Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-15

her seat and politely push forward TO the
vestibule OF the car. where she waited until
,he uain came to full stop. And so II
happened that Shirley Bloodgood led the
nrst hight OF men who were hurrying up
the long lanes of the station toward a
roped-on space where groups OF people
waited expectantly for relatives and friends
Not that Shirley looked forward TO seeing
familiar face among them: on the con-
trary she was fully aware, since she had
neglected to telegraph to any one the time
OF her arrival, that there was not one
chance In thousand OF any of her ac-
quaintances being there II was merely that
she had fallen under the spell OF that
subtle spirit OF unrest and haste which all
travellers, however phlegmatc, recognize the
moment they breathe the air of the metrop-
oils, one quick. scrutinizing glance. IL is
true, the girl threw around and about her.
as she passed through the crowd but there
was no disappointment on her face as now
looking neither TO the right nor to the left
she brushed past what seemed to her a
hundred cabbies each intent on making her
their legitimate human prey.
Once clear Of the exit she turned to the
porter who was carrying her bag, tipped
MN, and directing his attention to an
urchn In tho center OF a bowling mob Of
youthful street Arabs ready to pounce upon
her bag the instant the porter dropped II.
she cried Give II TO hhn--hlm !"
II was chubby little Russian Jew with
red cheeks and glistenng eyes whom she
selected. and, with howl of dlsappoint-
ment. the other rasamuf'ns opened up a
lane to let the victor get his spoils. stood
while Shirley and her escort marched of.
and then swooped down upon another
victim.
Come with me" said Shirley TO tho boy;
and suiting her pace TO his running stride,
she turned her face toward the west.
AS Shirley walked rapidly along, the even
pavement felt resilient TO her wel-shod feet
The Keen air brought new vigor into her
race into her body. and IN it--partial
stranger as she was--she detected that
which the metropolitan never SCENTS the
salt Vapor OF the sea, Thousands Of men
ana women passed her. and to one and all
hguratively speaking. sshe opened wide her
arms. Tho glitter of thousand lights
round an answering sparkle In her eyes
There is nothing in the world like It! II
VIII ever be home-the real home to me !"
cried Shirley. half aloud. The noise the
hustle. the crowds, the life-oh how I 20
love II all =!
For a considerable time Shirley had been
living on the heights OF Arzora-a wilder
ness crowded with space. dotted here and
there with human beings. Leaving her
mother out there until, under new and
altered circumstances, she could arrange
their home In the big city that belonged 10
ber-and today, more than ever. she knew
that she belonged TO the big city, that I'm
truth she was one of its people-she had
come all the way through without stopping,
reasoning that In that way just so much
less time would eapse before she could re-
turn and fetch her. In the west-a land
where men stood out in bold relief because
they were few--they had pointed out TO her
rugged specimens noted for their physical
prowess. their daredevil reckiessness of
life. And viewing these staggering heroes
with the sense OF personal achievement,
however remote, strong upon them. a vague
longing had crept into her inner conscious
ness.
"Oh, II were only n man !" she had said
to herself. But now, as she swept along on
the right side Of the sidewalk, facing the
crowd that passed her on the left. she knew
and felt that here was the place of the real
struggle, the battle ground, the fiery fur
mace that men were tested in. out in Ari-
zona, II had been man TO man but here in
New York. It was one man against
million. And yet woman-like. she thought
that were she unseXed she could meet this
struggle with tireless energy. could strike
where men had failed. could crowd her way
up inch by inch to the top. And thus COM
muning with herself Shirley walked on and