Fair play., 1917-03-24
VICTIM NUMBER 745
BY OSBORN JONES.

million, one of the first places he VS.
tied was the College of Household
| Economics, where had been taking
place a series of experiments in food
costs. For William McCord was 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 spcCtacles.
The mayor turned from studying the
| girls face and wishing that he could
remove the spectacles TO studying the
| faces of the men. Their baths and
| shaves and clothes had worked won
ders. He was wondering how much 1t
had cost per man TO clothe them. Then
he looked back at the girl in spec
| tacles whom he had determined to
! quiz about the plans for the expert
ment. He watched the eyes through
| the spectaCles. He was wondering
| how old she was when he heard her
voice at his side demanding: How old
are you?"
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 n
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 he had no
permanent address there. "Have you
any trader" she asked, and the mayor
frankly admitted that he had learned
TO be a StOnecutter in his youth.
what is your name and number?"
I'm 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 left it 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 Il quick study of the
faces around him, he walked ambling-
ly to the one most disgruntled.
"IellO, boss" he addressed the stran-
ger of the dsgruntled, cadaverous
countenance in the easy undertOnc of
Camaraderie. "Pretty soft this, eh?"
"Soft nuthn'," grumped the man
Nobody said nuthin about soddin' the
park TO me. If it weren't that l sold
my old suit I'd take this one back and
quit"
"IIave you got a number?" asked the
mayor, and then followed the negOtia
ton whereby the man who didn't wan
to help sod the park found himself free
from diet-squad duty, still possessor ot
the new suit and ten-dOlar bill be
sides. The mayor returned to Helen!
desk n little later. 81 found my mum
Der. It's 745, and please put my namt
down as Bill Finley. That's what
gave at the municipal bureau, and
forgot to give it here. don't want m!
poor old mother if she reads the pape
at home to see that I'm being fed oI
twenty-five cents a day. She's old
fashioned and couldn't understand tina
it could be DONE"
I AS the days went on Victim IA
earned for himself, behind the scene
in the laboratory, as well as among tn
r soldiers at the park, great popularity
l And after dinner sometimes he wOult
J. linger in the laboratory where Helel
r worked over the paper and account
$ to ask particulars as to the workin
out of the scheme. 81 want to Shoy
n the folks at home something about it.
y he said when she could no longer cor
: Ceal her surprise at his unusual inter
e est in the work.
+ But you are not a married man.
She apparently had the data from tn
:, cards by note. Are you going to sho,
Ii your mother how it can be done?"
$ "Oh, yes-yes, indeed" he said.
o you are always so good and you ar
It so big that l am sometimes tempted [
f. send you in n bigger portion, but | al
n afraid the other men might notice
Ie Helen was little tired and when vi,
d, time 745 put out large blistered han
TO her-for ii was many years since h
had welded the stOnecutter's mallC
y and the park squads spades WEI
\ rough of handle--She let hers hinge
Y and rest there minute.
Y Then came the day the squad brok
q up. The men We're dlsbanding an
\ Helen was at her desk shaking hand
X with them and giving them pamphlets
Y and suggestions for the mothers an
o wives at home. Then Bill stepped u
D 10 the desk with an outstretched han,
\ "Tm sorry" she said, "but thei
Y has been some little hitch. Your re
Y Ords from the doctor at the municiIS
q bureau have shown an alarming di
y crepancy. According to the weight e.
X try made the day you entered Il
Y squad and yesterday when you wei
D examined again you have gained {
y pounds. You were 100 then aud no
X you are 1907 There must be son
Y mistake" She looked at him fixed
q through the Spectacles."
D Then came Big Bilrs cxplanatio
X lie had meant to make one, anywu
Y on that last day before he went bat
y to the town of 100000. He meant
q ask the girl who had fed him on
\ cents day to consider n DrODosIti,