The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-11
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO


She was lucky, she assured her
self, to make a start.
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
n lanes days resolved them
IL selves into a pattern. She rose
before 7, and dressed hurriedly. She
stopped at a tiled lunchroom for
breakfast. An orange, a piece Of
toast. a cup Of coffee. That was 25
cents.
She rushed to the store. She had
to be there at 8:15. There she ar
ranged her stock, tipped open her
salesbook, and when the doors were
opened stood waiting and ready, one
Of an army Of workers expected to
be courteous and efficient.
For the first time In her life
Lame began to realize what sort
of life the workers Of the world
lead. She discovered that life could
become a treadmill in which the
only really important things were
hot cup Of tea and a good nights
rest.
On Sundays she darned her other
pair of stockings and washed her
gloves. She had no money to pay
to the hairdresser so she shampooed
her hair on the Sabbath, too.
Her feet ached always. She knew
now why salesgirls often seemed
surly, why they had difficulty in
managing a smile when "moddom"
was difficult.
Where Lame worked the patrons
were shabbier than the girls be-
hind the counter. They haggled
over purchases, pinched the stock
ings suspiciously. Lame did not
blame them. A dollar was a great
lot Of money and buying was a
serious matter.
Sometimes at night she was too
tired to eat. She did not mind this
so much. 1t was one way of saving
money.
GHE learned to keep a box of
~ crackers in her room and a bit
OF cheese carefully rolled in brown
paper. Apples could be had for lit
tie or nothing.
Sometimes she thought of the
state dinners at the Willow Steam
house, Of her own plate being car
rled away scarcely touched. She
thought of tea parties where the
table overfloWed with cakes and
tiny, delicious sandwiches.
She tortured herself with MEM
cries Of the dishes she had refused
One day Lame realized with
fright that a man was shadowing
her. He was well-dressed man
with tell-tale blunt toed shoes and
a derby hat. Since he did not mo-
lest her, she decided not to do any,
thing about it.
II she complained to the store
manager, he would think she had
something to hide. She did not want
TO lose her job. She had no idea
where she might find another.
The man disappeared and the
girls heart lightened. One NIGHT she
took the train and then the ferry
to the city where she mailed a letter
to her mother.
The burden of this message was
the same as the first. She closed
her mind to the anxiety which must
be felt by those who loved her. She
had to, to save her very soul.
That Give had not announced
her disappearance to the news
papers she felt sure. She had been
watching for this day by day.
n =
XETHEN she had been working
w for Steinway and Lipschutz
for nearly six weeks she was sum
moned to the managers Office one
morning. The thin, harassed look
ing man glanced at her and glanced
away, as she came in.
Miss Crane" he began stif11y
1--WE have been getting some in
quirieS about you from private
detective agency. We don't like
it."
At her white-faced protest, the
Iild4ld8eI put up ueprecaU0ry
hand. Nov, now! I don't know
what you've done or Why" he said
But it's bad for the morale. Gets
the girls whispering and I don't
know what. Sorry, but We'll have
to let you CO."
There was no use to say anything
Lame departed, light headed with
hunger and terror, with an envelope
containing two days pay. It wa:
all the money she had in the world
She thought, trembling, that
the unkind fate which had doggec
her before her marriage to Give
must be at her heels. Her unknown
enemies must have found her oui
again.
AS she went to the roonline
house she called home, her step;