The spectator., 1919-09-19
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THE BIG HOPE
By LAURA DREW.
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 weeks before it dawned on him that his capital was dwindling 10 few dol lars, and nobody seemed to appreciate the value of his presence there in a business way.
 He had been so accustomed to the way people regarded him up home it had been distinct shock 10 be over looked. In Saginaw his father was the old lumber king, Jackson lindley. His boats were leaders in lake shipping, his name d power in state politics and he had just one son to slip into his place.
 The trouble was that son had inher- ited the temperament and looks of his mot Yer. Nanon Sevrer. q French-Ca- madam girl from the straits. whose dark eyes and capriciouS ways had drawn the silent Yankee lumberjack to her, back in The early days in the northern forests.
 Lindley had come out Of Ann Arhor with new viewpoint and the wander lust His love affair with Bab NelleS- ley had been natural result. She was with Il little musical comedy company that happened to strike Saginaw on it's route up the lake. and to Lindley she was the perSonfication of the New York world he longcd to see and be part of. In his senior way he had tried to meet her and make her four day stay a whirlwind memory. but the trouble was you couldn't find the mak- inss of whirlwind in Saginaw At the end of the motor trips and little supperS after the show Bab said goOd-by.
 You're an awfully nice kid, Lind. If you ever hit New York you'd get along great. if you'd keep your head and not be like they are down there."
 He had asked what she meant, and she had only shrugged her shoulders. Nothing. she had said, only nobody cared about anybody else down there. They weren't ncighhorly; they just didn't care whether you lived or died, even if you happened to be next door 10 them.
 "You'll know what l mean if you ever go there" she added.
 Now he knew. He had moved from the McAlpin into little furnished room on side street. Not that he had to. He could have wired home for money. but he wanted to show the old man he could stand on his own and make good. There was nobody in the ro9minS house who ever spoke to him excepting the old Irish woman who came to clean up his room.
 But when he passed in and out he often saw girl at the telephone in the lower hall. She attracted him oddly because she seemed like one of the girls back home
 Then one night he was wakened by a Smnrting sensation in his throat, and he opened his eyes to find himself in Il gray cloud.
 From the basement windows the smoke was pouring out thiekiy. A man passed in the falling snow and he hailed him. telling him to turn in the alarm at the corner while he reused the rest of the house. He tried as he made his way through the smoke-tilled halls to remember the people in the rooms above. but on the third landing Miss Donald met him, and she was wrapped in a long gray cloak.
 'I'vc called them all" she told him quietly. Tt Is just the furnace. There isn't any real danger of fire. Nora for hA hnf hn went to bed, and the house is filled with coal gas and smoke. It's all right now. She went down to fix il.
 When there's so much smoke there isn't much flame, Mir Lindley," she said seriously
 "How did you know my namef l didn't think anybody in NeY York knew their neighbours names even." he told her
 She laughed and hesitated.
 You see. I know some one who knows you. Bab Wellesley She's In the same show am this season up at the Jardin des Fleurs. roof show. you know. I'm from the West. too. Omaha, and we're friends. She was down here to see me and recognized you ss you came through the hall, but you didn't seem to remember her. But I know all about you. and I've wanted to talk to you so much and tell you to go back home.'
 Go back?" he repeated. Why"
 Before you lose your big hope. Bah wanted to he the new Marlowe. and l thought I would he at the opera in a year, and here we are up there at the Jardin. and glad to get the en- gagement too. She's going home. too. I would. too. If had any to go to. but my mothers dead and my fathers marrHd again. so I'm not wanted"
 Al the end of three months old Jack son Lindley landed in New York to look up his "one and only" as he told Nora when she led him into the old red brick house. And Nora broke the news to him confidentially and jubi-