The New York herald., 1922-02-19

where one Is announced by a knock
and not ring Martha, my hostess laid
her drawing board on the couchbed and
went to the door.
"Oh, how do you do? Come In"
A little woman sidled into the room.
She was one of those nondescript females
with an eternally sad expression, of un-
certain age and stringy appearance,
spinster unquestionably. In her hand she
carried an innocuous Boston bag, the kind
with two handles, the inevitable accom-
paniment of such figure. Martha took
the bag and disappeared into the kitchen.
The little woman melted into the door.
jamb and stood there apologetically until
Martha came back, returned the bag to
her and bowed her out.
Call me up in a week or so," Martha
said as she closed the door.
She turned to me with look Of triumph.
my bootlegger!" she sang. Every one
has his own little bootlegger now." 1t
sounded like popular song.
was dumb. felt myself settling back
into the older generation with audible
creaks. Up to that moment / had har-
bored faint sense Of adventure because
/ had dared to be newspaper woman.
The lady broker had always filled my soul
with awe, but-a lady bootlegger.
Never! I give up and welcome my vic
torian niche. l shall not pretend to fol-
low. I shall fight no more. Peace now
until the grave. / shall admit my age
nay, shall flaunt it. When the lady boot
logger comes into the field, / resign: the
sex has got beyond me. / am at last an
old-fashioned female.
Martha, beautifully unconscious of my
sudden maturity, went serenely on, while
she put luminous eyes on long lady dis
playing the newest thing in the fashion
world.
Was a School Teacher Once;
Has Old Mother to Keep
"Yes. She's an out and out bootlegger
now. She was a school teacher once. Got
kicked out for radical tendencies or some
thing. I guess she'd never go back even
il she could. She has an old mother to
support, and they're living better now than
they ever did on teachers salary.
She sells home hooch. Gets it from the
East Side-tenement stills. But she knows
'em all, and there's no wood alcohol about
it. Jim says its the best home brew he
ever tasted, and he ought to know. ]
usually buy her brandy; one drink is
enough to make you forget the Mayfower.
She has other kinds-prune brandy, corn
whisky and stuff like that-all good and
strong"
Martha looked mischievous.
Funny thing about that. Before prohi-
bition thought no real lady would ever
get spificated. But now l Immediately
abandon myself with gorgeous glee to the
little that have It's the thing now to get
little flicker on. No party's party now
without hooch. That's one thing prohibf
tion has done anyhow-loosened the Puri
tan conscience of women"
Marthas tone was Enthusiastically tri
umphant Wont you have a little nip
just to try the stuff?"
looked at her with horror. It was only
10 o'clock in the morning. I'd only just
had breakfast. Brandy for breakfast!
"Oh, yes; there's lots of lady bootleggers.
It's the new progression. There's Mme
Capronto, the Italian. Like to see herr"
Martha pulled down her black satin
shift in a vain attempt to cover her knees
She took out her lipstick. 1 waited, feeling
superior.
We went to see Nine. Capronto. She
keeps grocery store that smells of cheese
and dill pickles. She is one of the thin
Italians with long, corrugated face
accentuated by very long gold earrings
dangling on either side of her peaked jaw.
She has long high bridged nose and her
hair, deliberately dressed, is piled high on
her head. There is something decidedly
aristocratic in Nine. Capronto's air in
spite Of her checkered apron, the mussy
look of the shop and the soiled children
playing about the floor. No man In sight.
Sells Wine, and Good Wine,
From an Unlimited Supply
Nine. Capronto sells wine. Her supply
seems to be inexhaustible. She disappears
mysteriously into the earth when she goes
to get it. The wines are excellent and
unadulterated. Marsalla of good quality,
win ordinaire and fine old port. But no
matter how many times Madame may have
seen her customers, she gives each one
keen sidelong once over from her beady
eyes, as he hopefully proffers his recep-
tacle. She sells her wine cheap too.
But she does herself well at that" said
Martha. You ought to see old Madame
when she goes out with the delicatessen
man Of an evening. / wish could afford
a fur coat like that" Martha sighed.
Looks TO me like sable"