Evening star., 1921-03-13
INNIE worked in the Biggest
W Store. Six days out of her
week she doled out hairpins
and thread and wore riSSue-

N INNIE worked in the Biggest
4" Store. Six days out of her
VI week she doled out hairpins
and thread. and wore tissue
paper wristlets: six days she called
cash" and carried a lead pencil in
her hair; six evenings she ate her
lonely little meal in "Tables-for-
Ladies'" lunchroom. and one hour
later crept wearily into her small
iron bed. But. ah. on the seventh.
This history has to do with the
seventh.
At o'clock on Sunday afternoon
Minnie took her tan suit off it's wire
hanger, dragged her hatbox from
under the bed and unearthed a small
and scarcely worn pair of tan pumps.
While she discards the sateen shirt
waist for the tan outfit we will dis
cuss her.
Minnie lived in hall bedroom,
with a small iron bed, bureau. wash
stand, bowl and pitcher. a straight
back chair and two feet of moor
space. She cooked her breakfast,
which invariably consisted of boiled
egg and two toasted soda crackers,
over the gas jet, and there were a
pewter spoon and a china egg cup on
the window ledge. She shared the
hre escape with the occupant OF the
adjoining room. and on the small iron
Ilnding outside the window she kept
a jar of Jam and stewpan. There
were three pink paper roses in a
glass vase on Minnie bureau ana a
paper-back copy OF Lady Aubrey
secret" inserted beneath the mirror
10 give it the desired tilt. II was TO
this that Minnie returned six out
of her seven evenings.
But there is saving circumstance.
ON the seventh day Minnie emerged
from her chrysalis and black sateen
shirt waist like d "a 9th emporatus,
and the six days of Biggest store
were left to the eppty cocoon OF the
week. From until o'clock each
sunday Minnie Stradolis ceased to be;
simultaneously she discarded the
sateen shirt waist for the tan suit
and the weary yesterdays for the
glowing hour, which was the beacon
of ALL the weary ones that pre-
ceded IL.
At each week end there was 81. 80
in Minnie's tan purse: that meant a
club steak. shoestring potatoes and
tip in gold hotel dining room. with
shaded candles and hidden music. To
b. sure, the S1.30 represented slight
Iy over one-fifth OF her weeks earn
ings, seven hungry noon hours and
jortuous walks from She Biggest
Store TO the ballroom. but those
homely secrets were her own.
WHEN she strolled into the marble
w lobby of the highest-storiet &c
and highest t-priced hotel on Broad
way she was flushed with a beaut!
that is commonly born of morning
sleep and massage: when she estab
lished herself. as was her wont. in q
quiet corner Of one OF the numerous
and perfumed parlors she was &
daughter of fortune. fresh from hei
bath of milk and rose leaves. Wht
could know that she was awaiting th'
grand climax Of her week. and tina
when the crowds came fastest ;tTlt
the lights were brightest she wouit
venture into the gold dining room
Tor one hour--one dollar and thirty
cents worth of dreamland that hat
cost her six days of aching feet be
hind the notion counter? 1t. is tru'
that at 10 o'clock Cinderella was
once more in the small iron bed but
ihe beacon light Of an unborn seventh
day was shining truly across th'
weeks chasm.
Today Minnie put the finishing
touches to her toilet with lingerinl
care: she drew the neat-fitting Goa
snug around her figure and regarde,
herself over one shoulder. After tn.
manner Of women. she iuffed her han
out from beneath her hat with need
less repetition, and posed AT hersel
in the mirror. a half smile lowering OIL
h"r lips and in her eyes.
She uictured herself walking smart
iy through the lobby. she saw loit-r
ii.g heads turn as she passed. Sh
even rehearssd the racS moment wnei
The steel of her knife sank deep int
the red Of the steak. the quiet di2nit.
% her Keep the change. and IN
oasequious bows Of the waiter. Sh
hummed "A bit as She folde. the blacl
Sateen shirt waist away and shove'
the empty hatbox under the bed: the
she took a final survey in the mirror
The new boardcr in the adjoining
room lurched noisily about. and wit
the weariness born of experience sh
closed the window which opened ou
on the joint fire-escape landing. an
turned the key in the bureau drawe
which contained her Bible and moth
cr-of-pearl cardcase; incidentally sh
turned her back on Minnie.
There is parlor in the highest
priced and highest-storied hotel o