jaw that Jared my brains in there.
just because l tried to give her little
kiss-and offered to take her to the
movies"
ibid Mr.. Pollock replyr'
mo. First he looked as II he was
going to hand the chump one himself,
then he laughed as IL he was satisfied
with something, and ran up stairs to
Mary. She was crying, and packing
her grip. She said that for the last two
or three days she had noticed decided
difference in the attitude OF the men
towards her. and that at noon one Of
them had insulted her aud she had
slapped his face. The worst Of it was.
she said. the man said that he had been
told that she wasn't so particular with
others. and was notorious where she
came from. When we went downstairs
with our suit-cases in our hands the
proprietor's wife was giving him an
earful Of what she had heard about us,
OF how bad we were and all the rest,
and Mr.. Pollock was sitting there TAX
ing it all in. but pretending to read.
He Jumped up when We came in sight.
however, and started to speak, but we
pushed by him and walked right up
to the proprietor and said. Look here
you've been pretty white to US, but
somebody Is spreading lot Of lies
around here, and we're going to quit
p. D. G., and we'd like whatever of the
long green is coming to us after our
room rent Is paid The old guy, seeing
Mr.. Pollock was listening. said we'd
better all 60 into the dining-rOom to
settle it; but Mr.. Pollock followed us
in, and said that as he was friend
Of ours. that he had heard that there
were good many rumors about
Mary's past, and that Of course no
actress could expect to have any repu-
tation. us verybody knew what road
companies were. Then he grabbed
Mary's hands. saying. 4 at least care
nothing about gossip. Knowing Miss
Page. | have repeatedly offered to mar
~ her and nOw-nOw | ask again.
Mary, you can kill this slander in a
minute by marrying me! That wiscd
me to his game all right. but before
could tell her. she had dragged her
hands away from him with Il scream
and backed against the wall. staring at
us as if-as if--she was-crazy. call
ed out Mary! Mary!' but she didn't
seem to hear me. She just kept star
ing at Mr.. Pollock"
WAS he much eXcited? snapped
I.angdon.
Yes. but he was half drunk, too.
He'd been drinking lot all day, and it
showed plainly Oh him. 1t was that.
guess. that made him act like fool
and try to catch her in his arms, cry
ing that there was nothing ahead of
her but disgrace and disaster unless
she married him."
did she reply:"
"NO-she didn't answer. She struck
at him-twice-then she screamed and
ran Out-and across the street to the
railroad. We've followed as quickly
| rs we could. and then" she choked
and her hand went waveringly to hel
throat, as If the words would not come
land then-we saw the man waving
his flag and knew the-the train from
New York was coming in. think
went crazy myself for Il minute.
screamed and screamed and hear,
Pollock screaming too. and we ran like
| mai-but we cOuldn't ratch har-onl, +,