The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-16


 The big limousine of Mrs Van Blocker sped down Fifth avenue through the swarm of traffic, deftly turning this way andl that. between other vehicles. as the skilled French chauffeur carried Jane on her way toward the building contain ing the office of H. Mortimer Montague.
 It was the first time in her life that Jane had ever ridden in such a mag nficent car, and she could not resist the curious little thrill lof luxuri.ous aban- don which it's soft cushions and smooth progress gave her.
 What a curious old world it is!'' thought the girl, as she guardedly gazed through the polished windows at the oc- cupants of other cars, proceeding down the broad thoroughfares in the same di- rection." How little they knew about me, and how limited is my knowledge of them For all they may guess might be the owner of this beautiful machine, d nd yet I am only poor little country stenographer, spending my first week in l New York;
 Jane could not resist a smile at the fancy.
 And, I suppose that is the great, fun damental truth of life in this big city, l One never knows ones neighbor here!
 The persons whom I think must be the
 happest, to judge by my quick passing view of them, are offtimes the mosu wretched in soul
 As she pondered over this great funda-
 mental of the strange life of the metrop-
 oils, her thoughts turned to the little
 town of Fernbank back in the middle
 west, which she had left less than
 week before.
 How surprised and shocked some of
 those old ladies of the minister's Aid so-
 ciety would ber she laughed gleefuily
 to herself q have had more adventures ct, ho a 0
 put together have ever experienced in
 their whole long lives of mediocrity. Well,
 I would rather have a life that is deep
 and broad and full of stimulating ad-
 vance than one which is merely peace
 full and long.
 Therein Jane Brown sensed the impeil-
 ing mood of millions of other young wom r.
 en: it was a motive in life which led to
 the great fork in the road-whether she was to choose the better or the worse at
 the dividing point of the two paths was question dependent upon more things than her own individual desires, as Jane was to learn at bitter cost. Yet. thus far in her adventure in the bip city Jane Brown, despite her unfa- miliarity with the currents of it's hfe, the whirfpools of it's gaiety and gilded tesnptations, had been wise in her pro gress, and fortunate in her choice oi courses.
 What the morrow held in store for hef she could not guess: should it continue with the mysterious development ol rspd-fire tragedy and comedy which hae marred the last few days Jane felt thai her own experiences would far surpas' any of the roseat dreams of city n1' which had come to her during the quie l days of school teaching back in the little town. . The big automobile was now windins | its way through the heavier and less fashionable traffic of lower town-grea motor trucks and horse-drawn carts | loaded high with merchandise. All sens | of direction had now been dissipated l and she helplessly trusted that the chauf Il feur understood his path through tn Il seming confusion of vehicles.
 II q wonder why we must stop on ever, Il crossing?' she asked herself impatiently H neering out anxiously at the detainin; H figures of the various traffic policemen H "I will never be able to explain to MT H Mortimer as to my lateness. and l woule Il not think of telling him the real fact' HI in the case.' ,.. HI At last the big limousine. threading it' H way through streets so marrow snu s' III steeply walled by great skyscrapers Una HI if seen-ed as though the walls might top III nle in upon them. brought her 10 'n' HI f.,pt ,,oe- vav of the offire baildins II HI wf:e ste vr'ked- :. HI lane hurried out of the macn re' al III the chauffeus swung open the ooor"ay | respectfully touching his cap. HI .-rhanks very much" she said. won H dering whether it were not proper .' HI tip the man. She hesitated, not &ro",r' III the cu.,om in private cars' ana ,n' III chauffeur grinned amiably unoi. ni' |II pointed black moustache. HI Good afternoon. mademoiselle, n' Il ss,d with enother salute. and Jane ch II tered the building.
 Il "she is one pretty little girl. unused tn