Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08


mat last may have been the effect OF
her frizzy. short red hair. The inside
of Sadie was something very delicate.
spiritual and, of late, wiStful-WtStrul
for an object so vague. so floating that
she didn't know by what end to lay
hold Of her dream. So she just let 1t
float that way. but wondered.
In the most concrete and Impossible
form of this dream she was a lovely
lady Everybody wondered at her and
one there was who loved her--to dis
traction, He was a tall, slim brunette,
this dream cavalier: and 1t simply
turned Sadie's heart to water when he
bowed low before her. He always en-
tered her presence by coming In
through a set Of revolving doors. But
that was too silly. The dream would
break Of it's own absurdity. 1t was
lovely and a cruel dream. 1t made
Sadie forget and it made her re-
member.
She was the girl behind the tobacco
counter in the LennoX Building. She
had been thinking of changing her
location Business was not good. The
building was given over to doctors
all kinds of doctors, from your ears to
your feet The people who limped or
dragged through the gray stone lobby
were too full of pains to pay attention
70 her wares Besides, the most popu-
lar specialist there was a stomach
man. q DR.. Loring. who was. Of course,
opposed to tobacco. Sadie had Inquired
this out. had concluded to migrate
.from this Improbable stand. Only her
dream had kept her lingering on
through the late Summer into Autumn.
But what could come of such silly
dream?
However. still dreaming, one morn
ing while she was penSively hlllng
twirly rack with chewing gum. the
elevator brought down DR.. Loring S
office girl with an important message
for her.
DIR. Loring's instructions are for
YOU to take a. cab and come at once
He will wait there for YOU"
Poor Sadie. Except for her bushy
auburn bob she was colOrleSs.
Il don't get you," she said.
DIR. Loring wants to know if you
can come
"Oh, 1 got that. Apartment 1850
Chase-a patient-take cab r1ght
away. But why me? What's the mat
ter?'
I'm sure don't know. Dr. Loring
didn't explain. The patient is the rich
Mr.. Wythe He's dying"
"Oh" said Sadie, taking on awe, but
still no comprehension. DO l know
him? Have I ever seen him."
II presume SO. He sent for you. He
used to come here regularly--up to
this week
Sadie pushed the gum rack out OF
the way and leaned over the counter.
Listen. Tell me. Is he-by any
chance-the tall. thin, yellow one with
the black eyeS?
The girl drew back.
lie is tall and dark. OF course, he's
thin. His diet is starvation. what am
to tell DIR. Loring?'
Sadie reached under the counter Tor
her beauty canteen.
"TeN him sure I'll come-right
away"
AS she sped through the lobby she
asked the elevator starter to keep an
eve on the stand. Then, just INSIDE
the street door. she paused.
Hes dying" she was thinking.
She said he's dying"
She was trembling in every limp.
Nevertheless. in two seconds she was
at the curb signaling for a taxi.
THE Chase Hotel. Speed she said
to the driver.
The driver obeyed her command. He
made the distance in 10 minutes. But,
however fast the wheels or the Gao
turned Sadie's reused imagination
turned faster. For the rich Mr.. Wythe
was the cavalier in her dreams. L
don't know how this man may nave
looked to his own world: but to niue
Sadie Newton of the tobacco couil,ei
ne was the handsome, melancholy.
hollov-eyed and soul-Stirring nero OF
stage NAV. She thought she re-
membered his first entrance upon the
scene of her lobby. So slim, SO e!e
giant. so black. so ronaanttc-from the
nointy toes Of his shoes to the careless
SLOUGH Of his hat.
Only on one day had she hao
brief personal contact 1t was a
hlustry day and thu swinging storm
doors had Just been fitted in the en-
trance They frequently stuck. the
tall. thin. yellow one had little bulk TO
hurl against their stubbornness. More
over. he was seized with fit OF
coughing lust when they had MIN
prisoner. He was sick. he had no
business out alone. thought Sadie:
rushing TO his rescue. The weight Oh
her healthy body loosened the doors
Thereafter every day ne stareo az
her and bowed. Oh, she could tell
that girl of Doctor Lorlng's when the
tan thin. yellow one had stopped
Coming, Now he was dying. And he
hsd sent for her Why? or course
he was dying He was the kind VINO
must die in the third act of play
But why had he sent for her?
You knew at the rise of the curtain.
x x X
CADIE didn't know when the cab
~ turned into the driveway before
rho hotel She was shocked into
wakefulness by the opening OF the
cab door. An enormous negro in tan
livery and buttons hailed her forth
For Doctor Loring?" he said
Just go right mp. miss. I'll attend TO
the taxi"
sadie found herself in the hotel lob
hv. How had the dOorman known
Ter"
A snappy bel-boy led her to apart
ment 1850.
outside the door Sadie had a
stronger attack of panic. But the
door opened so quickly at the bell
bows knock that she had no time TO
fee. Inside. Mr.. Wythe-Sadie had
said the name over and over in the
cab-sat in an arpschair with his back
said anything.
Thank you for coming" said Mr..
wvthe, a queer twist ON his mouth
that might have been pain. Please
SIT down
The doctor stopped walking up and
down and went to stand at Mr..
Nythe's right shoulder. The nurse
stood at his left. Suddenly the three
of them seemed ranged against the
little Sadie the outsider.
Glen" said the doctor. Il want
Vol, % let me do the talking-please."
Mr.. Wythe raised his shoulders. let
them fall agan, to indicate that IT
didn't matter.
Miss don't know your name,
began the doctor impatiently
"Eewton-SadIe Newton
Miss Newton. Mr.. Wythe is an
old friend of mine. He Is acting TINS