Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-01-28
Starigh I
BY the Noted Author
IDAH M'GLONE GIBSON
A Heavy Blow

self to think conspiciously that
. heodore Stratton would meet me
in front of the studio, yet that ev-
identity had been in the back OF
my head all day and it had sus-
tanned me under my lonliness
over Ria's departure and the con-
stant annoyonces that had seemed
to fairly lap over each other all
through the long hours at the
studio.
OF course / told myself that l
was a silly fool but every woman
has told herself that since time
began and yet that does not keep
her from still wishing for things
that she has no reason for think
ing can possibly come true.
| had no reason for thinking
that Mr.. Stratton was coming for
me and yet l hoped and wished
and prayed that he would come.
/ let the tears run down be-
tween my lashes on the street car.
didn't care if the mascara did
make brown streaks on my cheeks
was forlorn little girl and all
alone-aWay from everyone
knew. Nobody loved me-not
even Theodore Stratton cared
enough for me to look me up
again.
Then to clap the climax, when
/ arrived home l found a number
of people in the lobby, talking ex-
citedly with some policemen.
learned that some time during the
day thieves had been in the house
and a great number Of people in
the different apartments had lost
money, jewelry and clothing.
l rushed upstairs to my room
and found that my worst fears
were realized.
My two best evening dresses
which l had been saving were
gone! Slippers and stockings, my
mothers miniature set with
pearls-the only rine piece oi
jewelry l had--and horror upon
horror all the money that 1 had
left home for safe keeping. l only
had about $25 in my pocket anC
with my best clothes gone what
was | going to do?
was too frightened to cry.
just sat down and looked about
with unseeing eyes. What could
| do now? l knew it would bt
impossible for Aunt Virginia tC
send me any more money for she
had give me all her poor little saw
ings when l left home. quickly
added up the next three days WORK
that / was sure of. / could ac-
count for $22.50 besides the
$24.70 that l had in my pocket
book. Forty-seven dollars ant
twenty cents in all!
l was so alarmed that l do not
think l would have lived through
the night If l had not been SURE
of my position with the Theodore
Stratton Co. ate the remains o.
the bread and drank some OF th'
remaining coffee and was perfect
ly miserable.
For a moment l had the wilt
notion OF telephoning to Mr.
Stratton and then / thought: "Oh
l can't do that, it would look al
though / was asking him to hell
me-"
Over the telephone they asked
me from the office; Have yol
lost anything, Miss Winston?"
almost everything l had
answered and in moment or twt
a policeman knocked at my door
That was the last straw, | won
der why policemen in such cir
cumstances always act as though
you are the criminal instead of tn
victim?
/ finally told them that l wish
ed they would go away and il
the morning l would send them I
list of the things l had lost.
"All right" he answered gruff
ly. Don't cry little girl. 1t look
like the work of a slick one bu
we'll find him"
l found myself laughing hyster
ically as they closed the door
Here was a real moving pictur,
and the camera man missing
Another tapping at the door.
determined not to answer bu
finally someone said; "Virgi
Virgie. let me in" I opened it t,
find John storm!
He looked about IN surprise
and then scrutinized my swollel
tearstained face.
why, what is ;ae matter here
What are you torn up so for?'
I'm not torn up. I've jus
been robbed, that's all"
you don't mean really robb
ed!" he gasped stupidity.
Yes robbed of-nearly-every
thing-I-possess in all-the-
whole world" l managed to tel
him between sobs,
you poor little girl" He pu
out his hand to quiet me. for
was shaking almost hysterically
looked up into his kind fac
and then went straight into hi
arms and laid my head upon hi
shoulder, 1t spoke well OF hi
understanding that he did no
say; Don't cry. rYrgie." Instea'
he patted my head and as hi
hands fingered on my hair, h
whispered crooningly: Cry IL al