Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-06
Sizing Up a Woman
UVoU, you are Jean Colfax?" Sadie
L stammercd.

- stammercd.
Miss Colfax could not help smiling,
there was such abjcCt embarrassment
in Sadies entire attitude. but the smile
quickly faded. for like Mr.. Phelps and
young Donahue she disliked Sadie i'm =
mediately. She felt that the girl had
disngrecablc nature and n very un-
pleasant personality, and that whatever
part she was playing in this story had
to do with revenge or something equally
ugly.
Mrs. Howard. wiping her hands on
her apron, hastened to draw UP a
chair before the table, and Miss Col
fax sat down.
Il won't keep you more than min
Ute she said briskly. Il just want to
ask you few questions.
Sadie was thrilled. She did not care
how late she was for the Office and she
wouldn't have objected 10 answering
questions all day. Here she was being
interviewed by the great Jean Colfax,
she would be featured as the woman
who discovered Neil's wife. and, of
| course. there would be oil kinds of fat
tering references to her. How Sam
would open his eyes when he read the
paper and the neighbors would all stare
at her and whisper.
But Miss Colfax was dsappointingly
brief in her interview and to Sadie her
questions were very strange.
ally" " ''' ''''' D''''H
Sure we do" interrupted Mrs.
Howard. She was an angel when
jake was sick, and I'll never forget
Keep out of this, ma" Sadie said
fhFpafpnfnn1y 80, t.
But instantly her face was wreathed
in smiles as she turned toward Miss
ColfaI, whose delicate brows had sud-
denly come together in Il frown
Mrs. Howard shrugged her shoul-
ders. She was used to impertinence
from her children, and took It as
matter OF course.
And why are you so eager for Mrs.
Neil to be found?" Miss Colfax asked
crisply.
Aren't tho police looking for her?"
Sadie returned quickly. "And, besides,
| don't like her, never did," she stop.
ped, conscious that her tone was be-
coming too bitter. but when she thought
OF Harrlet's wide blue eyes and perfect
features her fury was so great that she
could have borne to see Harriet tor
tured. Perhaps some Of this inward
emotion showed in her eyes, for those
Of Miss Colfar narrowed and she rose
suddenly.
That's ALL" she said briskly, "and
thank you very much.
Sadie plucked UP courage as she saw
her wonderful quarry about to escape
her.
when will the story APPEAR" she
asked eagerly, "and will they want my
picture%'
Jean Colfax stared at the face oppo-
site hers for moment. and noted every
weak feature of It, the mean little
eyes, the bad complexion, the wispy
mouse -colored hair and the narrow
mouth with its rather sly expression.
Jean wasn't newspaper woman
for nothing and she realized that some
where under this awful exterior the
girl before her was starved for beauty
and admiration and the other things
girls had in abundance.
Shed betray any one or anything
for praise thought Jean. "1t's trag-
ic."
Aloud she said. THE story won't
be used unless we find Mrs. Neil, and
we II let you know IL we need a photo
graph"
Sadie turned TO her mother as the
door closed on Miss Colfax's trim back.
Sort Of p-stage, isn't she?" she re-
marked, "and ! must say her clothes
weren't much"
Mrs. Howard was wiping away
furtive tear with the end of her apron
and Sadie, noticing it, pulled her moth
er's arm down roughly.
'Now what's the matter with you2"
Mrs. Howard broke out into sobs at
this. "l'm sorry you did it, Sadie,
Al. q I'll ~