The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-03-07
CHAPTER ~
Framed.


He saw her start. and then bend
hastily over the money she was reck-
oning. But the flush that overspread
her face showed her confusion, and
when, compelled by Winton's presence,
she raised her head, her modification
was too evident for Winton's feelings.
Suddenly he understood the mean
ing of her self-depreciatory words in
the coach. glance at the smirking
mattresses, who were plainly Of a
class that had drifted to the fields for
adventure and predatory purposes
showed him the humiliation of the
girls position. He remembered what
she had told him about two kinds of
women and in a flash he understood
more than he could have learned in
the course of a detailed explanation
He saw the invisible class barrier
that recognized two and only two con-
ditions. On one side you were Of the
chosen; on the other, you shared the
circumstances of the most VILE There
were no subtle nuances of station here,
nothing by which a decent woman was
recognized as such, unless she came
to Malopo In the care of some man of
Independent means.
And a food of pity surged over the
young man. He strobe impulsively to-
ward the desk.
miss Seatonr' he exclaimed. Il"
She shook her head in vexation.
~You must go away, Mr.. Garrett" she
said.
81 want to see you, to speak with
you"
81 dare not. Please go away"
Her distress was so evident that
Winton could do nothing but obey.
AT least let me meet you afterward,"
he pleaded. Let me walk home with
you l shall wait for you on the
stoep."
IF only you'll go away now"
begged Sheila.
Winton went to table. AS he sat
down he was conscious of the glance
of the hotel proprietor, who stood near
the entrance. The fellow was watch
ing Winton and appraising him. Win
ton saw the mattresses gancing at him
and smiling. And then he understood
still more than before.
The fiashy women in the Continental
dining room were there much less for
their ability to wait than to draw Gus
toners And Sheila, in the cashiers
seat, was the particular magnet of the |
place. And Winton might be find"
The proprietor was sizing him up as
q potential captive of his cashier. He |
was estimating him in terms of pounds |
and shillings brought TO the bar of |
the Continental. The mattresses. al |
ways alert for new victims with money, |
were watching him. too.
Winton understood Sheila's shame
TO the full 1t was his now, and 1t
him. He must get the
girl away from that place. Not for an
instant did II occur to him to doubt her.
He saw the desperation that had driv-
en- her to her employment. tied to a
drunken, od-for-nothing father, in
land where women were of two kinds
alone, the parasites and the home
makers.
He did not raise his eyes to the desk
again. but ate his meal hurriedly.
Ignoring the friendly approaches of
his waitress. and went out upon the
stoep. He sat down, looking across
he market square. The sun had set,
md darkness was coming on with the
,wiftness of those low ATTITUDES. He
,egan planning bUsiIy for sheila and
Ter father.
He must discover what hold De Witt
rad over Daddy Seaton. If he could
,reak chat bond and restore the old
mans self-respect the beginning would
AVE been made.
well. IT'S fine evening, amt IT,
eid voice. heside him.