The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-08-13
HIEr wants you"

went on his way still more cheerfully.
Jimmie Barton followed Arnold across
the city room and then turned into the
corridor that led to the editors sano-
tufn.
I paused in the days occupation
reading my mail-long enough to think
about the splendid esprit de corps which
vttalixed our offices.
Just as was making splendid head
way. Jimmy Barton came dashing back
and cried to me with the enthusiasm
each new assignment gave him.
THE chief has given me q WONDERFUL
story to follow up. It's no secret, so
might as well tell you that j. Barton.
Esa:. is beginning to reap the beneII
to speak a little Russian. a little Prus-
sian and little Hindustani-its Eye
Italian this time.
THE chief knows can talk their lingo
and So he's sending me to investigate
the most recent Black Hand epidemic
over on the East Side. We've got 10
start a campaign against 'enn. the chiet
says"
To Become an Italian.
poor aliens! Strangers In q strange
land began. and then glimpse Of
D
an abrupt change oil tone. Good luck
20 the story-I hope you will get H."
did not dream that I might have .
part in It when no did get the story!
I'm starting right along. Miss Fair
fax. and II you meet me on Fifth ave-
nue. and cut me dead. I'll take It as a
James is going to be rough looking
citizen before very long. Ready-made
clothes that have seen a season or two
Of wear: romantic tan complexion pro-
ducod by walnut stain: bandanna where
now weil-laundered linen reposes; SLOUGH
hat-behold Jimmy Barton becomes Gia-
como Bartonetti. Like you the pic
ture?'
It took me a little longer than I had
expected to finish the days work
Just as I was leaving, one Of the office
boys came In with a letter which arrest
ed my attention at once.
1t came alone and was conspicuous be-
cause unaccompanied. It was written
in an uniformed childish hand. and In
its simple way suggested woman's
greatest tragedy-jealousy.
This 10 how the letter read:
Dear Miss Fairfax-My husband re-
ceived 2 letter this morning, which
taken oS most nc" Of our savings sei and gone one
out, Do you think he has another
MARIE BOCETTI,
2sS East ll7th street.
So strangly did the letter appeal to
dismiss Ii with a mere paragraph
Of advice in my column. Marie Bocet-
Il seemed 20 be calling to me-; Help
me: sister" And felt that I must
:! determined to set out for. Eas.
111th street at once. l telephoned
home to Granny that something very
my. Instant attention. and that in ali
probability I shouldn't be home TIL
But I didn't tell Granny that tn,
woman who needed me was an Italian
over on the East Side; for suddenly
my mind had focused on the things
which had been temporarily puzzlini
connection between Jimmy's mission
had a queer uncanny feeling thai
the. Black Hand outrages which Jimmy
lie entirely outside the neid into which
was so serenely venturing.
got on the subway at 10th stree
and Lenox avenue and walked acros.
tina; that b. broad ,Sd thoroushfare n the dgee
never looked darker and more mys
ferrous than 1t did as I skirted It. !
had sudden conviction that 1t woult
ssa Ss nS wiser o had taken n. the es
walk. Then I remarked to myself
severely:
Beatrice Fairfax. you're a news
paper woman. The thing to do was t.
fore. the subway, II you're silly enough
to mind the outskirts Of Central Park
you are not going to like the heart O
the Italian and, district very we'll"
neighborhood Marie's letter hand indi
Gated l found 1t dark and sinister
Noisy children swarmed about anc
gave me a certain feeling Of compan
when ! came to the block in which
Marie lived I found 1t almost deserted
The air seemed charged with SOM
Portent, or coming. evil. Those darl
the street seemed to tell Of darker plan
within them-of scowling souls plotting
bitterly to gain the gold for which the
come to our allen land.
OF all the forbidding houses on tina
and unfriendly than No 23s.
climbed four flights of stairs befor
! located Marie Bocetti. Then had
very pleasant surprise. An extremel
sweet and fresh. opened the door Leaf
Ing to a hallway that was immaculate
clean. She greeted me at once with
smile illuminated by flashing whit
gracious that grande dame migl
have envied It. There seemed no que
tion OF who I was or what was by bus
ness--I was visitor and therefore we
come.
I handed Marie her letter. She star,
at II a moment In great amazemen
Then she fairly sasped out: You n
Mees Fairfax"
Eyes, / am"
She seized my hand and fell to kissir
Il with the warm impulsiveness of h
southern blood. You coma to hell
me? Justa to helpa me-Marie Bocett
oh! the blessed saints all time so goot
to me-and / not believe"
Then she burst into tempest
tears. II was quite easy to see tn
this simple. elemental. young womt
would suffer tortures at even fanci,
indifference on the part OF her husban
MY hostess was dressed for the sire
hated and coated. l kept trying
calm her volubility and excitement al
at last I succeeded in discovering wi
she was attired In this way.
Her Impotence and suspicious had
last come to be moro than Marie cou
endure. She kept imagining her hu
band. her Arturo. In the arms Of
rival apd now she was going to see.
with the trusting face of a child 81
burst out: but It ALA right now w
here. You coma too? We so to Il
Theatro di Venezia."
"But why are we going to the Ven
tian Theatcr. Marie? Don't you thir
you'd better tell me a little more abo'
II first.-so ] can really help your"