Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1921-04-08
What Happened
to Mary
BY DORA NOLAN

4He girl occupying the stool near
est the window, fourth from the corner
On the sixth floor of huge skyscraper,
wore on a certain day in january a
bright pink blouse. 1t caught the eye
OF man standing in the window on
the corresponding floor of hotel di-
rectly opposite.
Fascinated, he watched her deft
fingers as, with the precision of q ma
chine, she packed celluloid toilet ar
tlcles into satin lined cases which she
took from pile beside her. She did
not make lost motion.
When the girl came to the end of
the pile of boxes she turned on her
stool and looked out of the window.
Her glance met that of the man in the
window opposite. She smiled. He ac-
knowledged it by waving his hand.
She returned the salutation, then as a
boy deposited fresh pile of boxes
beside her returned to her work.
With start Strong Lewis relnem-
bered the warning words of his wife
spoken as he left their country home
for business trip to the city. With
a guilty feeling he hustled into hat
and overcoat and out of the hotel.
The episode, however, had not escaped
the attention of the other girl who sat
ut the same table. "I'll tell Johnny
on you, Mary" she giggled
Guess if / always keep them at that
distance, Sadie, .Iohnny'll not have any
kick coming" the other replied. But
Johnny did have a kick coming that
very night, anu this is why.
When Strong Lewis returned to
his hotel room it was verging on five
o'clock. With the instructive move
ment of a man who is not used to be-
ing coOped up indoors, he walked di-
rectly to the window. The girl in the
bright pink blouse sat in the same
place. Her fingers flew back and forth
at the same task.
Been at it all day-and every day,
[ suppose" the man soliloquiZed. How
on earth can she stand it," Then his
wife's warning, which hadn't been far
from his thoughts all day, came into
the foreground again. Muttering some
thing about taking chance" and
n man named BrOdie," Strong Lewis
watched the opposite window intently.
The girls were making preparations to
depart.
He hurried down into the street.
Girls singly and in groups, were string
ing out of the doorway just across
from the hotel. But they wore coats
How could he tell, then, which orc he
wanted? All! There she was; en-
unbuttoned coat disclosed a pink
blouse.
Mary Cummings and her cousin,
Sadie, accompanied by the girl who
lived next door, had started to walk
home together, as was their custom,
when Lewis approached them. He adj
dressed Mary. could l speak to you
on matter which may interest your
All the warnings which reach city
girls from every side concerning the
unknown men rushed through the
minds of the three girls. Sadie shook
her head, and that decided Mary. 'She
wasn't going to be bossed by Sadie
just because she was two years older
and many degrees plainer!"
So Mary answered the stranger with
a polite "Sure" Whereupon the
other girls walked ahead, turning
around occasionally to be sure that
Mary and the strange man were fol-
lowing. Then they FASTENED their
pace to bear the shameful tidings to
Sadie's mother, who was also Mary's
aunt.
Strong Lewis did most of the talk
ing until they reached the doorway of
the flat building where the cousins
lived. There Mary seemed to have
something to say, the while they were
watched by two curious pairs of eyes
from an open window above. But when
Mary entered the fiat the window was
closed and her aunt confronted her.
you're of age, Mary, and it amt
for me 20 say, but | won't. have any
such COINS on by anybody what boards
with me. Think of your mother what
is dead-and think of johnny"
"My boards paid till Saturday, and
YOU can't tell---perhaps I'll leave be-
fore then" With a toss of her head
Mary went to the room which she
shared with Sadie and closed the door.
Soon Sadie appeared with the excuse
of wanting handkerchief and, re-
turning, reported to her mother that
.sMary was dolling up in best buds y
Sadie and her mother listened until
they heard Mary leave her room and
start down the stairs. Hurriedly they
opened the front window and looked
cautiously down. A taxi drew up
at the curb and man jumped out to
help Mary in. Sadie was sure it was
the man who had waved.
The girl from next door came over
TO discuss the scandal and many sup
positions were brought forward before
Johnny Deland came for his regular
Monday evening call upon Mary. But
the Joy which they expected to derive
from the telling of the news was
spoiled by Johnny, who merely
shrugged his shoulders and remarked
aJealous, because yer didn't get him
yerseif. eh?" to Sadie, whom he dis