Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-03-07
I ~ ~ y, ~ ME nnHmnW
SQUEAKY SHOES |.
. by VINCENT q. PERRY. p
INSTRUMENTATION

(Copyright 1918. by the Mcclure NeWspe~
per syndicate)
There was n sharp rap on Marshall
Bells bedroom door and he started
from his sleep. II was not two minutes
before he had thrown his bathrobe
over his pajamas, slipped into his slip
pers and opened his bedroom door, but
in that short time whoever Il was that
had raped. had disappeared. Marshall
was about 10 close the door when the
odor of hot coffee reached his nos
trils; there II was-a large cupful on
a tray at his feet and there was n
plate of steaming mullins, too.
swell. this Is the best yet" he NUT
tered as he picked up the tray. MY
rooming-house lady certainly Is atten-
tive TO her roomers."
He did not wait to dress before tack
ling the mullins and coffee.
"Greatr r. he exclaimed when the last
crumb had been washed down by the
last drop OF coffee. II made a change
for the better when I moved here.
Breakfast wasn't included in my bar
gain. either"
Marshall was clerk In a shoe store.
Saturday night, the busiest of all the
week for him, came and was almost
gone. He was tired through and
through, and the prospect Of sleeping
late on Sunday looked bright.
He was the last one to leave the
store that night and was Just turning
the key in the lock to close up when
he heard faint pant beside him. He
looked and saw pretty young woman
who had been hurrylng.
ooh. am ] too late to get a pair of
shoesT she painted. II have been work.
ing late tonight and l did so want to
get them"
There was an appeal In her tone and
he liked her face. ut won't be any
trouble TO open up again." he answered
as he pushed upon the door and flashed
on the lights. "what style Of shoe do
you want and what size do you wearI"
She did not take long TO make her
choice. Almost the first pair he showed
her she liked, aud although he warned
her that they would squeak for a time
until they were broken-ln, she was bent
on the purchase.
at is late for you TO be out alone.
Perhaps am going your way" he sug-
gested.
IT live in Marlborough street; num-
Der thlsty-seven."
"The very place where ROOM" he
said in surprise, 81 have just been there
week."
cit is strange that we have never
met at the rooming house." she said
as they were walking home. IL have
been working so hard at the Office the
last two weeks that haven't had time
TO notice any changes. Where Is your
roomT
"At the end Of the hall on the second
floor"
She started. care you sureT' she
asked.
Certainly"
"Has Miss Moore, the former occu-
pant of that room, left the house alto
getherT"
"The landlady told me that they had
taken her TO a sanitarlum. The room
was fumigated before went into H."
"Poor little thing, / was afraid II
would come TO that" There was gen
uine sorrow In her voice. As Marshall
wished her goodnight, he asked her
her name.
"Grace Atkinson" she answered.
"Mlne is Marshall Bell" he told
her, "and hope / will be able 10 re-
new our acquaintance some time
soon." Then he went 10 bed.
When he awoke II was past noon. He
jumped out of bed, hurriedly. Why
hadn't he Weakened at the knock The
coffee and mullins would be cold. He
opened the door and gave II gasp of dis
appointment. The tray was not there.
As he passed through the hall ON
his way out TO dinner, he looked into
the sitting room. where ne spled the
young woman Of the evening before,
sitting reading
won't you come out TO dlnnerr he
invited.
She hesltated for n minute, then
rose. "Thank you, / will" she said.
As she walked toward him he noticed
the squeak OF her new shoes.
'The landlady must be sick" he re-
marked after they had had dinner. "She
always leaves a nice tray Of mullins
aud coffee for me In the morning. but
this morning she did not do $50. l love
mullins ana Coffeew
II think the landlady is quite w,ll,"
Grace answered, MS she put her hand
kerchief 10 her cheeks 20 hide blush.
Monday morning Marshall woke with
start. Had he been Streaming? He
would have sworn that ne had heard
n rap on his door. He listened. There
was an unmistakable sound Of squeak
ing shoes going down the hall. He
opened the door just little. The odor
of coffee grQafad him aud ha cafyad