Evening star., 1922-02-19


where's the harm in writing letter
to box s27? Probably there will be
hundreds of replies and I shall never
hear from mine. But I simply can't
resist trying. So here goes"
I took no particular pains with the
note. just dashed 1t off. remember
that / told hers among other things
that I wasn't the most knowing girl
in New York. nor the greenest; also
that I'd never been in Jail or In
society and expected to keep out OF
both. believe. too. that I admitted
having been Greenwich Village
actress until the public found out
how poorly did it. Then I slipped
out and posted the letter. feeling that
somehow I'd been rather sporty.
This was Barry Platt's evening to
come around for supper with us. but
mad no intention Of saying a word
ABOUT my application to Madam X,
In fact. I'd nearly forgotten by even
ing Inez hadn't. however. It seems
she'd been mulling on it all day. and
the more she thought it over the
wilder the adventure appeared and
the nrst thing knew she'd spilled i,
to Barry.
Maybe she's lady crook. q,
something" she added,
So Barry had to be shown tho od
He read 1t and laughed More likely
some half cracked old girl who's or.
ganfzing charity bazaar for Serbian
he
doesn't lurk in want ads"
"oh. doesn't it?" says I. well. per-
haps you'll be surprised"
Five to one you don't get a reply"
he offered.
ats bet" says I. mo stage dol.
lars, either"
co was some thrilled. about the
middle Of the next afternoon.
when a messenger brought me a
note and said he was told to wait
for an answer. "Come at this
evening and we'll talk 1t over during
dinner" it said. And. sure enough
there was the signature, Madam
X" but below it, in brackets. she had
signed her real name, "Mrs. Hiram
Trueman.'' "The address was the
Lady Ann. up in the West FiftieS
knew the Lady Ann, up in the West
Fifties. I knew the Lady Ann; a
quiet second-rate family hotel
chiefly patronized by fat old ladies
with chow dogs. And the Mrs. HI
ram Trueman" didn't sound very
desperate. So scribb1ed VERY well
I'll come" on the back Of tho en-
velope and tipped the boy with . Jam
, tart.
OF course. when Inez came in from
her work I had to admit where
| was going and why, and she got 9
good deal excited over it, for her.
You gonna go see that woman
alone?" she gasped.
| Trust me to watch my step. Inez,
| says I. But I'll tell you: If I dom
show up here by 9:3o you may come
and rescue me from the tolls of the
| gang"
| Yet when I got to the Lady Anr
and sent up my name I was full,
prepared to be greeted by some
hawk-nosed old dame with wicked
| eyes and a yellow Transformation
The person who finally did stel
timidly into the reception room
wasn't a bit like that. though. Just
a middle-aged, rather plump an6
rather tackily dressed woman. with
! nice, kindly eyes and good natura
color in her cheeks.
Miss Dodge?" she asked.
"Yes," says I. Madam x. I sup
poser"
"Please" says she. Il want yor
to forget that silly name as soor
as possible. am Mrs. Trueman."
"Just as you say" agrees. well
what's the proposition?"
"Do you mind II we put that Of
until we've had dinner" she asks
"what I want to tell you now IL
that I'm so relieved to find hadn',
made a mistake in sending for you
I Just thought from your letter that
you would be something like this
and lin so glad. Do you know
some Of those replies were from the
tho most awful persons"
"Wers theyr asked.
"oh. I couldn't begin TO tell you,'
she went on. "Why. they seemed tc
think I was-Well. T don't knou
b" y o. . : *