The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-10-20

and two ham sandwiches in the
sdper-redness of the 1y-ridden
dining room of the before-men-
toned hostelry.
All Paris said it was a blessed
good thing that the poor dear
squire was i'll. Being confined to
his room, he could not notice the
nightly nibblings of the GQrgonzola
of unrighteousness on the part Of
his joy and pride. Every one pre-
dicted that Miss Winton would, no
doubt, catch the undoubtedly de-
sirable country mouse in the steel
trap of her experience. 1t never
occurred to Paris, even for mo-
ment, that the mouse in question
might be beating upon the doors
of a trap which, for some strange
reason, did not wish to fulfill its
natural duties. No trap had ever
done so unusual a thing before.
Hence such a thing was impossi-
BILE. OF one other thing was Paris
agreed. The town was slowly slip
ping to perdition owing to the met
ropolitan meanderings of its rather
limited sporting fraternity.
It can easily be seen that al
though Dottye might be a Chicago
an by birth and breeding, she was
a true Broadwayite by ingrowing
inclination. Even before that fatal
day when through her trusting
nature and her high-strung, artistic
Temperament t, she had inadver-
tently placed her foot upon that
so-called primrose Path of pleasure
from which no perfect lady may re-
turn, she had dreamed of her Man
haitian. This isle Of dreams con-.
sisted of very small body of labor,
washed by the unceasing waves Of
mirth, melody and mammon.
For Dottye was quite sure of her.
self and Of her Thespian talents.
The words are hers. She probably
knows just what they mean. So
upon her safe arrival she planted
her number twos firmly upon the
asphalt of Broadway. She strolled
along the lane precisely as If she
had four thousand dollars in the
near-trunk which casually hung
from her left shoulder blade, in
stead of a trifle under four thou
sand cents.
Now that she was entering into
a new life she would be good, she
told herself with great firmness.
She would keep her fairy feet in
the straight and contracted passage
which, for such as she, leads over
the hill to the poorhouse, or, more
often, to the centre. of the Brook
lyn Bridge.
Upon hearing Of these quite
creditable resolutions, the young
Under-Secretary to the High Gods
opened his ledger. Turning to the
section number fourteen, devoted
to the drama, he made an entry
under the VS., on the credit side.
For a week or more she called
daily upon the men who sit in judg-
ment behind the theatrical firma-
ment studded with made-to-order
stars. Their smiling young agents
put her name and address. for fur
Their use, in books and their mental
calling lists as well, for Dottye was
good to look upon.
Her small stock of the root of all
evil dwindled daily. At last the
night came, as she had long real.
lied it must, when a hasty inven-
tory Of her bag brought to light a
packet Of paper powders, several
hairpins, one small pocket mirror,
two soiled greenbacks with the fig
ure one displayed with undue prom
inence thereupon, three nickels and
one almost passable Canadian dime.
And all the while Dottye desired
food and warmth and, most of all,
companionship. She was lonely on
Forty-second street-of all places
at s O'Clock at night, as the world
went happily by. 1t was absurd of
her to be envious when a huge
motor-car drew up to the curb, de-
posting a laughing group before a
restaurant ablaze with lights.
At this moment a voice casually
remarked Hello" as if resuming
an acquaintanceship of several
years standing. Dottye started Wis
IDLY. She looked up into the smile
of a strange Young man. He was