Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-09


Young millionaire social worker ant
rhilsrthropist. as he paused undet
the tlickermg rays Of the corner street
light
Are you satisfied with your
glimpse OF the slums at night2" he
asked Mona Hartley, who. with Mary
Burnett, had been making tour ot
the sordid streets after dark i'll his
wstchful care.
OF course, I am not satisfied T.
she cried :Spetuousiy. Isn't it pos.
sible to do anything to change al
this?"
How would you change IN" re
turned Carson rather bitterly. 81
gwen three years and half OF my for
tune to a study OF civic conditions
and am beginning to think that |
am going backwards instead OF for
ward You have got TO change con
ditions 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 comments
with little cry, and swinging about,
raised his voice III hail 10 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
amaycment as he recognized Carson.
Then with swinging stride he
crossed the street.
What in the name Of Heaven
brings you here? he demanded.
Il want you to meet two young
friends OF nine" said Carson smil-
ing at the others dubious 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 known-snd ] have had expert
cnee with good many!
Forget it! laughed Grant. shak-
ing hands with the two girls, but still
unable to cover his surprise, and
studying them shrewdly. The young
women dressed for the occasion in
rough suits. and hats, which might
have fooled a casual passer-by, but
which only accumulated their refine
ment to close observer.
Miss Hartley and Miss Burnett
arc much interested in practical So
GEOLOGY" explained Carson and
have been studying the slums at night
under my guidance and protection.
II you could persuade them to talk
old man, you would have some thrill
ing stories for The Star of their
experiences. Won't you join us?'
Delighted" said Grant, "if you
don't mind waiting until | call the
Office"
The girls waited while the men
went to telephone.
For a few moments the two girls
surveyed the night scene before them
their attention mainly directed to-
ward the gaudy restaurant across
the street. 1t was Mona who saw
first the hesitating young woman, with
the white, pinched face, who had
paused before the restaurant and
stood peeering fearfuly in through the
window.
The young woman before the res.
taurant drew out a coin from frayeo
purse in her hand, made movement
as though to pass through the door.
way of the cafe, and then drew back
with a shudder. With the coin still
clutched in her hand she passed quick.
ly down the street, entered drug
store and exchanged the coin for a
phial of something. Mona and Mary
following and watching her. The CIR
entered a small park and was raising
the phial to her lips when Mons
caught and held her hand. The un.
mistakable odor Of carbolic acic
floated up into Mona's face.
The young woman on the bench
struggled desperately, but the mex
instant Mona had wrenched the phia
away and dashed it onto the ground
Now" she said soothingly, IF 20,
will tell me what it is all about, maybe
can help your
Help me" echoed the young won
an with bitter little laugh. "Yo,
are a nice one to talk about helping
me when you took the only way gu
OF it all away from mel Oh, why die
you do it? Why didn't you let mt
take the chance when ! had it9 Nov
-" she held out her empty purse, ant
broke into an hysterical laugh.
Mona dropped onto the bench a
her side.
1T is always blacklist just befor,
dawrl know that it is easy enough
to tell you that-and that you proba
bly, won't believe it. But if you car
persuade yourself to tell me you
story | will promise that if canno
offer definite way of help to 20,
| will buy another bottle of acid 10
you without word"
You really mean it?" For a mo
ment the young woman sat studying
the faces of the two girls, half-re
vealed in the uncertain rays of tn
park lights. "I'l chance i'll" she de
cided abruptly. 81 can't be worse Of
than am now. That is one conso
lationw
She plunged into her story nerv
ously.
MY name is Winnie Andrews. Oh
| am a good girl--what you woul
call a good grill Maybe, it would b
better for me if | wasn't. ! hav
been foolish, never bad. | was FOOLS
enough to- think ! had a voice, tina
! could sing-and ! was more FOOLS
when l believed man who told m
| was right, that l would some da
be a second Melbal My home wa
in Ohio. There is no need to tel
you the name of the town. One da
| saw in a newspaper the advertise
ment OF a concern, calling itself TIL
Twentieth Century Vocal Academ
OF New York City 1t seemed t
offer just the courses of instructio
which | thought l needed, and
persuaded nv father TO draw hi