The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-30

4
~ Mary Burnett, had been making
tour of the sordid streets after
dark in his watchful care.
"Of course, am not satisfied !" she cried i'm
petuously. isn't it possible to do anything to
change all this?"
= .-"How would you change it ?" returned Carson
rather bitterly. Il have given three years and
half Of my fortune to study of civic conditions,
and I am beginning to think that 1 going
backward instead of forward You have got
to change. conditions like this from the inside
out-not from the outside in. You have got to
deal with the individual rather than with the
You have GOT" He broke off his COM
ments with little cry, and swinging about,
raised his voice in hail to 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 amazement he recognized
Carson Then with swinging stride he crossed
the street.
= what in the name of Heaven brings you
here?' he deman ded.
II want you to meet two young friends Of
mine said Carson, smiling at the others dubi-
Gus 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
ever known-and 1 have had experience with
good many ~.
Forget it !" laughed Grant, shaking hands
with the two girls, but still unable to cover his
surprise, and studying them shrewdly. The young
women had dressed for the occasion in rough
suits and hats, which might have fooled casual
passer-by, but which only accentuated their re-
6nement to close observer.
5 Miss Hartley and Miss Burnett are much in
terested in practical sociology" explained Car
son, land have been studying the sums at night
persuade them to talk, old man, you would have
some thrilling stories for The Star of their ex-
periences. Won't you join us?" K 4.,~s
Delighted" said Grant, IF you don't mind
waiting until 1 call the Office
The girls waited while the two men went to
telephone.
For few moments the two girls surveyed
the night scene before them, their attention d.
rected mainly toward 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 restaur-
ant, and stood peering fearfully in through the
window.
The young woman before the restaurant drew
out coin from frayed purse in her hand, made
way Of the. cafe, and then drew back with shud-
der. With the coin Still clutched in her hand,
she passed quickly down the street, entered drug
store and exchanged the coin for phial OF some
thing, Mona and Mary following and watching
her. The girl entered small park and was rails
ing the phial to her lips when Mona caught and
held her hand. The unmistakeabe odor of carbolic
acid foated up into Mona's face.
~ The young woman the bench struggled
desperately, but the next instant Mona had
wrenched the phaf away and dashed it onto the
ground.
"Now," she said soothingly, eff you will tell
me what it is all about maybe can help you"
Help mel" echoed the young woman with
bitter little laugh. "You a nice one to talk
out Of it all away from me! Oh, why did you
do it? Why didn't you let me take the chance
when had it? Now she held out her empty
purse, and broke into an historical laugh
Mona dropped, onto the bench at her SIDE
1T is always blacklist just before dawn! I
know that it is easy enough to tell you that-and
that you probably won't believe it. But if you
can persuade yourself to tell me your story,
will promise that if cannot offer definite way
Of help to you, will buy another bottle of acid
for you without word =!
"You really mean it?" For moment the
young woman sat studying the faces of the two
girls half revealed in the uncertain rays OF the
park lights. "Ill chance it " she decided abruptly.
II can't be worse off than am now. That is one
consolation !"
She plunged into her story nervously.
my is Winnie Andrews. Oh, am
good girl Maybe. it would be better for me if
wasn't 1 have been foolish, never bad. was
foolish enough to think that had voice, that l
could sing-and I more foolish when l be-
lieved a man who told I right that
would some day be second Melba! My home
in Ohio There is no need to tell you the
name of the town. One day l saw in a news
paper the advertisement of concern, calling it.
self The Twentieth Century Vocal Academy Of
New York City. 1t seemed to offer just the
courses of instruction which I thought needed.
and persuaded my father to draw his savings
from the bank to pay my expenses. With the
money came to New York, and met the head
of the music school, a man who gave me the name
of Professor Alonzo Herman. He tested my
voice. or at least pretended to do so, and said
that there was no doubt of my success as an
opera singer if I took his course of instruction.
II stayed at the school for several months
and then my father came on to see me. Professor
Herman talked so enthusiastically about my fu-
ture, that decided it would be safe to mort
gage home for enough money to finish my
schooling. The Professor introduced us to man
calling himself money-lender, who advanced US
small sum on property, taking mortgage
as security. Several months more passed was
becoming vaguely uneasy Professor Herrman's
instruction showed results, but it was not
until received word that my father was Ill that
l became really alarmed. I went to Professor
Herman ans asked him if he could not secure
some kind 1T position where l could earn
money with my voice, enough money to take care
of my father but he only laughed in my face, and
called me easy mark. guess he saw that he
had gotten about all the money possible out OF
us, and that the time had come to disillusion me
The next week they foreclosed the mortgage on
our home and the shock killed my father! Since
then have been trying desperately to get work,
any kind of work. OF course, have lost all my
9ondertul dreams about my voice. I have been