The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Game Of Living.
ey s. 8. AhcntEY.

II ~
street and seated himself pr Die
Of the imposing stone steps of the
church or the corner.
''Ive get to rest minute" he said
to himself tanning himself slowly with
his straw hat. ut doesn't take much
exertion to use a fellow UP when he's
only three days out of the hosn'tal-
but it's glorious to be out again! Joan
says it's pretty quiet on my beat-lne
for duty in couple of days noT:"
A pretty young girl came out Of the
church and paused a half nom eat Ut
Certainly on the upper step. The Young
man, in his swift, involuntary c!ance.
felt his heart leap. He rose hastily
, and stepped aside. She started do"n
the steps hut her eyes were misty
from CRYING. She stumbled. Bicit,ey
caught he- iull in his arms as she fell.
"Thalk you-oh, thank you!" she
faltered. 81 was verySaykward
She passed on down the street, Int
he had seen despair in the eyes she
raiSei 20 BIN.
"fhat vas my grit he said T. i-.m-
self, and ] don't even know her name
or where she IS going! And, Oh, sEe
looked like she wanted to die
A month before. the old in svTanae
man 70: whom Eester Moran wetk:sd
had die1-the city was overctoT3sd
wtl workers-the girl had not folad
enOther lob On this Sunday she Rad
.shrank from going to the little church
sac regularly attended and 50 talI
gone TO & big, strange one; but ~ thls
great c:surch it seemed 10 the ssist.e
ttenogrss5fier everyone was rich in
lands and money" there were hut
two pennies left in her purse, end. af'
ter Tuesday night, her rent woiia be
up.
"Ill try again tomorrow and Tues-
day." She said to herself-"p perhaps
Cay-then-'
Monday and Tuesday were one con-
tinuous tramp. In the dusk of We'd
nesday she stood in the lobby # q
great office building, resolved 70 make
one last try. "Stenographer Wansei'
the slip OF paper she held in her haad
read. Room 600"
The elderly man into whose office
she was admitted gave one look at the
newcomer, and turned to the six girls
waiting 10 talk with him about the
job 10 dismiss them.
With gallant air he set chair for
Hester in his inner office and drew his
own big clair close up beside Ter.
you'll suit me 10 'i' llckie," he
remarked. I've been looking for some
thing slick like you. and can see with
nnn nt-n ,,O11iro n live Jvirp ~
Hester edged her chair Sway.
How much does the Tsre pay?'
iiie asked.
Five dollars at first"
"But Ia girl can't live on that"
"Who expects you to, sweetness? A
\ locker lik- you doesn't have to live
on five dollars Why, you might get
as much as twenty week IL we hit it
off together That's what my last sten
ographer got'
He reached over and squeezed her
hand. Hester rose. her checks aflame
with helpless wrath.
"That's the last insult III ever re-
ceive." she assured herself when she
was in the street again, 1.-The very
last"
The smell of the bakeshop's fresh
rolls sickened her hungry stomach,
empty since her breakfast of crackers.
81 won't be hungry very long She
thought.
1t was close on midnight when she
crept out to the park where the strong
tide eat against The sea wall. The night
was warm and sultry, but the girl
shiyered as she crouched on park
bench.
give got nobody" she defended her.
self to conscience, nobody to care"
But as she spoke there floated before
her excited brain the face OF young
man who had saved her from falling At
the church steps.
He'd never hurt a woman" she
thought; "he looked gCod. could
have loved him. wish had known
him and he had wanted me,'
A clock not far from the park struck
twelve. The young fellow in police
mans uniform standing on the sea wall
heard light step behind him. Then
a small white figure slipped past like
;terd and flung herself into the water
He let himself swiftly into the wash
ing tide aid struck ont for the sinking
white figure. In little while he was
back at the base of the wall, and John
Tweedfe, another officer whom his
cries had brought. was helping him.
"Let me, Bob, you're not fit to lift
her again." Tweedle demonstrated, as,
with prayer in his heart Buckley
bent over the girl.
Her eyes were closed, but he knew
her for the girl who had passed him
on the church steps on Sunday. He
had found her again and like this!
Late in the afternoon Hester awoke
to clear consciousness in the hospital
! bed.
She raised herself.
Why didn't they let me drown? 1t
wouldn't have hurt anybody"
The nurse shook her head in re.
pfoach. st did hurt some one. The
young man who saved you is just up
from q fever-he went back on duty
only last night-he wasn't fit to jump
into the river, hut he risked his life
because he wanted you to live! He's
q good boy. too-I've known him all
hts lie!"
Hester's white face turned whittier.
Where is he?" she demanded. Help
me to dress
A moment later Robert Buckley took
hold Of his nurses sleeve. I'm going
to get up" he told her. I'm all right
now
"Lie still" she babe him; 'lie still
ard kt ep your eyes shut I'm sending
e,,n,enodx, to see vnu-the ,,irl thai WI,