The Washington times., 1922-07-23


methodically lessened, received by
taxis and GROWERS and hotel omni-
buses and carriers vans. The pos
SCISSORS melted away with or after
it, in animated converse with the
friends and relatives who met
them. These remained presently
one tall, black-haired girl, sitting
on her battered trunk, that had
been dumped down on the quay,
whom no one, apparently, had
come to meet. 1t was a cold
autumn morning. very early, and
a mist hung over the river, max
ing her shiver. To her presently
lurched two of the. dangerous who
had been loafing about asking,
'Keb, miss?" "Kin l carry y'r
box, lidy?" and showing each other
aside.
Thus definitely reminded of the
need for action, Meg Morton or
dered a four-wheeler, and
hanger-on ran at once to call one.
1t crawled up in a minute out of
the mist, the driver walking by
his horse, and the men put her box
up. She paid them with all her
spare coppers and met the cab
mans inquiry:
"Where to, Lady,"
where to-" That was the
problem she had not decided.
y 81 don't know" she said, look
ing at the cabman.
She had had no breakfast yet
and felt cold and spiritless.
.f'And no more don't |, lady"
responded the cabman. Looking
at her more searchingly, he dis
carded his jocularity.
"You want lodgin's, miss" he
inquired. COW about a ladies'
boardin' 'ouse?"
ooh" she said doubtfully, "do
you know of one?"
81 don't, lady" he replied,
"but," taking in her forlorn ap-
pearance, eff you want some'ing
small and cheap and comfortable,
can rec'mend you to a private
'ouse as takes in dodgers"
He slapped himself vigorously.
Hc WI
wife's lady lodger left yesterday,
and if you'd like to be took in, we
could oblige. Rent in advance,
but all very moderate. Not far
off. Maxwell street"
"That'll do" said the girl more
briskly.
"Now, Mrs. Grundy," said he to
his horse. eve calls 'er Mrs.
Grundy, lady, COS she as sich
vi'lent objections to the littlest
things. See 'ow she looked ask
ance at you just now. Cos you
,peared rather lone and lorn, if
you'll excuse me saying So"
Removing the nosebag from the
scraggy head of this charitable
character, he climbed to the seat,
and they logged off. Meg Morton
leaned back in the cab, opened her
thin purse, and counted the cons
tents.
"Rent in advance" she said TO
herself. "Well, here's thirty shil-
lings, and that should carry me
on till I get a job somewhere.
She looked out at the misty
morning street, and London turned
its cold face on her. Pulling out
from beneath her coat tiny silver
Teddy bear, which was slung round
her neck on thin chain, she held
IL. pressing it warmly between her
hands as if it comforted her.
"Oh, my mascot" she sighed,
"bring luck. Hopes nearly gone"
They were jogging up grubby
streets, and presently turned into
Maxwell street, Pimlico. Here, be-
fore a small house in dingy row,
they stopped, and her luggage was
carried in. The friendly cabman
drove away again, and she was left
to explain to a dingy lady that she
wanted a room and meals.
Fifteen shillings by the week,
miss" said the dingy lady, "if you
boards with us. Or shall you be
out at work all d'y"
"I am looking for work at pres
ent," she answered.
"Ahw said the dingy one, "and
so you may look. Never was moth
ing harder to get, these times. Not
but what you haven't a tyking
fyce, and might get engaged at
one O. them city orfce. Ever
worked in a city orfce?"
years." answered the girl la
conically.
Pursuing her rather discourag-
ing reflections, the landlady showed
her her bedroom, indicating its
advantages with gestic Ilating
E.S.J Che hazarded the confident
statement that Miss Morton would
be extremely comf'rable, and that
lust acrost the passage, fycing her
door, was the other lodger, a gen
tleman whom no lydy ever failed
to like.
aIMr InLasn ~ said the landladu-