The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-05-28
MISSION ENIGMA
BY MILpREDsWHITE.
(Copyrisht. isI7. western Newspaper Union.

she had entered the mission room and
u~nobtrusively seated herself at the
long supper table. She was. In some
indefnable way, different from the
throng Of girls who waited smllingly
chattering together for the evenings
free meal"
The keen eyes OF Reverend Philip
noted the neatness of her worn little
blue suit, the u~nmistakable 'air"
about the simple turban. What was
she doing here1 The girls wide eyes
seemed to join him In the question as
they wandered lnQuiringly about the
room.
II have been Interested In you" his
frank, pleasant voice addressed her.
land wondered If / might be Of any
| service. Though the offer may seem
a presumIng one, you may realize that
1t Is only those In need who accept
our hospitality"
The girl hesitated, then her clear
| gaze met his. Thanks" she replied,
my need, / hope, is only temporary"
"You are a strangerf" he asked.
She nodded. Il come, as you may
| suppose, from a country town. l."
she laughed softly, hope one day to
be a successful writer, but the time Is
long In coming. A few accepted mag
azine stories encouraged me. but now"
she paused eloquently-'I wait"
Better go back home" the curate
advised. "the city Is not kind to those
who wait"
The girl looked back at him. II
have no home" she answered simply,
that went-when ny father died"
She had gone before he could form
a reply, and all night with troubled
persistency the sweet face haunted
him. AS had become his habit, he con
ided In the morning his concern to
his mother.
"You may have another opportunity
# speaking TO the girl at the pext
mission supper" his mother suggested.
If you do, persuade her to call upon
me" but she was absent at the follow
ing Free meal TO needy girls"
Philip missed her with a pang, the
eagerness with which he had looked
forward to the meeting was mex
plicable. Could II be possible that
she was now In actual want. Ponder
ing the question he entered upon some
GRAND the city's greatest department
store.
Swaying toward him down the aisle
anne a graceful figure. His eye had
barely become aware OF the velvet
suit with the luxurious furs, the cost
!y picture hat deftly placed upon wavy
hair, when, b~ewildered, he found the
girl of the mission returning his star
tied gaze from beneath Its tilted brim.
The childish eyes were skilfully dark
ened like those Of an actress. the
cameo p~aleness touched with rouge,
the lips painted to a Cupid's bow.
The curate stood indignant before
her. what" he asked fiercely, re-
CARELESS, docs all this meanf"
Il will explain tomorrow" she an
swered, "at the free supper" Then
head erect, with her proud sway, she
moved on.
Reverend Philip had no expectation
Of seeing her at the supper; what was
her object In deceiving7 "a social
worker or investigator Of missions
would not" he unused savagely. paint
herself up like a Christmas doll" And
ut this point the girl entered. seating
herself again at the end of the mis-
sion table. Compelling hunger was
evidenced In her absorption to her
meal. the worn little suit again
clothed her trim figure. Reverend
Philip at last claimed her attention.
"Well?" he asked briefly.
The girl smiled involuntarily, her
pale face was very beautiful again.
He felt Its magnetic power.
You want she asked, ian ex-
| PLANTATION Of this Mission Cinderella I
Wen. I come. because 80 far. my writ
lngs cover room rent, but with the
best management the food supply
keeps low"
She arose and her eyes filled with
tears. Once In awhile" she said. II
must have a real meal"
Before he could divine her purpose
the girl had again eluded him. slipping
back from her place into the crowd.
Recklessly the curate followed, the
~tormenting enigma must be solved
but she was not In sight when he
reached the street. Baffied there In
the darkness he told himself he was a
fool for his pains, yet In this very line
his duty lay. 1t was a chance hope
which took him next day to the same
department store, and his usually
even heart seemed to cease beating as
she again came toward him. Above the
white ermine of her costly cloak the
girls face showed dismay. Reso-
lutely he blocked her pathway.
Now" he demanded. "the explana.
tion7"
She spoke. glancing about In trepfs
dalton. Il had TO do something for
money at once" she said. 'They call
me a 'manikin' here. l display the
L fnfaCf fnilatS--ao-