The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-06-12

seated himself on one of the Imposing
stone steps of the church on the cor
ner.
"Tve got to rest q minute" he said
half aloud, tanning himself slowly
with his straw hat. ut 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 couple or
SO days noww
A pretty young girl came out Of the
church and paused half moment un-
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 step. Buckley caught her full In
his arms as she fell.
THANK you-oh. thank you'll" she
faltered as she stood erect. II was
very awkwardw
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 I" he said to him
self as he walked slowly back the 9TH
er way, 'and don't even know her
name or where she Is goingl And oh.
good Lord. she looked like she wanted
to diet"
A month before, the old insurance
man for whom Hester Moran worked
had died-the city was overcrowtied
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 30 had
gone to a big strange one; but In this
great church It seemed to the little
stenographer every one was rich In
lands and money" there were but two
pennies left in her purse. end, after
Tuesday night. her rent would be up.
No money, no work, and nowhere to
got
With despairing bitterness In her
soul, Hester had risen and slipped out
Of the church.
"T'll try again tomorrow and Tues
day." she said to herself-"perhaps
Wednesday-thenl"
Monday and Tuesday were 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 a great ONCE 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.
mo use waiting" he flung at them.
II can see none Of you will do!"
with n gallant air he set chair for
Hester in his inner office and drew his
own big chair close up beside 1t.
"You'll suit me to IT. duckie." he
remarked. "Tve been looking for
something slick like you, and I can
see with one eye you're live wire."
Sickened. Hester edged her chair
away. s-~
"How much does the place payr'
she asked.
"Five dollars at Hrst!"
"But la girl can't live on that!"
"who expects you to. sweetnessf A
locker like you doesn't have to live on
S5. Why. you might get as much az
twenty a week II we hit It on together.
That's what my last stenographer
got"
He reached over and squeezed her
hand. Hester rose. her cheeks aflame
with helpless wrath.
THAT'S the last insult I'll ever re-
ceive," she assured herself when she
was In the street again, 'the very
last"
The smell Of the bakeshop's fresh
rolls sickened her hungry stomach,
empty since her breakfast Of crackers.
At the foot of the stairs that led to
her room she paused tempted to bor-
row q slice of bread from her land
lady. but she clinched her hands and
. climbed the steps.
II won't be hungry very long" she
thought.
1t was close on midnight when she
crept out to the park. where the strong
tide beat against the sea wall. The
, night was warm and sultry. but the
girl shivered as she crouched on 9
park bench.
"Pve got nobody" she defended her
l 81