The Denver Jewish news., 1919-01-29
The Hat.
BY BENJAMIN p, ANTON.

The lady thus addressed hurried for
ward, while Idy announced to group
in an inner room, Say girls, man
has come into this joint. Come on out
and have y look. Its some man.
He was indeed some man." His
little head peeped out through his
musty great-coat and lost itself in the
confines of an old. green derby. Be
! low his coat. his pantaloons flapped
cut sailorfnshion and completely GOV
cred his shoe-tOps. Madame GazZams :
helpers Oh millinery" crowded tOgeth-
! er in Il doorway in the opposite corner
to gaze at the male curiosity. When
he saw them he clumsily raised his
hand several times to his hat and then
lowered it to his side again, appar-
entity undecided us to the proper for
mality to use.
"Good-for-nothing. go back to your
work The idea standing there star
ing at my customers. What If he is Il
man. sell to everybody. What can
] do for you?" The head milliner re-
gained her composure and faced her
strange visitor. She was somewhat
flustcred and forgot TO purse her lips
in the usual 'prisms and pr''nes' man
ner, Il trick of hers that she cpnsld-
cred her chief asset.
Il want pat-for girl-seventeen'
maybe eighteen years. | pay good. l
got money Sec." and he drew out n
soilcd fivc-dollar note.
Yes. | know: but listen, hats have
to he fitted first. You might take one
that wouldn't fit and VIC don't make
any exchange here. You bring your
girl and she'll try some hats on. Well
find hat to fit here for sure, because
we carry big stock" at this point
lcr lmranguc ceased in despair. Tor
the man did not go out ncckly as she
expected: but stood there, ncrvously
chewing the end of his ovcrhansins
mustachc. He cXasperatcd her still
further by moving over to one Of the
wax models and staring Eloomily AT
. the creation pcrchcd upon It. He GIN
ycrly fingered the black net that was
,lrapcd about the orangc.cOlorcd bon
net.
Il tell you. mister, if you want ia
lmy. you best bring
Il take this. how muchE" he infer
r,lptcd contritcly. He seemed puzzled
as to the cause of her anger.
THAT'S four ninety-eight. but ii
mightn't, he her head size and as J
told you before we don't exchange
Let her come and try il on. You 60
home and bring her and I'll fix this
one to her size. if she wants it. That's
ALL" she finished the last phrase with
n conclusive nod and started towards
the outer door. This tactic. however
was of no avail. He didn't follow her
rs she had expected. but taking the
hat off the model. he told her:
Il take it--no change it--shc ike
it," and he thrust the money into her
hand. He drew out piece Of n Jew
ish daily that he had purpoScly
brought along, and wranpcd IT care
fully about the hat Then as ho
opened the door to leave. he turned
{ apologctiGally and explained ITS for
my sick girl. Doctor say she die soon
She like hat-ncver-ncvcr had. l
give her this hat. maybe she have lit
tie happiness before she die. He hur'
ricd away forgetting to close the door
Some gink.n summed UP Idly, JON
Ing her friend at the door. and as she
saw the millncr rubbing her eyes SIlS-
piciullSly. she added: III bet YOU
fell for that fish story, oh: lou pct
ter examine that bill hc gave you and
SEQ if it isn't phpney."
The bill wasn't phoncy, nor was
there anything about Jake Lcvlnsky
. that was phoncy either Jake had left
Kussia and brought his brood to
America, obscsscd with II single idea
lie desired security. for his children
and for himself. Russia, with hel
NUMEROUS massacres. offered the sec'
ond-ratc article. perhaps America had
the guaranteed article in store. True
lie was leaving IL good home and IL fine
livclihoCd but he felt compensated
He was leaving the fear of the "pO'
grom" and that satisfied him. lie re-
called how at the Easter season he sci
dom knew whether the fists shaken
after him were merely expressions "l
drunkenness or the beginnings of some
we'll plotted massacre. Al any rate
L., ;,,, IN, hn ,,ri,uIn his door
any longer, nor stand the long nlght
through. club in hand. while his ter
rpr-strirkcn family huddlGd them
selves within the dark ga"rrt. So Ike
1, I'm. llS