The Washington times., 1924-04-18

again she. would never 60 on.
She walked more swiftly; Mary
took short. running steps to keep
pace with her.
Chickle said: eve might as we'll
80 down Grant avenue. CONS
on-Why don't you come, Mary ="
They were at Geary. Chlclia
pretended to. fix her collar. Sho
was go hot SHE could scarcely
breathe. But she, paused at the
windows. She pointed out a new
fall coat and stood there talking
MISUNDERSTANDING. Mary said
in q trouble whisper: Whats
the rnatter-vour eyes are blaz-
Ing"
"Nothing-we may as well look
at everything. We may meet
Janira. I tried to get her on
the phone. Every one is out
Of town, MaIy--lookis that Bess
Abbott"
How should 1 know"
Mary became alarmed. Chickie's
lips were white, but her cheecks
struck with crimson. She said:
"overdo things! That's you,
Chickie You don't have to
smash the whole world In the
face the first day"
but ChiclEis didn't stop. They
were Just behind the tall, slender
A girl in the smart black dress.
Chiclkie touched her arm with a
breathlesS: 'sBess-how. are you ~
1t was not Bess Abbott, but 4
girl who smiled readily when
Chiclxie said; 'Oh, beg your par
don. I've followed you a blosk,
thinking you were q friend Of
Mary said sharply with trace
Of alarm in her tone: I'VE came
down to buy q rug"
Chickie laughed. She was sllak-
ing from head to foot.
They bought the rug after
wards they went to lunch. Mary
said bltingly: Lets 20 down to
Mitchell and ask for your job
back r.
chickie kept her eyes on her
plate. At last she said: fare
you angry Mary? Why q
"Well-why do you need to
show people defiance ? That's
what you're doing now :"
"Act as. If no one existed but
you and / and people like us
who know. Let everyone else go
hang.ne
Chieckie said. II have no poise
left it seems. You know, Mary,
I'm the. biggest coward on the
earth. The thought Of going back
to an office and walking lack
and forth over Montgomery street
Is enough to put me in a faint.
can just know the thoughts of
men who look at me and remem.
ber: and the excitement of girls
when they pass me. I can hear
the talk of them in dressing
rooms afterwards"
sugar viciously in her coffc.
Are you going back to an office,
Chickie 20
What else can do ?"
You wrote so much about tina.
Eva. Mother and I were think
ing"
"You mean that I might go
into a hospital?"
les
You know I'd like It. I real.
ly would. But Eva says it's
worth the hardest, meanest work
In the world, and she wouldn't
let any girl she knows 20 in
Tor 1t II she could stop them"
Mary shrugged. Lots Of peo-
pie use the same reasoning to
show that we have no right to
bring children here. It's a rich
way to look at things, isn't it?"
Chickie was not afraid. OF the
grind or routine. Eva had said
to her once: "Well--of course. a
girl has to have references. They
investigate in some cases, I
Now she told it to Mary.
Mary said: You can get refer
ences. There's mother and and
your friend, Jake Munson. You
could get by
They talked Of it-they became
feverish. Chickie didn't sIeep
that night. She got up early
and wrote down the addresses
OF hospitals. At first she thought
OF asking Mary to 90 with her
then she decided to go alone.
A pale, youngish woman, with
worried blue eyes and nostrils
that quivered. received her in
the first hospital. She was the
superintendent Of nurses. In a
very impersonal, business way
she outlined qualifications.
Only girls Of the highest char
acter and loyalty were wanted.
They must be girls with a high
school education. They required