The New York herald., 1922-04-13


to stake me. ] run into her over at the
old place at 10 Mott street and / don't
make her at first. She Is all braced up
and looking fine. / asks her. 'Gertie.
will you stake me- and she replies,
Yes. Honey. I'll stake you to rhe best
thing man or woman ever had And
i say. You always would give guy
your shirt. Gertie. Slip me enough to
eat on and get a drink
Narrative stops Prayer.
And Gertie says, No, Honey. but
I'm going TO stake you 10 Jesus I
don't make it at all and ] asks her to
come again and she says, Yes. Honey.
it's Jesus I'm stalking you to- end she
gets down on her knees right there with
me wondering what the helrs going
on.
Something got me. and. folks. I'm
telling you ! got down on my knees.
too. only l didn't know why. Ard, folks.
here I am tonight standing beside
I'm kneeling beside Chinatown Gertie's
coffin"
Honey dropped to his knees. Tom
Noonan motioned to a man on the plat
form, who began to pray.
"Our Father which art in Heaven
The prayer was interrupted by Honey,
who resumed his narrative.
I'm kpeeling at the coffin of China
town Gertie and I'm thanking God I'm
allowed to-
He leaned forward aid plucked at
the corner of the rug OF roses, He pulled
he rug toward himself and kissed it.
Then he addressed himSelf straight to
Gertie Merritt.
os,> yo<a
to Three Gertie. like you used to only
go on ahead. We know you amt dead,
but living with Jesus"
There was long pause. The silence
was suggestive of the cxpectant hush
alta seance. From far back in the hall
came a humming in an instant dozen
voices took up the tune:
Nearer my God to Thee.
Nearer TO Thee"
A slender girl on the side aisle well
down toward the front began TO
whimper. Her hair was straw color and
her face. except for her lips, paper white.
"Oh God. Oh God" she whined. I'm
frightened"
Rubberneck Crowd Barred.
The room was not large enough to
hold them all. Along about 10 o'clock
they dragged a rope across the open
door and four husky lads stood by to
see that none crashed the barrier. A
sightseeing bus came rumbling Into
Doyers street filled with tourists. The
man with the megaphone was announc-
ing their arrival at the Midnight Mis-
sion.
Cut out the noise." growled one of
the big boys on sentry duty at the door.
This amt no ordinary night. We don't
want no rubberneclS crowds tonight
Some one went TO the door and told
the guards that it was all right TO per-
NIT the tourists 20 enter. One OF the
latter. man. made the mistake of keep
ing his hat on as he entered.
Just for that you amt coming in. no
matter what anybody says" he was told.
He started to protest Willing hands
took hold of him and he arrived at the
curb without touching the ground. A
patrolman stood across the street.
Well said the cop. III went to
your sisters funeral and didn't have the
manners to take off my hat wouldn't
you throw me out? Well, those guys
looked on that woman like their sister,
so don't start nothing. friend"
A Salvation Army man appeared and
asked permission to speak. He said
he had been sent by the Salvation Army
to explain that it had not meant to give
the public the opinion that Chinatown
Gertie was one of its workers.
I'VE regret to say that she was not
member OF our organization he said.
I'VE would have liked to have had her
but she always stuck to the Rescue
Society where she was redeemed
Chinatown Gertie will be buried this
morning in Linden Hill Cemetery.
Brooklyn.