The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-01-30
News Item: Continued.

After his discharge from the
army, Parsons came to New York
from his home in Detroit and was
employed at soda fountain. -"
The noise and rush of the streets
in New York is so great each day,
the nights are beautifully quiet in
contrast. Some nights in France were
like that. The terrific noise and rat
tie of the day let up. A cool, kind
breeze made the stencil more bear
able. And it was quiet. Soothingly
quiet. Like cool, gentle hand on
fevered forehead.
A heavy truck suddenly swerved
from side-street and broke the
silence into pieces. Tom leaped I'M
nerved and shaken. He walked
hurriedly to his habby room to toss
in a rickety bed. After a while the
pain in his chest would ease little.
His head. i. j.. Gradually sleep would
come.
Then his job. At soda fountain
there is no time to think. A sand
witch, soda, sundae, male, female
all one seemingly never-ending
stream. Like the belt at Ford's. Like
soldiers. Noise, din, rattle, giggles,
laughter, waiter! Waiter" One long
monotonous movement of feet and
hands until the end of day and re-
lief. 1t paid for the rickety bed in
a shabby room. The food didn't mat
ter. Any food. His chest was all
that mattered. His head. His head.
-. Peace was all that mattered.
New Item: Continued.
"Last evening Parsons was
passing the Hotel Flanders, No.
1853 West 48th st. Whether the
sight of the hotels name did
something to the inside of his
head will never be known. :"
A numbering truck came Gathering
over the roughly paved street and
sharply turned the corner only few
steps from Tom Parsons. The racket
bounded and rebounded between the
buildings, hollow and many times
magnified.
Parsons stood rooted for moment.
The sound tore him from his thoughts
and set his body trembling. The
sounds. Those sounds of terrible
nights when the earth shook, when he
smelled burnt human flesh. 49,.
He stood for moment, then dashed
blindly towards his rickety bed in a
shabby room. The pain in his chest
thumped madly. Dizzily, he threw
his hands to his aching head. Before
he reached the street his strength
was spent. If he could only lose that
internal racket. If only his mind
could be at peace. He continued I'M
steadily to his room.
A shaft of light cut his path. He
looked into the glazing lights thru
blurred eyes. He stared, wiped his
eyes unbelievingly and looked again.
1t was. :. -. But he could not make
himself believe it.
He spoke to the doorman.
"Hotel Flanders, buddy"
1t was! 1t was!
Someway, somehow, the pain in his
chest seemed to leave him for the
moment. For moment his head felt
at ease and clear. He halted,
thoughtfully. Then he laughed, a
deep laughter from the leathery chest
of a soldier.
"Damnd if it ISN'T. It's the d.
Flandersw
He laughed again as if enjoying a
crude, course joke told in the army.
"The. Flanders! 4. y. :" And again
he burst into laughter as he walked
thru the doors to the desk.
Damn nice to our boys-calling it
the Flanders ?"
The clerk hesitated for a second.
Then:
eyes, sure. yes SIR"
Tom looked at him closely thru
CLASSY eyes.
what for?"
"Well, they fought for demo-
cracy. ;"
His answer sent Toms laughter
ringing thru the lobby.
$50 you call it. .Flandersl" He
was still laughing.
Then as if sobered he repeated
quietly:
FLANDERS "a place to sleep
in. :"
For moment neither said word.
Then, Tom Parsons, spoke again
calmly:
my head keeps me awake nighta.
I need the air. Fix me up with .
room as high as you cant"
Head raised, soldier fashion, a. II
going to an attack, he followed the
bell-boy to room on the sixth floor
of the Hotel Flanders.
News Item: Continued.
g. In any event, Parsons en-
gagged room on the sixth floor
and at lis a. m. jumped to his
death from the window of his
room to courtyard.
The NIGHT MANAGER searchad fha