Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-16
The Gift:
Supreme
BY
George Allan England
Author OF
Darkness and Dawn"
"The Alibi." etc.

He found more color on the way
upstairs. Most Of 1t was dirt; few
spots came from some Wess Indian
negroes gathered on the second land
ing. The third, dark and foul
smelling, showed him an office with
q glass door on which was painted.
SHIPPING OFFICE FOR SCHOON-
ERS AND BARGES,
Thru the glass he caught glimpses
of sailors lounging on a bench out
side a railing, behind which sat
clerks Numerous unclean dunnage-
bags, stuffed with seamens effects,
were slowed in corners. Thinking of
Conrad's stories, Vinton passed on
up another still darker flight of
deeply worn wooden stairs.
Was 1t possible. he thought with q
certain sinking Of the heart. that the
girl worked in such a place? And
was he, Bradford Chandler Vinton,
OF Marlborough street. penetrating
such pestilential environments to see
her again?
AT the head Of the stairs, he be-
held q dingy hallway, half lit by a
single incandescent. He shifted a
dusty, tarry smell. Another stairway
led still higher. A sign that read
sail Loft" and a rudel,, painted
hand. pointing, assured hira the goal
was near.
Near, yes; but now he found that
he dreaded reaching it. At thought
that perhaps the mission girl might
be one Of many women employed
there, and that he might have to run
the gauntlet OF their inspection and
criticism. a kind Of shrinking aver
sion seized him. Every sensitive
nerve cried out against Such an or
deal.
Yet, even as he shrank f,om.it, he
knew that he would not turn back.
ResOlutely he tramped up the stairs,
becoming more and more, conscious
OF a hum and clatter Of machinery.
He turned O corner. pushed q grimy
door, and, with numberle.s., new Inn
pressions crowding on his senses, is
sued into q scene Of complex activ-
ity and interest.
He saw long. low room. noisy
and redolent OF tarred rore~-a pleas
ant smell. It seemed, and clean.
Everywhere canvas - rolls, bales.
mountains Of canvas; seas Of canvas,
biilowing over vast, Uttered floor,
the boards OF which were pitted with
infinitudes Of tiny punct,ues.
Rows Of half windows Ia the white
painted brick walls let the foggy
winter daylight filter III. Between
them hung strange tools and I'M
known implements, cleyv rings and
spectacle clews, siseins OF tarred
Irvine. bags OF cotton thrums and
workmen's caps. A stove, slung from
! the roof by four iron rods, gave free
space beneath It for still more can
vas. Coils Of rope lay along the
wallis.
Wooden strips. nailed to the roof
beams, held numberless plans and
patterns, In tight rolls More pat
terms lay on a drafting desk. Along
one side OF the loft row Of powerful
sewing machines, driven by electric
motors. were chattering madly. as
bent workmen fed endless lengths of
sail cloth into their greedy maws.
Here and there, on low benches pro-
vided with marlinespikes and with
tools whereof Vinton KNEW not even
the names. workers were diligently
inserting grommets into the tufts of
sails, or sewing seams with long
needles. which they thrust thru the
heavy fabric by means OF leather
palms" such as sailors use.
Nervously Bradford glanced about
him, hoping to discove.. the girl, yet
I fearing to-, afraid lest be might find
her at some harsh and mental task.
AZ Some OF the workmen were now
peering curionsly at him. He felt
dout Of place. Ill at ease, embarrassed
In 90 strange ain envirt1lment. Near
him q man In white Overalls, down
on hands and knees with big PEN
Gil. was scrawling calMllistio marks
on breadths Of fabric pegged to the
floor with avis.
'Can you tell me-" ll,s inquired of
this individual, where j. can see Miss
Alden?"
"Office!" grunted tho man, nod
ding toward far corner OF the loft.
Thank you" answered vinton,
with almost equal brewity, relieved
that the girls task was clerical, at
any rate, and not sonae harsh. SAIL
stitching job.
a moment later he had found Miss
Alden.
CHAPTER Nv.