The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-06-09
CHAPTER Ill
lifiy.Iifty
II was late fall or early winter In
the city OF Cleveland

the city OF Cleveland.
Mary Warren and her room mate,
Annie Sduirea. met AT certain
street corner. as waH their daily
wont. the former coming from her
place In one Of the great department
stores. the other from her work Ia a
factory six blocks up the street.
Ito. Mollie." said Annie. and her
friend smiled. nn she always did at
their chill corner rendezvous. They
found some sort OF standing room
together IN a crowded aar. swinging
on the stnpa az !, soresrhod It's way
around the curves. thru me crowded
portions OF the city. II was long
before they got seats. three-auarters
Of an hour. for they lived far out
Ten dollars week does not give
much In the way OF quarters.
"Goc, These cars ia fcee." said
Annie Squirea. with smile and IA
wide ginnce into the eyes OF young
man against whom Ahe had been
flung. altho Ehc spoke 10 her CON
panion.
Mary Warren made no complaint
IIor face. calm and gentle. carried
neither rcpininE nor resignation. but
a high and reaolute courage. She
ahntnk far as she might. like IA gen
tlewoman. from personal contact
with other human beings. the little
droop beginning at the corners OF
her mouth gave proof OF her weari'
ness. but there WIS "A thorobrcd Wig
or. slihen strong fairness about
her. which, with the self respecting
erectncaH IN her carriage. rather be
lied the common gnrb she wore. Her
frock was that Of the htieswomau.
her gloves we're badly worn. her
boots began to show signs Of break
ing. her hat was Of nondencript sort.
OF small pretenHionE- yet Mary War
ren'n attitude. less Of wea rlness than
Of resistance. had something OF the
ivory fine gentiowoman about u,
even hcrc al the end Of "A ranping
winter day
Annie aauires was dressed with
trfe more Of the prrtenrion which
ten dolars n week sllowH. she ear.
ried a sort Of rude and frank vitality
about her a healilpAil color In her
face. no, wholly uncomely She was
irifie younger than Mary Warren
the latter might have been per.
hapa five and twenty.
well. the Dutch seems 20 be hav.
ing their own troubles now Eaid
Annie after time. when AT length
the two were able 20 find seats. n
trife TO themselves In corner Of
tho car. Looks like they might
learn how the war thing goes the
other way round Gee vish't I
was a man, ia show 'cm peace
She went on. passing from one
headline 10 tho next Of the evening
paper which they took daily turns In
buying. Mary Warren began TO
grow more grave OF face as she
heard tho news from the lands where
not long ago had swung and ragged
in their red grapplc tho great armies
OF tho world.
Then sudden rcmorsc came 10
Annie. she put or a hand 10 Mary
warren's arm Don't mind. Sis, ="
said she Plenty more besides your
brother IL gone Lookit herc."
lie was all I had" said Mary
simply. her lips trembling.
"Ycs. know. Bu, what's up to
night. Moliic7 You're atilH Any.
thing gone wrong at the storc7' She
was looking at her roommate kecnly.
well. you sec. Annie. they told
me that times were ttnri now after
the war, and more girls ready 10
work"
They were now near the end OF
their daily journey. Presently they
descended from tho car and. bent
against the Icy wind made their way
certain blocks toward the door which
meant home for them. They dumped
up the stairs OF tho wooden building
to the third floor. and opened the
door 20 their room.
10 was cold. There was no fire
burning In the stovc--they never left
ono burning. for they furnished
their own fuel. and in the morning
even In tho winter time. they rose
and dressed in the cold
Never mind. dear" said Annie
again. and pushed Mary down into
the rocking chair az she would have
busted herself with the kindbnR
LET me. now. wish't coal wasn't
so high. There's times l almost lose
my nerve"
A blue and yellow flamc at last
began back OF the mica doorcd stove
which furnished heat for the room
The girls. too tired and cold TO take
off their wraps. sat for n time. their
hands against the slowly heating
door. Now and again they pccred
in TO see how the fire was doing.
Mary Warren rose and laid aside
her street garb. When she turned
back again she had in her hands
the long knitting needles. the hall OF
yellowish yarn. the partially knitted
garment, which OF late had been so
common in America
Jaw. Sis. cut II OUT rrumblcd
Annie. and reached to take the knit.
ting away from her friend. "rhe
wars over. thank Cod Give your.
self chanel. Get warm first. any.
ways. You'll ruin your eyes-didn't
the doctor tell you so7 You got one
bum lamp right now
Worse things than having trou.
BILE with your eyes, Annie
Huh! It'll help you n lot TO have
your eyes go worse, won't it7'
But can't forget IL can't
seem to forget Dan. my brother"
Mary's voice trailed off vaguely.
Hes the last kin ] had. Well, ]
was all he had. his next OF kin. so
they sent me his decoration. And
I'm the last of our family--and n
woman--and--and not seeing very
we'll. Annie. he was my reliance
and was his. poor boy. because OF
his trouble. that made him half.
cripple. tho he got into the flying
corps at last. I'm alone. And. An.
nie---that was what was the trouble
at tho store. limits my cyesf'
They both sat for long time In
silence