Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-23


as a saleswoman," she said: "but
there are some things know a good
deal about-clothes and hats
He hadn't stayed to listen; had
walked straight to the door and open
ed 1t. Reluctantly she followed him.
There's no place." he said, "in this
store. or trust in the town either.
day!"
Rose made four more applications
for work on Main street. all with the
same result. Some of those who re-
fused her were panicky about it; one
threatened to have her put in Jail.
One looked knowing, and after he
had expressed. in jocular though en-
phatic terms. his sense Of her impos-
sibility as publicly acknowledged
employee, intimated a desire to pros
ecute a personal acquaintance with
her further.
1t was fortunate for Rose that her
first applications were met by anger.
rude discourtesy, and openly avowed
suspicion. because this treatment
reused in her. for the first time in
months. strong surge Of indigna-
tion: Her blood came up after each
er the boiling point. The man who
finally smiled at her like satyr. was
shriveled by the blaze Of her blue
eyes. and was left. red-faced, blus-
tering weakly after her.
When she walked back to the ho-
tel along Main street, the lassitude
which had so long held her half
Rose again; the Rose whom Gal
braith would have recognized-fear-
less. and. in quite unreasoning way,
confident. A sense of the unreality
Of the past weeks grew stronger in
her. She felt like person just
waking out Of long, troubled dream.
She made her way among, the
not unmindful Of their stares, but
magnificently impervious to them:
came UP to the desk and told the
clerk she wanted to SEQ the proprie-
tor.
Nothing doing" said the clerk.
Then. as he got the straight look
of her eyes. he amended his speech
to see him." he said sulkily.
"I'll see him, If you please" said
Rose. will you have him called?"
The clerk hesitated. Stranded "ac-
tresses' weren't in the habit of talk
ing like that. Then his difficulty was
solved for him. There he goes now."
he said. "You can talk to him if you
like"
The proprietor was sixty years. old,
perhaps: gray, stopped, stringy Of
neck. He had good shrewd pair OF
eyes. not altogether unkindly. Rose
had seen him before, but hadn't
known who he was.
He was making. just now. for a lit
tie office he had, that opened into
the railed-off space behind the desk,
and, by another door. into the corri-
but it was evident that their busi-
,,sss wasn't going to take long. The
door into the corridor was left open
behind them. and there Rose waited.
When the other man came out, she
stepped inside.
There was nothing kindly about the
look the proprietor's eyes directed at
looked up at her with a frown of
resignation.
$50 you didn't go to Chicago with
the rest of the troupe?" he said.
That's where you made mistake, I
guess"
II didn't want to go to Chicago"
she said.
"I suppose" he drawled ironically,
you've written or telegraphed to
some friends for money and that it's
surely coming. and that you want to
stay here in my hotel on credit till
it does. Well, there's not a chance
in the world. The clerk could have
told you that. I suppose he did,
IT haven't sent for money" said
Rose. There's no one could send
to. I've got to earn it for myself.
and T thought there was as good
chance to earn it here as in Chi
cago"
"Well!" said the proprietor, You've
got your nerve with you, at any rate.
But I'll tell you. young woman, the
town Of Centropolis don't take kind
your sort to make a living, nor to
the way they make it,"
You're wrong" said Rose, danger
ously quiet. "if you think I mean to
make living in any other than a
decent, honest way. I have already
asked for work in five places on
Main street. and have been refused
you've Just called me- I'm going to
keep on until I find somebody in this
town who's clean enough minded to
recognize decency when he sees it.
There are people like that Of course.
even in Centropolis. I didn't come in
here to borrow money Of you, nor to
ask for credit. I came to ask for
a JOO d "oASlSoS' NNoA Sou 6AfS
it to me?"
Culver. Look here! what's the use?
Supnose YOU are what you say :"
You know am" interrupted
Rose.
"well. I say. suppose it's true.
What's the use? Do you think any
decent storekeeper on Main street
would risk his reputation by giving a
Job to stranded actress that had
come here with a rotten show like
have you in nv dining room? This
is a respectable hotel. I tell YOU
He broke off. a sudden twinkle in
his eve. Then he smiled "You might
try Miss Gihhors." he said.
''Who is she?" Rose asked.
BY now Culver was emiline hroad-
ly Apparently there was something
exnuirite1v humorous IN the notion
Of an e-con,ter ha+w~a- Rose and
this leav he'd mentioned.
"she's lived" he ea'd "and rrac-
thirty wears. M over the drug store
on tho oert corner There's cer+o.,ly
nohoav IN this +ior Of oo,,-+ies whose
or'-'c- sNe'e afrc'1 cf. But don't
-e-or---e-d re" eer'or~'v vow will
got ~.,,aU co---o-+ o-t nr re~"
"AN r'~h+" said pose. "wel' eea'
eho u-,ltoa era '~h+ s,o-' the no.
tel to the stairs beside the d,.ug store
o., The -evt conner which led ur TO
Wigs Gibbons atel,er. She walked
fast. conserving. as a rrecious thing
warm feeling Of indignant contempt
her talk with Culver had inspired
her with. So it wasn't at all in the
manner Of a disheartened applicant