The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-05-10

Even a stony-hearted manager
could not be impervious to this
hat" was her parting comment to
her glass.
She took a taxi, with that sense
of affluence which attacks one
like germ on entering the City
of Spenders.
At first Bambi did not notice
where she was going. so happy
was she to be back in this gay
city. Downtown and still down
town the taxi sped, past the
Washington Square district, which
they had explored together, shoot
ing off at tangent into the kind
of neighborhood where Bambi had
fallen sick at the sights and the
filth. They drew up before an
old-fashioned house, with dirty
steps and windows and curtains
1t looked like a better-class citi-
zen on the down grade, beside
the neighboring houses, which
were frankly low-class. The
driver opened the door and Bam-
bi stared up at the place.
why, this can't be it," she
exclaimed.
This is the number you gave
me-"
Wait" she said. She ran up
the rickety steps, her heart sick
with fear. She rang and waited
and rang. Finally, a dirty head
appeared out of an upstairs win
dow. 49,
What dyer want?" a voice de-
manded.
Does Mr.. Jarvis Jocelyn live
here?"
Three flights up-back," and
the window clammed.
wait for me, driver" she
called. She began to climb the
dirty stairs, tears in her eyes.
ooh, my dear, my dear!" she
said, oyer and over again.
She Knocked at the third-floor
back, with no response; so she
opened the door and entered. One
dark area window, bed, a chair
a dresser, an improvised table with
pies of manuscript. It was
cleaner than the awful entrance
suggested. But, oh, 1t was pitiful!
Such a place for a dreamer! BAN
hi leaned her head on the dresser
and sobbed. That he had been
reduced to this, that he had never
told them. that he had refused the
Professors money and chosen
poverty! 1t nearly killed her,
while it thrilled her with a pride
unspeakable. If he had the
strength for such a fight, nothing
could conquer him. She started
at step outside, thinking that i,
might be he.
Suddenly she realized that he
might not want even her to see
this; that he might not want her
to know of this drab tent where
he crawled for sleep off the field
OF battle. She went to the mar
row bed and laid her hand gently
where his cheek would rest.
Jarvis, my dear!" she whis-
pered.
Then she went down the rickety
stairs, out to the waiting cab. She
was sick, heart and body, at the
revelation of what his struggle
meant. All the mother in her cried
out at the physical distress of such
surroundings to a nature sensitive
to environment.
He could have come back to the
sunny, airy rooms he had made
his, at home; but he had chosen
to stay and win. So many things
she had not understood about him
were made clear now. and she
wondered IL Richard Strong had
found him there. No wonder
Jarvis had repulsed him, taken
unawares, and at such a disad-
vantage.
"Oh. why didn't you let me
know and help?" she repeated
She had the man take her round
and round the park, where it wa.
quiet. She must get herself In
hand. She felt that at the slight
est excuse she would burst into
Mysteries! More than ever. now
must she be mistress of herself
for the coming interview. She
must fight to catch the big mana
gers attention, and win her way
with him. She drew her furs
about her. closed her eyes and
tried to shut out the sight of that
cordid, wretched room, where
handsome big Jarvis was paying
the toll to success-toll of blood
and brain and nerves, paid by ev.
cry man or woman who mounts
to the top! She saw him climbing
YEARLY those dirty stairs, coming
into the cell. Over and over she
saw 1t. like a moving picture film
repeated indefinitely.
A quarter before three she or.
dered the driver to the Empire
theater. This time his face clear.
ed. Actress, of course. Probably
went to the sIums to look up 9
drunken husband. He drew up al
the theater, demanded a queens
ransom for her release, and stood
at attention. She was too nervous
L to notice the amount, and paid
1t absently. dismissed him, and
hurried to the elevator.
She was first shown into the
lgeneral-domo's office, where she
was eatechised as to her name and
her business. She waited ID min.
utes while her name was passed
down the line. Twenty minutes