The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-25
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
BY LAURA DREW.
Copyright, 1919, By the Mcclure

- "SRepSA SEAlllCdLS
r TNDLEY had been in New York
four weeks before 1t dawned oil
him that his capital was Gwind-
ling TO few do!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 1t
had been a distinct shock to be over
looked. In Saginaw his father was Tie
old lumber king Jackson Lindley. His
boats were leaders in lake shipping,
his name a power in state politics and
he had Just one son TO slip into his
place.
The trouble was that son had inner
tied the temperament and looks OF his
mother. Nanon Sewer, Ffench-Cana
dian 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 Arbor
with new viewpoint and the wander
lust. His love affair with Bah Welles-
ley had been natural result. She was
with little musical comedy company
that happened to strike Saginaw en- its
route up the lake, and to Lindley she
was the personification OF tho New
York world he longed to see and be a
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 max
tngs Of d whirlwind In Saginaw. AT
the end of the motor trips and little
suppers after the show Bah said good
by.
You're an awfully nice kid, Lind. II
you ever hit New York you'd get along
great, II 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 neighborly. they Just
didn't care whether you lived or died,
even II you happened to be next door
to them
You'll know what mean If you
ever go there" she added.
Now he knew. He had moved from
the McAlpin into a 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
rooming 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. She was rather lit
tie, with big, earnest eyes and dark
hair worn simply. She had the front
hall room, he knew, and seemed to 20
her way with a happy independence
that interested him immensely.
She's fine little lady," Nora told
him, as she ran the carpet sweeper
uonchalantly hither and yon. "Her
name is Miss Donald, and that's all
know. but she's very talented, Mr.
Lindley. You should hear her SING.
Sure. she can trill just like bird ana
better"
By the end of the second week he
found himself watching for her every
day. She was the only person in New
York he wanted to know, and she
passed him in the hall quite as il she
did not even see him.
Then one night ne was Weakened by
the smarting sensation i'll his throat,
and he opened his eyes to find him
self in a gray cloud. There was no
light in his room except from the tran
som. He tried to draw his breath.
choked heavily and wrapped the blank.
ct about his mouth and nostrils as he
struggled to the window and threw it
wide.
From the basement windows the
smoke was pouring out thickly. A man
passed in the falling snow and he
hailed him, telling him to turn in the
alarm at the corner while he reused