The Delta independent., 1917-05-04
VICTIM NUMBER 745
BY OSBORN JONES.
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| Nueu w lilaH hcCOTu, LHdyOT VI IL
city of one hundred thousand, went to
spend a week in the nearest city of enc
million, one of the first places he Wis
| tied was the College of Household
Economics, where had been taking
place series of experiments in food
costs. For William McCord was a man
to whom all achievements of economy
were vastly more interesting than
those of great expenditure.
Fortunately it was the day a new
diet squad was chosen from the appli-
cants for work at the municipal en-
ployment bureau.
AT the desk sat Helen Crewe, just
graduated from the college and now
proudly holding the post of first assist
ant to the one in charge of the whole
experiment. She was rosy-skinned,
clear-eyed and spectacled. McCord
liked the picture all but the spectacles.
The mayor turned from studying the
girls face and wishing that he could
remove the spectacles to studying the
faces CT the men. Their baths and
shaves and clothes had worked Won
ders. He was wondering how much it
had cost per man to clothe them. Then
he looked back at the girl in spec
tacles whom he had determined tc
quiz about the plans for the expert
ment. He watched the eyes through
the spectacles. He was wondering
how old she was wien he heard her
voice at his side demanding: "How old
are your
Born in 1882" he answered obedi-
emily. THAT makes me about-thirty-
five, doesn't it?" He moved away from
the desk, but the second question fol-
lowed. where were you born?" And
before he had time to realize that the
girl was entering his answers on
card before her he had told her that he
was half Irish; that he had been edu-
Gated in the public schools; that he
was unmarried, and that he was stay
ing in New York, though ne had no
permanent address there. ''Have you
any trade?" she asked, and the mayor
frankly admitted that he had learned
to be stonecutter in his youth
"What Is your name and number?"
'Im Bill McCord, but I've lost my
number. I'll get it for you, though.
They gave me the number before they
gave me the suit and 1 left 1t in my
old clothes pocket"
He turned away with assumed diff
dence and made way for the next man
in the line that had formed behind him.
Having made a quick study of the
faces around him. he walked ambling-
ly to the one most disgruntled.
Hello, boss" he addressed the stran-
ger Of the disgruntled. cadaverous
countenance in the easy undertone Of
camaraderie. pretty soft this. eh7"
Soft. nuthin'." grumped the man.
Nobody said nuthin' about sOddin' the
park to me. II 1t weren't that / sold
my old suit I'd take this one back and
quit"
"Have you got numberw asked the
mayor. and then followed the negotia-
ton whereby the man who didn't want
to help sod the park found himself free
from diet-squad duty. still possessor of
the new suit and ten-dollar bill be-
sides. The mayor returned to Helen's
desk little later. II found my num-
ber. It's 745. and please put my name
down as Bill Finley
AS the days went on Victim 745
earned for himself. behind the scenes
in the laboratory. as well as among the
soldiers at the park. great popularity.
And after dinner sometimes he would
linger In the laboratory where Helen
worked over the paper and accounts
to ask particulars as to the working
out Of the scheme. II want to show
the folks at home something about It,"
he said when she could no longer con-
ceal her surprise at his unusual inter-
est IN the work.
"But you are not a married man."
She apparently had the data from the
cards by note. "Are you going to show
your mother how 1t can be doner
"Oh. yes-yes, indeed" he said.
"You are always so good and you are
so big that am sometimes tempted to
send you In a bigger portion, but I am
afraid the other men might notice."
Helen was a little tired and when Vic
time 745 put out a large blistered hand
to her-for 1t was many years since he
had welded the stonecutter's mallet
and the park squads spades were
rough Of handle-she let hers linger
and rest there a minute.
Then came the day the squad broke
up. The men were dlsbanding and
Helen was at her desk shaking hands,
with them and giving them pamphlets
and suggestions for the mothers and
wives at home. Then Bill stepped up
to the desk with an Outstretehed hand.
I'm sorry" she said, "but there
has been some little hitch. Your rec
ords from the doctor ut the municipal
bureau have shown an alarming dis
crepnncy. According to the weight en-