Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-07-11
The Game ofLiving
n
By s. B. HACKLEY
By s. B. HACKLEY
Copyright. 1872 by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

paper Syndlcate-)
Robert Buckley paused in his leis-
urely walk down Bradlaw street and
seated himself on one of the imposing
stone steps of the church on the cor
ner.
i've got to rest a minute" he said
half aloud, tanning himself slowly
with his Straw hat. 1T doesn't take
much exertion to use fellow up when
he's only three days out Of the hos
pital-but it's glorious to be out
again John says it's pretty quiet on
my beat-me for duty In a couple or
30 days nowp
A pretty young girl came out of the
church and paused a half moment I'M
certainly on the upper step. The
young man, In his swift, involuntary
glance, felt his heart leap. He rose
hastily and stepped aside. She start
ed down the steps, but her eyes were
misty from crying; she stumbled, miss
Ing a step. Buckley caught her full in
his arms as she fell.
Thank you-oh, thank you" she
faltered as she stood erect. II was
very AWKWARD"
She passed on down the street, but
he had seen despair in the eyes she
raised to him. He looked after her
with a strange construction of the
heart.
THAT was my girl |" he said to him
self as he walked slowly back the 9TH
er way, land l don't even know her
name or where she is goingl And oh,
good Lord, she looked like she wanted
to diew
A month before, the old insurance
man for whom Hester Moran worked
had died-the city was overcrowded
with workers-the girl had not found
another job. On this Sunday she had
shrunk from going to the little church
she regularly attended, and so had
gone to a big strange one; but In this
great church 1t seemed to the little
stenographer every one was "rich in
lands and money" there were but two
pennies left in her purse, and, after
Tuesday night, her rent would be up.
No money, no work, and nowhere to
goi
With despai1ng bitterness in her
soul, Hester had risen and slipped out
of the church.
"I'll try again tomorrow and Tues
day." she said to herself-"perhaps
Wednesday-then-"
Monday and Tuesday we're one con-
tinuous tramp She had asked for
work at everything she could do, only
to be turned down everywhere. In the
dusk of Wednesday she stood in the
lobby Of q great Office building, re-
solved to make one last try. "Stenog-
rapher wanted" the slip of paper she
held in her hand read, Room co.,"
The stylish, elderly man into whose
office she was admitted gave one look
at the newcomer, and turned to the six
girls waiting to talk with him about
the job.
"No use waiting" he flung at them
II can see none of you will dor
With gallant air he set chair for
Hester In his inner Office and drew his
own big chair close up beside it.
"You'u suit me to n TT, ducxie." ne
remarked. 1--WE been looking for
something slick like you, and l can
see with one eve you're a live wire "
SIckened Hester edged her chat,
away.
"IJow p,rcb doas tho n,oca navy
she asked
give dollars at firstw
"Rut In GIRL can't live on that %
"Who expects Won 10. sweetness1 A
looker l,ke Won DOESN'T have N live or
81 WHY. Won might get az much a,
twenty a week II we hit II NJ, together
That's what INV last stenoqranhe,
got"
He reached over and soueezed he,
hand. Hester rose her cheeks aFam,
with be,nless wrath
"That,s tho last Insult I'll avar 70
ceive" she assured harseIf when oh,
was In tho street again "tSa ver,
last"
The smo,, ., tho hotashon,s ,ros,
roiIs s,cLonod har bunorr stonnooh
omntv since hor braetfost of crooLars
A, tho foot 90 .ho stoIrs ,hot la :,
ber room she nausod tamntod 20 hor
row a slice 90 broad frono har ,ona
Ia h,t sho ,,,rohoa - -. -,
climbed tho stems
az WON'T he hungry vorv ,or.v CHI
thou0ht
II was c,oso on n,an,rh, ,,han 81,
crent ont To the narh where the stron,
tide heet against tho 60. ,ro1I m