Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-23

THE STRANGER.
Chapter LII.
In order to reach the factory, Ruth
had to walk through several streets
near the edge of the town-streets I'M
paved, unswept, running between rows
of tiny houses cheaply constructed, to
house the factory workers.
A little walk would have brought
the children of that district to the open
fields. but, of course, they rarely went sc
far TO playl-possibly fearing the mo
Trc>pass" signs on the farm-lands. They
PLAYED IN the streets instead, often IN
danger from the trucks carrying materials
from the factory to the station
Beside the factory was large vacant
lot. The owners intended, in some pros
porous time, TO build an addition here
meanwhile the ground was idle. but
beautifully smooth and green.
And one day. when the Idea had taken
detailed form, Ruth went to the employ
ment manager BY this time he remember
ed her rs the girl he had taken an interest
in before He passed her house on his way
home and he had noddlng acquaint-
anoe with her father. In fact, he knew her
as girl not of the factory element-so
when she went with her Idea, she found =
ready listener.
IL Simply Tint l. NsElt blicui w ltiono
that empty field into a playground for
factory workers children" she said. And
went on to outline her plans. Ruth had
been reading up on Fairgrounds In the
magazines at the library, 80 she talked like
an experienced social worker.
IA few dollars will dc it. They should
have swings, see-saws, some gymnastic
stuff so they oan develop their legs and
arms, and a shallow pool to wade IN on
hot DAYS"
And. to her delight and amazement,
when the manager took it up with the
faotorv-owner. Ruth was sent for 10
outline her idea again, and the playground
was established The owner even put up
some young trees, so there would be shade
in carefully keeping clear the
space where the future factory would be
built
You're not like these other girls.
You'll get there, he said TO her, and the
remark made Ruth happy for days.
Perhaps, something inside her said
perhaps after all there was a chance
Perhaps she need not go on forever drldg-
ing, doing work with her hands when she
knew her head was better than the average,
going home at night to rooming house,
when she longed for q place that was
dainty and quiet.
But that little CLEAN faded as the DAYS
passed and nothing more happened. TO
besure. the plavvard was there, the Taught
er and the cries of the children reached
her as she sat al her table, even the fights
OF the small boys were a Joy to her. This
safe and pretty playground was her crea-
ton. 1t was an improvement over the
streets, il was something she had accom-
plished Something beside checking up the
pieces OF work done by these dreary look
ing girls and computing their week 5 wages
from it.
For she went on as before Of 50 week
and the only gain was that she had master
ed the figures and ''pot-hooks though
she was still slow at them, and that she
could use q typewriter with growing
accuracy.
One evening she came home worn
out. She was not even thinking of Tim
she knew Tim and Myra were not yet
married. or Mrs Weed would have told
her. She had simply cut herself free from
that situation. The old love, her dead
hopes. lay heavily enough on her heart
But she tried not TO think of it.
1t was cool enough now for her mother
was in the kitchen cooking. Upstairs I
came sounds Of moving trunks and fllrni- |
getting settled for the new term. That !
meant more money each month Also |
more work. The one solemn man who had /
the spare room on the second floor had |
moved TO the two lower floor rooms. They /
ever saw him.
Ruth went back to the kitchen, felt /
the water boiler over the stove, decided /
there was enough hot water for bath, !
il she reached the bathroombefore the /
four teachers did. She went upstairs.
and slipped into one of her old /
summer dresses, freshly Numbered that
day.
She threw herself on the bed for
rest, and when her mother
told her dinner was ready, she got up and
combed her hair As she went downstairs
a young man walked up the path from the
gate to the front door The others were
back in the dining room; Ruth went TO
the porch TO see what he wanted.
Someone for room, perhaps. Or per-
laps only another OF the agents that APP
peared sometimes But no, this man was
no travelling agent.
She watched his swift walk, his long
steps, ard when he reached the porch
5teps she had to smile in answer TO the
'nile Of greeting ne gave her as he took
,f his has
Is this the O'Niel house? Is Mrs
ONiel in9" he inquired
Yes. Mothers in. I'll call her"
'Oh! / beg your pardon, but then
-ou are Miss Ruth O'Niel, aren't you?
have letter of introduction TO you,
rom Mr.. Turner IN New York
Ruth was silent an instant. Then
t flashed back upon her-the letter
rom which she had hoped so much, that
only reference about sending
! man TO her for roomi
why, yes; remember now he wrote
'he made her voice suddenly cordial.
But he gave no name, you sec"
Langley Williams
Langley Williams" Ruth echoed the
.ame vaguely, still looking at him and
of the curious part that name
vas to play IN her life.
Tomorrow-Developm