The Washington times., 1920-12-13

be released as = Parasount-Art-
craft picture.
By Winston Churchill.
Arthur OF Orchard Carvei." 'TAe
Crisis, and Many Other Novels
- OF Worldwide Popularity.
40 AY, I'm sorry" She spoke
with a genuineness OF feel
~ ing that surprised him. He
went slowly almost apologetieaily.
toward the door.
Good night, no said. "and
thank you"
Her look halted him.
What's your hurry she de-
manded.
I.Tm sorry" he said hastily. but
must be going He was, in
truth, in a panic to leave.
You're a minister, amt you?'
Eyes" he said.
II guess you don't think much
of me, do your" she demanded.
why do you say that?" he
asked.
"Oh, cut II out" said the woman.
I'm on to you church folks She
laughed. zone of 'em came in
here once and wanted to pray. l
made a monkey of him."
II never had much opinion OF
ministers nor of church people.
either" she added, with emphasis.
There's Ferguson, who has the
department store-he's way up in
church circles. l saw him a couple
OF. months ago, one Sunday morn
ing, driving to that church on
Burton street, where all the rich
folks go 1 forget the name
est. Johns" he supplied. He had
got beyond surprise.
"St. John's-that's it. They tell
me he gives a lot Of money to it
money that he steals from the girls
lie hires-Oh, yes, he'll get to
heaven-I don't think"
"'"How do you mean that he steals
money from the girls"
Say, you are innocent-ain't you!
Did you ever go down to that store?
Do you know what a floorwalker
is? Did you ever see the cheap
guys hanging around, and the
Young swells waiting to get a
chance at the girls behind the
counters? Why do you suppose so
many OF 'em take to the easy life?
I'll put you neXt--because Ferguson
don't pay 'em enough to live on.
That's why. He makes 'em sign a
paper, when he hires 'em, that they
live at home, that they've got some
place to eat and sleep, and they
sign 1t all right. That's to square
up Ferguson's conscience. But say,
IL you think girl can support
herself in this city and dress on
what he pays. you've got another
guess comm
There rose up before him, un-
summoned, the image OF Nan Fergu-
son, in all her freshness and inno-
cence, as she had stood beside him
on the porch in Park street. He
was somewhat astonished to find
himself defending his parishioner.
- RATHER sKEPTTCAL.
MAY it not be true, in order to
compete with other department
stores. that Mr.. Ferguson has 20
pay the same wages" he said.
sShe laughed.
"Forget it. guess you know
what CAN'T House is? That's where
women like me can go when we get
ALI played out and there's nothing
left in the game--its on Rive-
street. Maybe you've been there"
Holder nodded.
-" ell, Sne continued, ferguson
pays a lot of money to keep that
going and gets his name in the
papers. He hands over to the hos
pitfalls where some of us die-and
it's all advertised. He forks out to
the church. Now, L put 1t to you,
why don't he sink some of that
money where 1t belongs-in living
wages? Because there's nothing in
it for him-that's why"
This is a nice place, amt itT'
she observed. 81 furnished it when
. ] was on velvet-nothing was too
good for me. Moneys like cham
pagne when you take the cork out,
It won't keep. I was rich once. 1t
was lively while it lasted" she
added, with a sigh; "I've struck the
down trail. l oughtn't, by rights,
to be here fooling with you. There's
nothing in it," She glanced at the
clock. 81 ought to get busy"
AS the realization of her meaning
came to him. he quivered.