Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-10-05
rrst mJntn afJ1e in tie CITY.

|
Now Widdilner's was a hlgh-class
store, but the girls were badly under
paid. Nobody understood the reason
why better than Miss krantz. There
were plenty of employees who had
branched out of Widdimer's, under
Widdlmers protection, to take the
primrose path that leads-where does
1t lead to? Are. the moral maxims
true ss well as right? AT least it led
out of slavery in the store. And old
/ Widdimer was generous while the
mood lasted. And Mary O'Dell was
pretty-sure to attract Widdmer's
eye when he came in.
Miss Krantz tried to warn her, but
Miss ODell seemed incapable of un-
/ derstanding. She was so childlike and
] innocent. Then and there Miss Krantz
swore that Miss O'Dell should never
come to any harm so long as she
could save ner.
And Widdimer vas coward, too.
1t would be easy enough. If she
couldn't make Mary understand, she
could make Widdimer understand
and meant to. But the best of plans
go astray. The morning that Widdmer
| came in Miss Krantz had been sent to
/ another part of the building.
Widdimer came in, stout, pompous,
timid old man, and went straight to
Mary ODell as If to a magnet. There
was a whispering and furtive giggling
among the rest as they saw Widdimer
| interrogating Mary. They tried to
! listen; little snatches of the conversa-
ton were heard.
"And how long have you been with
us, Miss ODellT asked Widdimer.
"Only three weeks, sir"
do you live with your peopleY'
mo sir; my people live upstate.
I have hall bedroom in a rooming-
house"
"You haven't brother even? Old
Widdimer was afraid of brothers,
Mary was smiling up at him limo
Gently. No, sir, I haven't relative
except my old mother"
"If she wasn't so innocent I'd say
the little cat was stringing him." whis-
pered homely Mary Mulligan to her
friend.
But you're too young and pretty
for that dull sort Of a life," said Wild
diner very low, but not so low that
1t failed to reach Miss Mulligan's
sharp ears. Don't you like amuse-
ment?"
"Oh. yes, sir but you see l haven't
~
answered Mary, coloring in the divin-
est manner,
"How would you like to have lit
tie supper with me some night next
week." asked Widdimer, so low that
the others only knew what he was say
ing because they could see how far
he had got in his set formula.
would it be the right thing to dor"
asked Mary.
"My dear, I'm an old man, and
lonely one, and I would feel so bright
ened up by"
Wlddimer had got just as far as that
when sharp-featured Miss Krantz re
turned from the other part of the
building Like fury she sailed into
the scene.
''Mr. Widdimer," she painted, Miss
| O'Delrs me friend, and--and under my
/ care, and-and she isn't to go out to
dinner without chaperon. Meaning
me! !" said Miss Krantz, thrusting her
sour visage forward, aflame with hon
est indignation.
Old Widdimer turned sickly green
"OA, if that is the case" he suffered
IL guess I made a mistake"
swell. guess so, too," said Miss
K1ntz, and watched his retreating
form. 1t might or might not cost her
| her job, but she had protected Mary.
'Oh, my dear" she said, you are 50
innocent. You didn't understand.
That man-oh, that wicked, awful
man! l am so thankful that l came
up In time-why, what's the matterr'
Matter, you great clumsy snooping
butter-in. Whatever mean by inter
fering when I'd got the old guy
| clinched for good timer demanded
Miss ODell, half sobbing. "Oh, you're
the limit, you are. l guess I'll have
| to write him mash note now to bring
him back-tf I can"
/