Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-25
One Hand in the Hopper.

~ own lot lay between her and the
car in the alley. yet she could see
the human figures that hurried from
the shelter of the dim maple to meet it.
Back in the old four-poster from
which the strange boot of an owl had
reused her, Jean recalled the talk that
had been going the rounds before she
had gone away. Adding to that the
gossip she had heard afte- she ha'l
fingers touched off IL names that might
be connected with the car.
The business day of Morgansburg
begins at 7. The last stroke of the town
clock was still resounding when Jean
walked into the store of George Stay
man. George was not only merchant,
he was one of the town fathers as well.
His surprise at seeing her showed
plainly.
Good morning. Miss McAlister After
New York our town will seem very quiet
to you"
Eyes, but it's nice to be quiet some
times, and to get good sleep
You must "a been tired" cut in a
sharp note, Ito sleep in this town.
What with them cars signalln',, bottles
smashin', DRINKS flghtin' and Won
derin' if your own menfolks is gettin'
mixed up in it. l amt slept for good
while back"
why. Maria" exclaimed Jean, smil-
ing at the bulky figure and going over
to shake her work-worn hand. here
I was thinking I would get you to help
me to get the dust out of my house,
and now I just know you will be lying
down on the first sofa you see to take
a nap
La. Miss jean" smile breaking
through the gloom, "of course I'll help
you and be glad, but you know how
it is with no police in a town like this
There's no order and there's great
carrying on"
You're Joking! Isn't she, Mr.. Stay
man? Surely we still have a police
man"
THE last one we had proved prob
land we like to be careful about the
taxpayers money"
It was on jeans tongue TO speak
of her alley when she was checked by
Maria's "Humph!" Her soft voice went
on ordering her supplies: THE cof1ee
ground medium, please. Can you denver
the order right away? Thank you. And
Maria" turning to her, "can you come
up when you are through at home?"
I'll come now and help you get your
breakfast
AS they walked along the street
Maria confided: "Old George Stayman
makes it sound pretty slick about why
they don't have no police, but l guess
he knows the real reason"
Later on in the day she went on
without missing a stroke on the WIN
dowpanes. "Old Deacon Mowbray
could have stopped the whole works,
but they tricked his boy into driving
a truck one night, an he never knew
what he was hauling until they started
to sing the old song they use as
signal" :,
When she had gone. Jean sat by the
window and ran over the facts she mad
gathered. There was no one to do 1t.
Even the Rev. John Mansfield, leader
of the Law and Order Society, had had
his hands tied because a minister OF
the gospel had no civic authority:
I'll do it myself" she muttered. III
I am woman, I'm McAllster one"
With elbows on the sill, chin IN her
hands, she thought and studied. Sud
denly there came the big ldea-tne
fad she had had some time ago Tor
amateur photography. She soon mad
everything in readiness.
Through the gathering dusk she slip
ped down into the garden and set up
her tripod in the shelter OF the bean
vines. looked in the finder to see II she
had focused on the right stretch OF
alley. then got back to the house with
out being seen.
The time dragged till the midnight
hour. At the last stroke of II, a slim
black coated figure crept out OF the
McAlister house and made its way 10
the grape arbor. Jean was not AFRAID,
but she kept off the f1agstones, Tor she
did not want to explain. to any one
why she had gone out so late at nignt'
Safe between the rows OF grapevmes'
a long breath relieved her lungs. Hall
way down she stopped Perhaps she
was foolish to do this alone, perhaps
they would not come tonight. She
started on then silent as death, sank
down to the ground-a boot sounded, SO
close that she might have touched Its
sources. She edged her length under
the overhanging leaves OF the vines,
turned her face down, tucked her hands
under the folds of her coat, became
one with the earth and darkness, as
stealthy footsteps passed her, brushing
the leaves that covered her.
The leaves swished again, and there
came the sound of heel on the nag
stone at the END OF the walk. he
didn't see me-" Jean exulted Nov
he'll walk down to the street and CO.
In another instant a dull thud was
heard as he jumped the picket fence:
A boot followed. Perhaps the feel OF
the pavement went to his feet. There
was sort of shuttle and instead Of
humming he sang the words softly:
lone hand in the hopper, the other
in the sack,
Ladies step forward, and the gents step
back"
mot tonight, my friend" whispered
Jean, getting on her feet. Just this
once, we arc all going the same way. "
Four more steps. three-and now
she knelt beside the camera. Crouch
ing low, she opened her pocket for her
matches. Headlights of car shone
down the street, slower, lights off, and
it stood not 10 feet away. Were her
hands paralyzed with her heart pound
ING 50 hard2 Gould sheo Indeed she