Evening star., 1920-01-11

shoulders. wrapping the scarf about her
head and knotting II at the throat I'm a
hysteria Of sudden decision. Then down
the flight Of stairs. her knees trembling
as she ran. When she re2 he'd the bub-
bly, sidewalk cool rain slant in her
face She gathered her strength and
plunged against 1t.
At the corner. In the white flare of
an arc light, chin sunk on his chest
against the onslaught of rain. Aiphonse
Nicholson stepped across the shining sea
of asphalt She broke into a run. the
uneven careen of the weak keeping to
the shadow of the buildings; doubling
her pace.
When he reached the hooded descent
to the subway. she was almost in his
shadow; then cautiously after him
down the iron stairs, and when he
paused to buy his ticket. he might
havetouched her as she held herself
taut against the wall and out of his
her twice. From the last landing of
the stairway and leaning across the
balustrade. she could follow him now
with her eyes, through the iron gate
way and on to the station platform.
From behind a pillar. q hen pheas-
ants tail in her hat raising her
above the crowd, her shoulders rain
spotted and a dripping umbrella held
we'll away from her. emerged Gertie
Dobriner. a reproach in her express
sion. but meeting him with q panto-
mime of laughs and sallies. A tang1e
Of passengers closed them in. A train
wild with speed tore into the station,
grinding to stop on shrielsing
wheels. A second later 1t tore out
again. leaving the platform empty.
Then Nine. Moores turned her face
to the rain-swept street and retraced
her steps. except that vertigo fud-
died her progress and twice she
swayed. When she climbed the stair
case to her apartment she was obliged
to rest midway. sitting huddled
against the banister, her soaked scarf
fallen backward across her shoulders.
She unlatched her door carefully, to
save the squeak and to avoid the
small maid who sang over and above
the clatter of her dishes The yellow
lamp diffused its quiet light the length
of the hallway and she tottered down
and into the bedroom at the far end.
A night lamp burned beside a bassi-
nette that might have been lined with
the breast feathers of q dove, so
downy was 1t. An imitation Ivory
clock licked among litter Of imita-
tion-ivory dresser fittings. On the
edge Of the bed, and with no thought
for its lacy coverlet. she sat down
heavily, her wet coat dragging 1t
awry. An hour licked past. The
maid completed her tasks. announced
her departure and tiptoed out to meet
an appointment with gas-ntter's as
sistant In the lower rear hall.
After a while Nine. Moores fell to
crying, but in long wfeezes that came
from her throat, dry. The child In
the crib uncurled small pink fist and
opened his eyes. but with the gloss of
sleep still across them and not forfeit
ing his dream. Still another hour and
she rose, groping her way behind a
chintz curtain at the far end Of the
room: fell to scattering and reassem-
bling the contents Of trunk, stack
ing together her own garments and
the tiny garments of a tiny white
layette.
Toward midnight she fell to crying
again beside the crib. and in audible
jerks and means that racked her. The
child stirred. Cramming her handker-
chief against her lips. she faltered
down the hallway. In the front room
and on the pillowed couch she col
lapsed weakly. eyes closed and her
grief-crumpled face turned toward the
door.
On the ground floor Of dim house
in a dim street, which. by the con-
trivance OF its occupants, had been
converted from its original role of
dark and sinister dining room to
wareroom for dozen or more peram-
bulators on high, rubber tired wheels.
Alphonse Nicholson and Gertie Do
briner stood in conference with a
dark wrapped figure. her blue-checlk-
ed apron wound mum fashion about
her hands.
Miss Dobriner tapped a finger
against her too red lips.
Seventy dollars net for a baby
carriagew
"Yes'm, and a bargain at that, If