Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-30
Woman and Home

IN hcr apprentice years when she had
been content to lift" an occasional
stlckpin or cheap watch. Harding she
knew, would lend her enough money
10 Keep her going for while.
Liz entered the main room of the
cafe and glanced around with seem.
ing carclessness which. none the less
took III every detail and every patron
or the place. Her rowing glance u,
last pau.ed--at sight of something thai
promised TO be interesting.
At an alcovc table sat n well-dressed
young man. in front OF whom n waiter
was just then setting a cup of coffee.
small steak and 4 bird bath" OF
viscidly Shiny fried potatoes. This by
itself was of no great interest, but
something else was.
AS the waiter leaned over him. Liz
saw the young man raise his hand
ncirously toward one side of his vest
as If guarding something in peck ct
not gone.
That tip was quite enough for Light.
Fingered Liz. Perhaps she might not
have to borrow money from Harding
after all. She crossed to the alcove.
Pardon me- she said. politely, do
you mind if sit here: The outer
room is SO smoky
Not ut ALL" said Tom absently sur
prised, but not knowing what else to
say. and he went on with his meal.
studied II. But her fingers seemed 10
be awkward, for she let the greasy
card fall to the floor. II struck near
Toms feet. He stopped to pick it up.
During the fraction Of Il second that
his head was below the table edge.
Liz's hand shot forward with unbe-
licvahle Swif,ncss, dropped something
into the cup Of coffee and returned
as quickly to her own lap. She thank
ed Tom as he gave her tho rescued
menu and paid no further heed to him
Just then.
The hungry youth devoted his whole
attention 10 his greasy potatoes, his
tough steak and TO his unusually ran
cid coffee. The coffee. especially. dis
pleased him It had "a vile taste. II
was almost bitter, in spite of tho ex-
ira sugar lie put in il. Eut he was
thirsty we'll as faniishcd And he
made a cloan Job OF the unappc,izing
meal.
He reflected. as he finished, what
a pleasant effect even bad supper
can have on mans system. He had
been fired. nervous, i'll al case. Now
he had "a sense of well-hcing. of drowsy
contcntment. Of peace with tho whole
world. Presently nc would start home.
E.ut. for the moment, il was wondrous
~ agreeable to lean back in his scat
and rest.
ne room seemed Ia grow darker.
and delicious sl""pincss began to
creep over him Five minutes nap.
surely. would do him 10 harm.
And now, tho woman across the table
was speaking TO him. He could not
catch what she said: but her voice
was sweet. Now she was coming
around 10 his own side Of the table.
Was that her arm around his shout
der. or
Tom Flake was aware OF a racking
headache. ranklv bad taste in his
mouth. :; sense OF nausea. He sat up
ana h!iakcd. Hc--y,s, he must have
been fast asleep, for the hands on the
The woman was no longer there.
Neither were Harrys group OF slum-
:ners. Tom go; up feeling very sick
and made for the street. AS he turned
homeward through the darkness he
wondered if the clock had registered
so o.: only 1880. His hand went
to his watch pocket
His watch was gone. So was his
chain. And his vest was unbuitoned.
His fingers flew 10 the inside pocket.
II was empty.
y gurEinG cry. like that which is
wruns from the dying. burst from
Toms dry lips. For an instant all the
world spun crnzly about him. Then
suddenly the shock cleared his brain
of the drug mists And he knew
what had happened.
ITO Re Continued To-Morrow)