The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-29

row, hell-who can borrow money
on salary of Sc weekO
SNEARY SMITH, you're charged
N1 with taking SIS from under a
pillow in the home where you
worked. What have you to say for
yourself?" queries Judge Paul G.
Wetter of the criminal municipal
court.
Her round tepid face is warmed
by thought pearls" thief" thoughts
that drop one after another onto
her cheek and then break up. Wet
face, scrimpy hair, creaSes of cheap
descript Shirtwaist, Scuffed shoes
that give off an air of hopelessness
just Mary Smith.
She doesn't look at the judge, at
the CONTROVERSIES watching the
pallbearerS of her dreams - her
dream caSket for twenty-Seven
years-being carried into the court
room with the little plate on it
marked, "T-H-I-E-F."
Let's open that dream casket.
HER father and her mother died
Ia when-God knows-she don't.
Into children's mill she was
sent-an orphanage-where they
turn out your Mary Smiths, your
Sally Jones', by the half dozen lots.
She was taught to keep house, to
cook, to sew, to be wife. No high
school. no college for her-for you
graduate early into life when you're
a Mary Smith.
No one told her how to make her
meager looks presentable, no one
told her that when she left the
orphanage she had three outs:
housekeeping at Sc a week, marriage
to a day 1aborer who asked nothing
but beans for dinner, and as few
children as possible, or-the street.
She left at Is years of age.
Home after home she busted and
kept clean at Sc to So a week. Then
nights, hot nights in a stuffy room,
and no one to go with. No one to
open her soul to. Other girls had
"fellers," why couldn't she have?
But, well So week doesn't buy the
present jazzy day wardrobe.
Then she met him. lie worked
for a warehouse. Earned lots, $18
and sometimes even $22."
She was working in a home on
East Nineteenth street, at the time
she met HIM.
A smile or two, you know how
thai goes? HE'D buoyed up her
dreams, dull dreams till then.
That age-old feminine vanity sent
her shopping. She found coat,
Just the thing. Shed have them
lay it away for her. HE'D like it
she knew HE would.
n +
Instead his visits we're far apart.
She mulled over her scut1ed SnoeS'
ct the worn fringes on her coat
and winter coming on-as she dust
ed and made beds
There, that pillow needs a clean
cover" She picked it up. Beneath
1t was her employers purse.
Shoes worn through at the soleS,
a coat of illegitimate origin given
her by some family she worked for,
fought for hearing. Now there
was that coat she had laid away.
Lets see how much the purse
has in it," Fifteen dollars in cur
rency fell out. HE-HE! Wouldn't
HE be glad if she had new coat,
shoes-shoes that didn't soak up the
streets dirty water like blotter?
Why, HE'D take her places, where
bright things were, where you never
see mops dishwater and dustclotnS.
"Take it, Mary Smith. HE wants
YOU to. It's your right. Haven't
YOU scrubbed these last twelve years
on Sc a week? Don't take it, Mary!
THEY'LL find out. But the coat
you've already picked it out. and
you can buy shoes with this $l5,
too"
THE nameplate was tackled on
i her casket. It's the crowded
court:
"Your fine will be 81 and costs
and fifteen days in jail - but I'll
parole you on condition you pay
the money back?" order Judge
Wetter.
Mercy" begged the eyes of Mary
Smith as she went out into uni
verse of Mary Smiths.
"T-H-I-E-F," croakS the little
nameplate on her casket OF dreams.