The Washington times., 1918-07-06

na;ured, and her lips were parted
in a smile. a pretty boy with
curly black and unkempt hair,
chung TO her skirt and gaZed at
the stranger with bold eyes.
Il see," said Lillian, that you
have a room to let"
"Ach ia" replied the woman in
gutteral tones, pronouncing her
German nationality, I'VE hat q
room. Vas you wanting room?"
Seeks to Engage Room.
Lillian drew her macintosh
more closely about her. yes" she
replied, IL have an engagement
for some work in this neighbor-
hood" She gasped at her own
audacity.
$50" said the woman eomplacent-
ly. Dat woold be at de factory.
We haf had young womans from
dare before. l am right, is 1t not
so?"
NO" returned Lillian awkward
ly, lit is not at the factory. May
l see the room?"
a moment-a moment"-the
woman seemed in no hurry to
move-"perhaps you not pay my
terms. 1t is a fine room And
nit breakfast und supper
What are your terms?" inter
rupted Lillian
The woman named a sum double
as large as she had right to ex-
pect, but to LILLIAN it seemed ridi-
culously small. She did not pause
to consider the advisability Of bar
gaining.
Il will pay that II the room
suits me-" she said.
Gut. Won week in advance you
will paw" The stout woman look
ed at Lillian with some suspicion
She had an idea that any one who
was willing to pay SO large sum
must be in difficulties with the
police or have some strong reason
for desiring concealment. However,
IT muttered little to her as long
as she got her money. She was
only rather sorry that she had not
asked a little more.
Yes, yes" muttered Lillian. u
will pay-at once IL you like"
Come, and 1 will show you de
room" The child still clinging to
her skirt, the lady OF the house
made her way, followed by Lillian,
through ths piled heaps of goods
to a door which opened on rickety
staircase. At the top of this, upon
the first floor, was the living room,
and behind it a bedroom of fairly
large size, but abominably dirty
The window looked out on a mel
ancholy backyard, beyond which
rose the bare wall OF some other
mean house. The, atmosphere was
chilly, but pervaded with the same
odor that had offended Lillian IN
the shop. A ragged carpet, long
ma
covered the floor. and the wall
paper hung in strips. The bed was
unmade, Nand Lillian shuddered at
the sight Of the blankets, which
were thrown back to the foot and
dansled on the floor. One or two
broken-down chairs and a oiscol-
ored dressing table completed the
furniture. And it was in such a
room that Lillian proposed to spend
the next week! Verify, she was not
Sinking her duty!
"A nice room. heinz asked the
woman. her thick lips smiling as II
expectant of appreciation.
Yes. I will take it." Lillian
fumbIed for her purse, and, produc-
ing the money. laid 1t on the table.
The woman laid greedy fingers
upon the coins. and her eyes
watched the elegant purse as Lii
Liam returned It to her pocket.
Suspicion Aroused.
Young lady" she said. Il tlnk
you take dis room because you
want to hide. De POLLS. perhaps
but no matter''-as Lillian started
at the suggestion-"dat not my
business, and l care not You hat
no luggage?"
Lillian shook her head.
''Nein. 1t matter not. You pay
vat you want. We hat much
clothes and linen-in de shop. I
sell dem to yOu-cheap. Berhaps
you wanted something nowT'
Lillian reflected that IL she were
indeed fated to spend some days in
this uncongenial neighborhood she
would certainly require other
clothes But she was still not clear
in her mind what her future actions
might be; under no circumstances
must she lose sight of Won Gelden-
stein, and how was she to know
that he lived in this house? He
was still downstairs in the room
behind the shop; she could hear his
voice now and again, talking. as IL
seemed to her. TO another child. So
far. at any rate, all was well. The
opportunity TO obtain a change OF
clothing was not 10 be lost
Il should like some things" she
said. and ] have no doubt you can
let me have them. Anything will
90 as long as 1t is a suitable dress
for this part OF town-just a plain
coat and skirt You will know. or
may l come with you and choose
for myself"
The latter suggestion met with
the approval Of the woman, and
the two women descended togeth-
er to the shop. where Lillian hast
lily made a selection Of such ar
ticles as she thought might be
useful to her. paying without a
murmur the exorbitant prices
asked for them. Her landIady
chatted amiably the while. In re-
Spouse to a question from Lillian
she stated that she had no other
dodgers in the house.
You need hat no fear" che said,
with the suggestion Of a wink,
here nobody trouble you. Myself,
my husband and the kinder-dere
is no one else in de house. DE
business is mine own; it has been
mine desc twenty year. II is a
great business and honest"
Your husbsnd?" Lillian scarcely
Heard the latter part Of the state
ment
ia. Ny man hat just came
home. He stay nit me some days
now" She opened the partition
door and called: Hey"
GeldenHfefn,H Other Family