Jackson County journal., 1919-06-06
prurfent fEnuendo that the books were
published in their entirety without ex.

~ IHeII eHIfety WITHOUT eXs
pqrgatlon. Vice has its hypocriticai
cant no less than religion.
One day, toward the end of her first
Week. she was startled to find before
hef card bearing the legend Duane.
InomaS. His address was given. and
the facts that he had bought the tbree-
quarter morocco Balzac the half
leather Fielding and Smollett, and the
| ievant Court Memoirs. He had not
YET taken the bait for the De Maunas.
SAINT
| Daphne P>n6Hred his card and his
taste. SIZE was shaken from her pen-
slVe mOoo =, The sudden commotion
OF all the women. All eyes had seen
the minute and the hour hands in con-
junction at XII. Names were left off
IN the middle; pens fell from poised
hands.
Daphne found herself alone. She
was glad OF the quiet and the solitude.
Whlle 1t lasted-which was not long
Tor Gerst came back unexpectedly
early,
Ills eye met Daphnes. He started
toward her, and then, seeing that she
glanced away, went on to his desk
he stood there manifestly irresOlute
moment. He glanced at Daphne again.
at the nfe escapes. at the empty room.
Then he went to the first of tho tables
ana with labored carelessness inspect.
ed the work of the absentee. He drift.
ed along the aisle toward Danbne
| throwing
rogatlve smile that filled her with q
fierce anxiety.
she knew his reputation. She had
seen his vulgar scuff1es with some of
the girls, had heard his Odious words.
She was convinced that he was about
to pay her the horrible compliment of
his attention.
Her heart began TO flutter with fear
and wrath. She felt that if he smoke
TO her she would scream; if he put his
hand on her shoulder or her chair she
would XIII him, with a pair of scissors
or the knife with which she scraped
OH DlOtS. No, she must not kill
him. But she would have TO strike
him on the mouth
But that meant. instant dismissal at
the very least. He might smash his
hSt into her face or her breast or
knock her to the floor with the bacl,
OF his hand She had seen too much
OF life recently to cherish longer the
pretty myth that the poor are good to
the poor. She had seen how shabby
women Jared with street car conduct.
ors and subway guards. She had seen
her own prestige dwindle as her
clothes lost freshness.
But the violence of Gerst's resent.
ment would be a detail. The horror
was the mere thought of his touch.
She rose quickly and tried to reach
the lire escape. That was the solu.
tion-tO join the crowd.
But Gerst filled the aisle. She sidled
past two tables into the next aisle. He
laughed and sided across to the same
aisle. She tried to hasten by. He nut
his arms out and snickered:
whats the rush, grille? Nobodv
hollered 'Ftrer''
Let me pass. please" she mumbled.
wait ia minute, wait ia minnie.
What d you say if I was to asst Won
to go to show tanight, huh? What,d
you say?"
"Thank you. I have another ]
couldn't"
Smother eve, then? Or to dance.
huh?"
THANK you, I'm afraid 1 can't"
"Why not? Come On! Why not.
Amt got class enough for your"
"Oh yes, but Please let me by."
He stared at her, and his hands
tWitched, and his lips. His eyes ran
over her face and her bosom as if she
were forbidden text. She was try.
ing to remember what Duane had told
her about the way to quell a man.
With great difficulty and in all trepi
dation she parroted her old formula.
MIR. Gerst, you don't have to f1irt
with me. don't expect it, and I dont
like it, so please let me CO."
lie stared at her, trying to under
stand her amazing foreign language.
Then he shifted with amused unbelief.
dropped his hands, and stood aside.
Daphne could hardly believe her
eyes. The charm had worked the third
time! She darted forward to get away
before the spell was broken. As she
passed him-whether he suddenly
changed his mind or had only pretend.
ed to acquiesce-he envelOped ner in
his arms.
She almost swooned in the onset OF
fear and the suffocation of his en-
brace. Then she fought him, striking,
scratching, writhing. He crowded
her against the nearest table and tried
to reach her lips across her left elbow.
Her outfinng right hand struck
against an inkwell, recognized it as
weapon of sort, and, clutching it,
swept it up and emptied it into his
face
His satyric leer vanished in q black
splash. His hands went to his