The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-03-01
FOOL THERE WAS"
WHO STOLE FOR HER
But She, in the Century Chorus,
Cared Not When He
Landed in Cell.

NEW YORK, March lin a Dress
ing room at the Century Theater the
girl had finished beading her eye
lashes Zone might have curled them
around ones little fnger) and was
dipping in and out Of the makeup
box with quick, deft professional
touch.
There was a knock at the door. She
replied with an invitation to enter
an invitation put in pretty voice,
though a voice that was a shade too
shrill, a degree too hard for ears
tuned to agreeable meditation. A
man with a message for her stepped
over a pink frock which seemed to
begin at the waist. hesitated a mo-
ment. and then, observing her obvious
incuriosity. gave the news without
frills:
Young Kent has been let of by
the court on his promise not to see
you again-says he won't"
The girl lightly touched her cheeks
with rouge. caressed her lips with
rouge stick. regarded the effect with
perfectly sincere admiration, and then
laughed softly. -
ct should worry" she said. He
won't be bothered by me in his uplift.
kids from Chicago. But he Is a nice
boy, at that. II he had had a good
stake
The Big Brothers up in their Mon
astery of Good VIII say Dick Kent
wasn't altogether to blame for losing
his head over a remarkably pretty
coryphee, following her across the
continent and back again. trying to
play the spender on Broadway and
eventually tempted to theft when
funds ran dry.
His father, Richard Pa Kent, Is secre-
tary and treasurer OF q corporation in
Chicago, and Richard. tr.. who IL twen-
ty years Of age. had worked for his
father until about fourteen months ago.
At that time he Joined several boy
friends in attending famous igirl
show at the Auditorium Theater and
promptly from that evening was on at a
tangent, lost lowell, all sense Of the
fitness Of things. There was a giri-the
girl who so lightly laughed when she
was told that Dick had promised not to
see her aEain-in the front row, the kind
OF girl that is a natural magnet for
flowers and silly notes the kind that Is
partly able to get along on IS q week
because she almost never has to pay for
her own meals.
Sent Flowers and Notes.
Young Dick began with the flowers
and the notes and passed through the
usual apprenticeship at signing restau-
rant checks. The girl liked Ohim. was
amused by his extreme youth and fresh |
ness Of mind. Possibly she was not SUE
prised, after the show packed up and |
left Chicago. to find Dick in q front seat |
at the next stop. Milwaukee. And SO It |
went for months. a kid lovesick for a |
pretty but thoroughly experienced |
chorus girl, roaming wild over the coun- |
try, timing his movements by the itine- |
rary Of the big "girl show" caught be-
tween miserableness and the thrill of |
what he firmly believed was a great and |
only love.
OF course he ran quickly out Of money, |
but his name-his fathers rather
counted for something. Pretty soon bills |
were arriving at the office Of Richard, |
ST., and the anger OF that gentleman |
rose proportionately. Eventually, some |
three months ago. Dick came to the end |
Of his string at Fort Worth. Tex
couldn't borrow from any one. He got a |
Job in a store, stuck to II until he had /
saved enough for railroad fare to New |
York with $50 on the side, and then
came East
Fifty Dollars Soon Gone.
The $50 went lIke-well. every one
knows how fast $50 goes along
between suns. Young Dick
was up against 1t as never before in
his easygoing career. He was living
At the Hotel Navarro which, as is the
habit of hotels, expects a guest to
step up to the cashiers desk once in
4 while, and Dick had gotten out Of
this habit. Also there was the girl.
II he didn't take her to Rector's
else would. Money had to
be found some way-just had to be.
A week ago last Sunday an Italian
citizen negotiating for ticket at the
station whirled from
he wicket at the moment when a
Young man was making of with his
suit case. Some one tripped the
Young man. grabbed him and held
him for Gaetano and the police. 1t
vas Dick, nabbed as a thief.
1t is not every accused thief that
geeps bitterly on his way to the
ockup, and 1t is not to every ac-
used thief that the case hardened
attribute good qualities. In
Dicks case both were true. They
leld him in Jail until yesterday, when
lis case came.
young man" nobody on earth can
ay young man" quite as severely
8 a cloaked judge), 81 am going to
lace you on probation for a year,
nd my advice to you is to keep away
rom Broadway and the white lights.
Z is unsafe for boys OF your age to