The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-09-22

She checked suddenly. for the cor
seriousness of that coin Of Francis Will
let's. tightly held In q moist palm,
dawned upon her. Mary Alice turned
and sought the entrance to this para
disc.
81 want some Of them" she said to
the Beautiful Lady, when she had seat
ed herself at q table with q top whittier
than alabaster. The Beautiful Lady
was a pronounced blonde with q pug
nose. She wore abundant and crackly
white skirts that stuck ont daintily all
around, and at her belt carried q little
punch, such as railway conductors use.
She had brought Mary Alice 4 glass Of
icewater.
The Pronounced Blonde hesitated,
eying Mary Alice speculatively. You
got any money!" she asked.
Mary Alice displayed her half-dollar.
"AIl right, dearie," said the Beauti-
full Lady: and then, In a much louder
tone, she commanded: Brown the
griddles." A mild form Of physical ex-
ertion actuated the hot-plate prince
Mary Alice. In a stiff backed chair that
was too high for her. ached and waited
Here you CO." said the Beautiful
Lady cheerfully. Hungry? You like
strip? I brought you an extra pitcher
and two pats Of butter. Want a glass
of milk?'
II have to-pay for 1t, don't IT,
asked Mary Alice. looking up.
well, you don't think we" began
the waitress; then she made a quick
shift, with an eye to deceit. Never
mind. It'll be all right"
| Mary Alice busy with her cakes and
sirup, did not see that the Beautiful
Lady fumbled in her apron pocket as
she approached the service counter.
| 1t was very gratifying to Mary AL
ice Brown to find, when she had eaten
as much as she could HOLLAND this
was a very respectable quantity, con-
sidering her years and growth-that
she had nothing at all to pay.
When she left the palace of tile and
smiled wry good night at the plump
batter baron In the window. she
thought she would go home; and she
was little cheered by the continued
possession Of her half-dollar and by
| the kindness which utter strangers had
heaped upon her. Her bruises still
ached, but a full stomach was not
without soothing effects. The air in
City park seemed very sweet and cool;
the little girl wanted more Of 1t.
Jaw board fr Gleasondale, Roxford,
Peppers Mill. Manterbury, Cassville
and Hillside Falls; aw board" A
gong changed.
Mary Alice looked up at the trolley
about to begin its suburban journey,
as audibly catalogued by the conduc-
tor. That car would slide along
through an endless supply of air air
even cooler and fresher and sweeter
thnn this Of City park. And Mary
Alice had money. She could pay her
fare out and back. She opined that
the round trip would occupy half an
hour and cost her not over ten or
twenty cents. "a
So she climbed aboard. The conduc-
| tor repeated his list Of suburban towns,
yanked briskly at the bell cord, and
the car slid, humping and lettering,
out of the zone Of pale lights, and took
Its twisting way into ruraldom.
Mary Alice smelled the odors Of
meadow and grove as the car sped.
She closed her eyes, opened them,
closed them again. The car passed a
tiny station, where it stopped and let
off dozen tired-looking country folk,
| evidently glad to be at the end of q
day in the city. Mary Alice was inf.
nitely soothed. She kept closing her
| eyes, opening them blissfully, and clos
ing them again. The car rocked and
hummed; the breezes blew the child's
tangled black hair. She was no longer
In pain. She forgot to open her eyes,
The calm. sweet stars in a velvet
summer sky saw little girl get of a
suburban street car at the end of the
line.
"No," said the conductor, I'VE don't
make no return trip till mornir'. We
leave her stand here all night"
He reached up and turned a switch;
Immediately the car was in darkness.
where you goin', kid?" asked the
man. Did you think we'd be goin'
back?
IL thought so. What'l lo?" she
asked plaintively. Her bruised body
ached. The ride out from the city had
been refreshing, but now a fear Of the
great silence clutched her.
You can't stay in this open car all
night" said the conductor. Hey! Jim!
Here's little girl that thought ives
goin' back tonight. What we better
do with her?'
II can't take her to my house"
doubted the motorman. 1.-THE beds Is
all full. Whyn't you try Sam Thomas ?
Look, they's light in his house."
"Come along, sister," said the con-
ductor. He spoke very kindly. At
home his own little girl was now snug
ly tucked into bed, and he would steal
into the room and kiss her before he
turned in himself. It was always the