Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1922-12-27
THE BALCONY GIRL
ey noLlis MATmsa

S"ss@J ootc1 tU0&u auQ tOO4 u e1t
vator downstairs. ~ ~ psS I'd
through he great hall ~ Asard music
coming from The difeeiea se ths l,al-
conied dining roam sad knew. that ~
usual. the SvsoiAg guests wsre dane
lns.
Presently q iow staeulat3sa attract
ed his attention. h had ~ neticsd.
In his absorbed entsancs. Q yoenG
woman already seats1 6AS hack u
the auail balcony. Now. With har
low sKciamation. ~ drew back ths
roee-coiOrsd curtains - stsod psspas-
atofy 10 depart
The young woman nachsd for her
soft boyish hat and was alipptng into
her long. sray coat She gathersd.
somewhat coofusedly, . number sf
written pages from the chair. which
abe evidently bad rscentiy occupied
Stacy arose dstaininsiy. "Piease,"
be said. do not allow NJ to drive
you away from your corner. ean
ind another secIuded spot"
TT II necessary that remain here
Tor q time" she said. Perhaps. II
you. too. are comfortable IN the bal
cooy neither need disturb the other"
Thank you." Stacy agreed The
young woman left the rose curtains
slightly open. The light does not
disturb your" she asked. r too. look
down into he dancing hall occasion
ally"
mo, at an." Stacy pleasantly -
sured her.
When she caught his gase once OF
twice the girl smiled. uncertainty.
At last Stacy turned In bis chair.
"You must forgive my speaking" he
said, II cannot help but BE- interested
In your strange choice of writing room
the muslc-the dancers whirling. Is
Il not all dis,ractinsi-And now. my
inserrup,.ng But T'm Internally lone
ly. Do you know what that means!
To he absolutely away from every
one you know. in . big. cold hotel
Why" Stacy laughed. ct has been
a sort Of comfort to cit beside you
here while you worked. Human com.
partnership. even II given unconscious
iy. Now, ! suppose you will run
away"
= do know what II means TO he
among strangers In . big city" she
answered grsvely. -and ! wish that
] Nigh. he more companionab,s. But
] mus, write. AZ the strike Of twelve
I leavs." aaid the sira.
Twelve sounded sooner tAAa eishe,
anticipated. Promptly stacy'x com
i'anion arose Good night" she said
lie thought cf her a great d~a, OF
the following day. Why hsd she been
there among all those beautifully
garhed women In her plain white col
Jared fr"ckt Why had abe kept hid
den In the interior of an observation
balcony, busy with penciif
"A society reporter: that's the so,n
ten" he told himself
hut when James r. barney decided
tina, the conference must wait another
day Stacy decided again to spend his
solitary evening watching the dancers
from the balcony. He had formed
during the day. an acquaintance viii,
the hotel manager. Mr.. Hoiccmh. who
escorted his guest een'aily to tie hal.
cnny ssepa
Expect samc excitement herr this
evening" he eonfided. "Our detectives
are after q Jewel th!ef--been entering
our r!cl, patrons rcOtna
Stacy Was unaccountably perturbeti.
Cncomfcrtsbiy he toak his sent In the
tiny gallery and looked quickly TOW ard
the interior. The girl was there. But
this time she ~ss sewing. Sewing In =
gay place Of amusement. The society
reporter theory vanished. The girl ~.
turned his Crave how and eaatinued
her task. But on this occasioa slss
appeared not ~ composed. Aer anxioua
interest tn the affair hslow was plain
" d!sccruthle. From time to tin,s
che parted the curtains nervoasly Il
look down o. the dancerS. Thea, al
4 slight crowding In Q crstain part ol
~ - - -. .,s,- -. \, "a !,
.......~. -. a., -. .s.,- ~
-. ~. :. ,,.s ,s,r.- A,,nose.--
Stacy caught up with Asr ~ ~ vai
..n. T.....- -. ,s,.. ,s.~s.a ~.
s..S, ~. e.s.- -.
~ ..,...s, 60. - ,..a A.ss> .
=. ia s.,.s,, .,s.s -. mr. :.
..,s - s.,,s- ~ NO.. a,
h-.,.,sss,x ,.ou..sed .c.Il : .su
". a.. ,oa~,ns m ws,A.m .s,,sa-