The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-08-21

little about each other and cared less.
There was no exchange of neighbOrly
visits. Once having gained access to
such a building by forged references,
so long as they paid their rent prompt
ly, no one in the building would both
er his head about the character of any
of the other tenants.
This last theory seemed the most
plausible. Besides it was the easiest
to work on. 1t ought not to be diff
cult to ascertain who lived in the two
apartments above. Undoubtedly my
best source of information would be
Nellie Kelly, the telephone operator.
Perhaps, too, she might be able to in
form me of my great-uncles where
abOuts. More than likely he had left
forwarding address for his mail with
her.
With a letter | had written to my
mother, | descended to the main floor
and began a conversation with Miss
Kelly by asking where was the near
est place that could buy stamps. AS
we chatted l began complaining how
lonely 1t was in the apartment and
wound up by inviting her to dine with
me that evening.
had anticipated a ready acceptance
Of my invitation and was amazed to
find it firmly refused In a much con-
fused manner she advanced a dozen
reasons or rather pretexts. She did
not so out with the people of the
house. Her mother would not like it.
She did not know me well enough.
Mr.. Wick would discharge her if he
heard about it,
From an unexpected source, though
none the less unwelcOme, l found an
ally. Mr.. Wick himself hobbed up
from somewhere, apparently having
overheard enough of our conversation
to know what it was abut.
"Why, of course, Mr.. Nelson" he
began in an ingratiating manner that
! was most repellent to me, Miss
| Kelly'll be glad to go to dinner with
you. It's part Of her business to make
things pleasant for the tenants"
1t seemed to me that the girls eyes
flashed defiance at him and that she
was still inclined to refuse, and l was
about to explain resentfully that my
: invitation was not issued on a bust
: ness basis, when into Wick's face
: came an ugly look, something almost
: threatening.
"Of course Miss Kelly will be glat
to go with you" he repeated sharply
Certainly" said the girl quickly
before | had a chance to speak, ri
Mr.. Wick thinks it is all right, vii
be glad to 60"
u Her acceptance did not ring true
1 was convinced that it was unwilling
Il " given under some sort Of com
J puLsion from the odious Wick.
u met her, at her suggestion, in thu
: parlor of one of the less pretentiOu
hotels. In the hour that had elapSet
l. since she left the apartment, she ha
It exchanged her neat black working
suit for more m0dish clothes. Afte
e one quick glance at her TRANSFORMS,
l. appearance my mind was quickl
y made up as to what sort of a restau
r rant to take her. It was manifest tina
D. she was of the type that would enjo
d to the utmost the costly whirl Of tn
T. fashionable cafe of the moment
" was my purpose to give her such
E. delightful evening that she would b
e, wishing to spend others in the sam
r way, for / felt certain that she, PEI
haps better than anyone else, coul
ID supply me the information l wante
g. about the tenants in the building.
re was sure it would be well worth m
" while to win her good graces, co!
ID what it may. Calling taxi, / bad
Ds the chauffeur take us to the "Whit
Ill Room" the very latest fashion in re
taurants, where h0rdes of hectic pu
re suers of pleasure we're wont to assen
he BILE to dine and dance. / observed II
NJ CLEAN of satisfaction that came I'M
I'd her ewes as she heard me mention OF
destination.
no At first we talked, in Broadwf
X fashion, of the theaters and resta
rants, of the place we were in, Of Il
N. people at the tables about us, b
I'd gradually l led the conversation
&c Miss Kelly herself and to her wol
rs in the apartment.
Ne at was funny, wasn't It," sal
NJ 'about Mr.. Wick insisting on yo
in coming with me? had notion
A. didn't like me-"
,Id Hitherto my companion had be-
90 most vivacious, chatting merrily, fias
~, ing back at my sallies with clever bi
~ of that slangy repartee Of which me
XII of the metropolitan business girls a
bo such clever mistresses At my last
,ro mark a quick change came over h
rio face. 1t was as If a mask had be
700 set up between US behind which S
vo was hiding from me.
no "I guess he likes you" she answ'
.oy ed guardedly. II never heard him S
70 one way or the other"
nd "While we're talking about t
me apartment" l went on, did my gre
MA uncle happen to leave forward
hv address with you? There are sol
tho things want to send him-sol
ov pearls they left behind-and he b
r,s not written me yet where his adore
nv will be-"
- I had not intended TO mention