Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-03

Il
formed tho wardrobe in Margaret
hall room. On the crowded end hook
hung light evening gown which the
scant curtain inadeuuatcl% covered.
Dropping YEARLY on the couch, Mar
Saret's gazo WAS rivited on a protrud-
ing chiffon nounce. whose da;ntiness
seemed to shrink from the discolCrcd
NALL paper.
one brief. wonderful highland her
dream OF cOmpa nionShip was over She
would have no further need of the
gown She would not see Kennedy
again. Deliberately she was putting
him out Of her life-going back TO her
lonely sordid struggle.
Whoever had sent the anonymous
notes. they were effective in compell-
inE Margaret TO relinquish "A friend
ship :ha, has just begun TO iiiumine
her weary disbursement.
But hrooding was luxury in which
she could not Indulge. The need TO
work was imminent. Her unpaid board
dill doomed omInously. Before her man
uscript s,fewn table. grimly she
forced her recoilinE mind 10 cutting
anc polishing the rough draft of a
story.
That evening she went down TO a
dinner with more than her usual aver
sion for the noisy odoriferous dining
room.
Il didn't realize 1t was SO late"
conscious that her unpaid board bill
Was the cause OF the landadys scowl-
ing glance. NO. don't care for SOUP
hoping that by this omission to com
pcnsate Tor her hardness.
MarSarets aloofness had antagon.Zed
the other boarders. and now she hurried
through her dinner to escape the IN
iricnly atmosphere
Going back upstairs. she heard a
"a MAJ nj IN,
lady MAS following her. Eelligerently.
her stout bust heavinG from the ex-
ertion. Mrs. Devlin demanded her
money. Nainlv Margaret pleaded for
more time. saying she would soon get
Il check tor "A story.
insinuatinGly. Instead of dinners and
taAis. why doesn't he pay your
board
With flaming indignation Margaret
ordered her from her room.
ordering me out, eh?' with a sneer.
We'll, | guess you'll be the one to
so
Very we'll" swept on by her indis-
nation. Margaret thrust "A few things
into "a handbag.
NO you DON'T" Mrs. Devl!ns bulky
form barred the doorway. You'll take
nothing out OF here til you pay your
board III call up the police station!
I'll sec II | can't get my money" as
viciously she slammed the door. locking
il from the outside.
Terrified, with hysterical visions OF
Imprisonment. Margaret rushed to the
one window as the only means OF es-
cape. with reckless disregard OF the
danger. she swung herself out on the
slope on the slipping tin roof from
which A fire escape led to the ground
Cut through the alley, up a dark side
street. and still on for four long blocks
before she paused breathless-safe
from pursuit.
Under bright light hung sign.
Salvation Army" Clean Beds Is cents.
TREMENDOUSLY opening the door. Mar
garct found herself in barren Office.
bleareyed woman was taking from
her dirty handkerchief three grimy
nickels. for which she received a ticket
and passed on.
Margaret felt the surprised scrutiny
Of the matron. But asking no qucs-
tons. with kindly Come with me-"
she led the way TO A curtained cot. The
mattress was hard and discolored, but
the sheets were clean. and, exhausted,
Margaret soon fell asleep.
She awoke at dawn. 1t was chill
misty morning. a cup OF coffee and a
roll from a cheap lunchroom at the COR
ncr-and she started out in search OF
work.
The very urgency OF her need con-
tributed TO her courage. and at Q
O'clock. as soon as the Offices were
opem. she stood before the managing
editor OF the Evening Star"
We'll, what can YOU write? Don't
generalize something definite" he
flung at her impatiently. CHANGING
through his mail.
I've just spent the nigh; at Sal
vatton Army lodging house" faltered
Margaret. I'D like to write story
about that"
With CLEAN OF interest ne glanced
up.
Go over there" nodding to desk.
and tear it Off"
BY noon Margaret had written the
story-tense. vivid. nslow with at
mosphere. Timidly she laid the pages
on the EDITORS desk
Not bad" as he glanced through
them. Well give you tryout at
eighteen a week"
with leapinG. dizzy joyousness
Margaret murmured her thanks Al